Lismore

Lismore is a town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales

For the island in Scotland, see Isle of Lismore

Understand

A bit inland from the Pacific Motorway between Sydney and Brisbane. Lismore is known as the “Rainbow Region” which describes the richness and cultural diversity of the area. It is on the edge of several tourist drives and world-heritage national parks.

The town made the national headlines when it was damaged by severe flooding in 2022, with about 4000 properties damaged, and as of March 2024, many houses are still in a state of despair. There have even been plans to completely move the town to higher ground.

Get in

By plane

• Coolangatta Airport (OOL ^IATA) — has domestic flights and international flights from New Zealand, Malaysia, and Japan. It often has cheaper flights and cheaper car hire than Lismore. And is a 90 minute drive to Lismore.
• Ballina Airport (BNK ^IATA) — there are flights from Sydney and Melbourne. With Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and REX covering the sector. And is a 45 minute drive to Lismore.
• 1 Lismore Regional Airport (LSY  ^IATA) (is only a 5 minute drive away from the city centre with taxi, limousine and hire car services available). There's friendly service, plenty of free parking during daylight hours, secure paid parking overnight, free wireless internet access, a meeting room and a spacious, air-conditioned terminal with refreshments, light meals and gourmet coffee available. Lismore is serviced by Regional Express (REX) with 52 flights per week between Sydney and Lismore. (Temporarily suspended)  

By train

• NSW TrainLink, ☏ +61 13 22 32. Services are available from Sydney to Casino, with a connecting coach from Casino to Lismore. (updated Jun 2024)

By car

Located on the Bruxner Highway and easily accessed by car, Lismore is within a 2.5 hour drive of Brisbane and about 9 hours from Sydney.

By bus

Several coach and bus operators provide services to Lismore from major centres throughout Australia and the region.

• Greyhound
• Premier Motor Service

Get around

• Northern Rivers Buslines
• Wallers Bus Co.
• Nimbin-Byron Bay Shuttle Bus
• Taxi

See

Lismore is a more residential town than its coastal neighbours. It is surrounded by very pretty coastal hinterland, and it is worthwhile taking one of the scenic drives around the area. It is in some ways the administrative centre of the Northern Rivers region. It has the main hospital, a fairly large courthouse, as well as a university and a shopping centre.

The Wilsons River runs through town; however, like many inland rivers in Australia, it is brown in colour due to sediment, so some people may not wish to swim in it. The water is safe for swimming. Hector, the freshwater crocodile, once escaped from a travelling show and made his home in the river, but he hasn't been sighted since the floods of 1974.

If you don't feel like swimming, there is a riverside park by the bridge.

Do

The rainbow train at Heritage Park

Art & Music: Lismore boasts an abundance of artists and musicians, with many pop-up galleries in shop windows, graffiti artistry like the Back Alley Gallery and of course the Lismore Regional Art Gallery which hosts locals and many famous artists' exhibitions throughout the year. These galleries are all part of the cafe and cultures trail created by Lismore Tourism to highlight our regions greatest assets. The C&C Trail begins at the visitor information centre and follows an easy path around the CBD (Central Business District) including the Regional Art Gallery, Historical Museum, many architectural displays in the form of old buildings (some over 100 years old), Back Alley Gallery (Graffiti Art at its best!) and some of the numerous cafes and restaurants that feed all the hungry travellers.

For the kids there are numerous activities available to keep them occupied and if you happen to be here during school holidays why not drop into the visitor information centre and pick up a school holiday pack full of great things for the kids to do.

• Heritage Park Miniature Train and Children's Playground, situated next door to the Lismore Visitor Information Centre has state of the art play equipment guaranteed to excite even the most bored child. And if thats not enough then they can try out the miniature train that runs around the park for 2 laps, costing $2 child and $8 group tickets, suitable for all ages even the big kids. The Train is open Saturday and Sundays 10AM - 4PM, Thursdays and Public Holidays 10AM - 2PM, and at varied times during school holidays. The playground is open all hours with barbeque facilities, toilets are located underneath the visitor centre and are all accessible by wheelchair.
• Skate Parks: Lismore has 2 skate parks for the skateboarding enthusiast: Riverside Park/Skate Park located in Victoria street (overlooking the Wilsons River) contains a large streetscape, fun boxes, grind poles and steel half pipes. Goonellabah Skate Park located in Oliver Avenue (Goonellabah) features ledges, a small bowl, flat bars and a pole jam.
• Lismore Roller Skating and Putt-Putt Golf
• Playquest
• Koala Care Centre

Buy

Lismore CBD

• Lismore Shopping Square:

Markets

Lismore is right at the heart of some of the best local markets you will find in the whole of Australia. Which ever day you are in the Lismore area there is bound to be a market on somewhere in the close proximity.

• Lismore Farmers Market: great for fresh and local produce in the area. Held at Lismore Showground, North Lismore; every Saturday from 8AM - 11AM.
• Lismore Produce Market: come along and sample some of the regions local produce direct from the growers and makers themselves. Every Thursday evening from 3:30PM - 6:30PM in Magellan Street, Lismore.
• Lismore Organic Market: for everyone who likes their produce fresh and pesticide free. Every Tuesday 7:30AM - 11AM at the Lismore Showground, North Lismore.
• Lismore Car Boot Market: the modern day version of a flea market complete with second hand goods (including vintage, retro and antique), live music, buskers, local produce, food vendors (pasta, curries, pancakes, hot dogs, coffee and cake, and many more). Held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month from 8AM - 2PM underneath Lismore Shopping Square, Uralba Street, Lismore. This is an all weather event.
• Lismore Makers Market:

Eat

• Capellos Cafe
• Goanna Bakery & Cafe
• Henry's Bakery Cafe
• Fire in the Belly
• Indian Mumtaj
• Thai Satay Hut
• Miss Lizzie's Restaurant
• The Loft
• Tommy's Tavern
• Terrace Bar
• Banzai Japanese Restaurant
• The Bank Cafe
• Dragonfly Cafe
• Peppertree Kitchen
• Lismore Pie Cart
• Mecca Cafe
• La Baracca Espresso Bar and Trattoria

Drink

• Mary Gilhooleys Irish Pub
• Lismore Workers Club
• The Richmond Hotel
• The Rous Hotel
• The Tattersalls Hotel
• Hilltop Tavern

Sleep

Hotels & Motels

• The New Olympic Hotel
• The Gateway Motel & Restaurant
• The Bounty Motel
• Aza Motel
• Dawson Motor Inn
• Centrepoint Motel
• Lismore City Motor Inn
• Karinga Motel
• Sisley's Motel
• The Lismore Wilson Motel
• Invercauld House

Caravan & Camping

• Lismore Centra Tourist Park
• Lismore Palms Caravan Park
• Roadrunner Caravan Park
• Lismore Lake Holiday Park

Retreats, Hideaways and Bed & Breakfasts

• Havan's Eco Retreat
• Anna's Retreat
• Imogen's Farm
• Melville House
• PJ's Bed & Breakfast
• Terania Creek Bed & Breakfast
• The Shed

Self-contained

• Anna's Retreat
• Suzanne's Hideaway
• Valleydale Cottage

Go next

• Nimbin
• Eltham
• Nightcap National Park
• Rocky Creek Dam
• Border Ranges National Park
• Wollumbin/Mt Warning National Park
• The Channon Craft Market: being one of the best and longest running (30 years old) with over 250 stalls each month featuring a wide variety of arts, crafts, hippie handy crafts, second hand goods, children's activities (candle making, bouncy castle, donkey and miniature horse rides), local produce, live music & buskers, and alfresco dining that will set your mouth watering from breakfast all the way up to afternoon tea. The Channon Craft Market is held on the second Sunday of every month from 9AM - 3PM at Coronation Park, The Channon. Weather permitting.