A Guide to the Best Art Galleries in the Northern Rivers
The Northern Rivers is home to one of the most active and varied art scenes in regional Australia. From heritage-listed community galleries and world-class collections to immersive digital experiences and intimate collectors’ spaces, there is something for every kind of art lover within easy reach of Ballina.
Whether you have a full day to explore or just a spare hour between the beach and dinner, these seven galleries make a compelling case for adding a little culture to your Northern Rivers getaway.
Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG) and Ignite Studios, Ballina
Right here in Ballina, the Northern Rivers Community Gallery is the closest gallery to Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina, and a great place to start your art trail. Housed in the beautifully restored 1927 former Ballina Municipal Council Chambers, the gallery features four professional exhibition spaces with works rotating every eight weeks. You will find everything from painting, sculpture and textiles to multimedia and community-engaged programs.
In 2018, the gallery expanded into the heritage-listed former Ballina Fire Station next door, now home to Ignite Studios. This dynamic creative space hosts artist studios, residencies, workshops and a ceramics studio with kiln firing facilities. Emerging and established artists can exhibit and sell work under subsidised arrangements, which is unique in the region.
Next door you will also find the popular Ballina Gallery Cafe, making it easy to pair a gallery visit with a great coffee or lunch. Entry to the gallery is free.
Location: 44 Cherry Street (corner of Crane Street), Ballina
Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 9am to 3pm | Weekends, 9.30am to 1pm
Website: nrcgballina.com.au
Follow: @nrcgballina
Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore
Around 40 minutes inland from Ballina, Lismore Regional Gallery is one of the longest-running cultural institutions in the Northern Rivers, established back in 1953. The gallery reopened in late 2024 after a major $5.1 million restoration following the devastating 2022 floods, and the result is genuinely impressive.
Set within the Lismore Quadrangle precinct alongside the Lismore Library, the gallery now features flood-resilient materials, a refreshed gallery shop, an expanded cafe space and multiple exhibition galleries across two levels. Its permanent collection of over 1,400 works includes pieces by Australian greats such as Margaret Olley, Lloyd Rees and Thea Proctor, alongside the famous Hannah Cabinet by master craftsman Geoff Hannah. The gallery also hosts touring exhibitions of national significance, including the Archibald Prize, and runs an active program of talks, workshops and public events.
Location: 11 Rural Street, Lismore
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm | Thursdays until 6pm
Entry: Free
Website: lismoregallery.org
Follow: @lismoreregionalgallery
Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murwillumbah
If you are willing to make the scenic 90-minute drive north from Ballina, the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre is well worth the journey. Set in an award-winning building on the southern edge of Murwillumbah with panoramic views of Wollumbin (Mount Warning) and the Tweed Valley, this is one of regional NSW’s most celebrated gallery experiences.
The gallery houses six exhibition spaces and presents a rotating program of historical and contemporary exhibitions, including nationally touring shows and the biennial $20,000 Olive Cotton Award for photographic portraiture. The highlight for many visitors is the Margaret Olley Art Centre, a purpose-built extension opened in 2014 that celebrates the career and legacy of one of Australia’s most beloved still life painters, including a detailed recreation of her home studio.
The on-site cafe offers indoor and outdoor seating with stunning valley views, and the gallery shop stocks locally made gifts and artworks.
Location: 2 Mistral Road, South Murwillumbah
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm | Cafe from 9am
Entry: Free
Website: gallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au
Follow: @tweedregionalgallery
Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay
Tucked inside the Byron Bay Library building on Lawson Street, Lone Goat Gallery is a quiet cultural haven in the middle of one of Australia’s busiest coastal towns. Named after the last remaining goat of a small herd that once roamed Cape Byron Headland, the gallery reflects the creative and independent spirit of the Northern Rivers arts community.
Run by Byron Shire Council, Lone Goat presents around ten curated exhibitions a year featuring emerging and established artists from the region and beyond. The program spans painting, photography, sculpture, digital media and installation. The gallery also hosts regular artist talks and workshops, making it a great stop for anyone looking to engage with the local creative scene.
It is just a short walk from Main Beach, making it easy to combine with a swim or a stroll along the foreshore.
Location: 28 Lawson Street, Byron Bay (inside the Byron Bay Library)
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm (check website for closures during exhibition changeovers)
Entry: Free
Website: lonegoatgallery.com
Follow: @lonegoatgallery
Thomgallery, Byron Bay
For collectors and serious art lovers, Thomgallery is a standout. Founded by curator and artist Alex Thom, this privately owned gallery in Byron Bay’s Arts and Industrial Estate specialises in contemporary Australian and international art and sculpture.
The gallery connects collectors with highly regarded established and emerging artists, offering striking works chosen for their exceptional aesthetics and originality. Visitors consistently praise the welcoming atmosphere and Alex’s deep knowledge of every piece on display. With regular exhibitions and an extensive stockroom, it is the kind of place where you might walk in for a browse and walk out having found something extraordinary.
Location: 1/6 Fern Place, Byron Bay Arts and Industrial Estate
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm (appointment recommended, call 0411 813 999)
Website: thomgallery.com.au
Follow: @thomgallery
Pack Gallery, Byron Bay
Pack Gallery has recently moved to a new home in the Byron Bay Arts and Industrial Estate and continues to build a loyal following for its focus on highly collectible contemporary art from the Northern Rivers and beyond. The gallery represents a strong mix of figurative, portrait and landscape artists working across painting, ceramics and photography.
Pack Gallery also runs a program of exhibitions, artist talks and discussion events, including lectures exploring art history and contemporary practice. It is a welcoming space for both seasoned collectors and curious visitors, and the team is always happy to chat about the artists and their work.
Location: 3/1 Acacia Street, Byron Bay Arts and Industrial Estate
Hours: Check @packgallery on Instagram for current hours and exhibition openings
Website: packgallerystudio.com.au
Haven Gallery, Byron Bay
If you are after something completely different, Haven Gallery is a multi-sensory immersive art experience housed inside the reimagined former Woolworths building on Jonson Street in the heart of Byron Bay. This is not a traditional gallery. The entire space has been transformed into a living artwork that shifts with light, colour and atmosphere.
Inside, you will find immersive digital installations, a 360-degree cinema dome, interactive projection-mapped walls, and the transformed streetscape of Haven City, a Kowloon-inspired laneway that invites you to wander, touch and interact. The gallery also hosts a rolling program of exhibitions, life drawing sessions, clay workshops, creative kids’ holiday programs and even roller discos.
Haven Gallery is a ticketed experience, and sessions run daily. It is a great option for families, couples and anyone who enjoys exploring art through participation rather than observation.
Location: 102 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Hours: Sessions run daily (check website for times)
Tickets: Available at havengallerybyron.com
Follow: @havengallerybyron
Your Base for an Arts-Filled Northern Rivers Getaway
With galleries spanning Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and the Tweed Valley, the Northern Rivers offers a genuine art trail that rivals many city gallery scenes. Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina puts you right in the centre of it all, with NRCG just minutes away on foot and every other gallery on this list within an easy day trip.
Combine a gallery visit with a riverside walk, a long lunch at one of the region’s celebrated cafes, and an evening back at the hotel overlooking the Richmond River. It is the kind of stay that feeds both the eyes and the soul.
Book your stay directly and start planning your Northern Rivers art trail.
