Home exchange and house swap holiday accommodation in Lennox Head, Between Byron Bay and Ballina , NSW
Col is a semi-retired/self-employed surfer and ski wannabe. Linda has a background in nursing and as a medical practice manager. We usually travel as a couple or meet another couple away. ************************************* With kids off our hands we have downsized to a beachside townhouse in a laid back surf resort village on the NSW Far North Coast near Byron Bay. With everything walking distance a car is definitely optional. This is ideal for our lifestyle and we expect also for most visitors to this wonderful part of the world.. We are strongly addicted to lifestyle and cooking shows on TV. We also enjoy a stroll down to the local cafes and restaurants. Recently we have started monitoring our activity levels so we don't increase yet another clothes size! Easy to do..
#12603
Sep 2014
2
One of the best locations in this magical village by the sea.
We are just across the road from Seven Mile Beach, in Lennox Head. So, whether you want to go for an early morning surf, a walk on the golden sand or do some beach fishing, it is totally doable. There are nice surf banks in front of us and it's a great little (sometimes not so little) longboard wave. Plenty of action for the grommets in the family too. For the more adventurous, Lennox Point offers an amazing ride which you can walk to.
It's an easy, level stroll to numerous fabulous restaurants, cafes, shops and the local hotel. Club Lennox, also a superb dining experience is only one street behind us - about a 30 second stroll. The village caters for foodies with more restaurants and food tastes than you would expect for our small population. Choose from 2 x Italian, Chinese, Seafood, Mexican, Thai (x 2), Indian (x 2) Japanese, vegetarian plus Aussie modern. Many other choices in Ballina (just 10 mins drive) or have a cool night out in Byron (about 15 mins).
The local Surf Club (patrolled weekends and holidays in season) and Lake Ainsworth are equally easy walking distance to the north - surf club cafe is a great place for your first coffee of the day plus the perfect whale watching venue in season just started - we saw a whale breaching just the other day (June-September), or dolphin watching whenever - their season never ends.
Another safe swimming area is near the centre of town at the Boat Channel. Very close to some excellent cafes, so you might like to stroll down with the kids, grab your coffee and take the path down to the beach while you supervise the fun. On the way back, visit the local ice creamery with more choices than you can imagine and walk home burning up (some of ) the calories!
Byron Bay attractions are a short 15 minute drive. Gold Coast airport less than an hour, and Ballina airport 15 minutes drive away - with direct flights to /from Sydney (Virgin, Jetstar and Rex) and Melbourne (Jetstar - from Tullamarine). Ballina also has direct flights from Newcastle (Rex).
Our home is two level, 3 bedroom townhouse in a quiet complex of three, so there is no street noise. However, you will have the sound of the surf to put you to sleep which is a pretty cool alternative to road traffic.
Downstairs is family room, 2 bedrooms/office, main bathroom, separate toilet and laundry. So you can exile the kids to entertain themselves with one of a multitude of DVDs in our collection, or they can play with the wii. If they are old enough, you can just suggest they go for a surf or take their skateboards to the local skate park and leave you alone.
The rear yard is screened off and usually protected from prevailing winds. So if the wind is too much for using the BBQ on the deck upstairs, you can use the other one downstairs.
Linda has the ultimate library of business and personal development books, if you are so inclined. There are also a few yoga DVDs - or you could take a yoga or pilates class - there are at least half a dozen classes in Lennox and a gazillion in Byron.
Upstairs is master bedroom with ensuite and private deck, kitchen, lounge and dining and large northern deck with BBQ and view to surf. You can also view surf from the private deck.
Hi speed internet ADSL2+ Wifi accessible within the property with unlimited downloads, so kids downloading movies or music won't blow our allowance. Cable TV, numerous docking stations and DVD upstairs and ceiling fans in all rooms.
Kitchen is equipped with all the usual appliances you could need - fan forced oven, hot plates, rangehood, coffee maker, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher, plus filtered/purified water on tap. We have picnic sets ready for an outdoor adventure in any of the wonderful national parks in the area. You can also borrow our bikes and surfboards if you like.
Our favourite start to the day is walking across the road with a cup of tea and watching the sunrise. We are so blessed to be living here. We came for a visit 20 years ago and decided to stay. We would not be surprised if visitors felt the same.
Several golf courses within 15 minutes drive for those so inclined. Also, for rainy days to entertain the kids - 10 pin bowling, cinemas, and indoor skating (roller/in line) in Ballina plus Maccas if the kids require a fix. More adventurous might try their hand at indoor rock climbing or circus arts in Byron Bay.
Townhouse
Heating, Bath, Internet, Wifi, TV, Stereo, Fans, Dishwasher, Coffee machine, Microwave, Washing Machine, Security Screens
BBQ, Verandah, Deck, Lock Up Garage, Bicycle, Garden Yard
Street parking
No
Simultaneous
Short term (1-4 wks)
No
Christmas
Car Swap Negotiable, No Smoking
Sea change, Family holiday, Foodie indulgence, Out there
Shopping, Golf, Lawn Bowls, Tennis, Horse Racing, Kids Activities, Ten Pin Bowling, Water Slides, Skateboarding, Ballooning, Biking, Hiking, Bushwalking, Swimming, Fishing, Boating, Canoeing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Water Skiing, Windsurfing, Surfing, Jet Skiing
Cafes, Restaurants, Cinema, Pubs/Bars, Clubs [e.g. RSL], Night Clubs, Live Music, Theatre, Art Gallery, Historical Sites, Public Library, Farmer's markets, Parks, Playing Fields, Skate park, Public Pool
Lennox Point, surfing, fishing, lots of fishing, whale and dolphin watching.
Diving, snorkeling, beachcombing, beach walks
Horseriding.
kayaking
SUP
Kiteboarding, hang gliding.
Hot air ballooning.
Climb Mount Warning - extinct volcano caldera (best summer when you have more daylight)
Helicopter and fixed wing lessons (yep - at our local airport 10 minutes away.)
Visit Nimbin - home of the Aquarius 'hippy' scene.
Numerous ranforest walks to explore.
Local markets every weekend in the surrounding villages, and often in Lennox Head too.
Naval museum - including Las Balsas Raft that sailed from Ecuador across the Pacific
National Parks, bushwalking, camping
Byron Bay, Bluesfest, Splendor In The Grass, Writers Fest, Gold Coast Theme Parks (90 minutes), Gold Coast shopping.
Sport, Nature, Quiet, Hip, Conservative, Family, Alternative, Historical, Glamour, Nightlife
Bakery, Convenience Store, Pharmacy, Supermarket, Gymnasium, Yoga/Pilates
Byron Bay, Ballina (19kms)
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (16kms)
Note: The location shown on the map is approximate only.
There are 2 endorsements for this house swap member:
We had a fabulous house/car swap with Col and Linda. Great communication, wonderful house and location and everything went really smoothly. The whole process was an absolute pleasure! Highly recommended!
Jill from North Hobart, TAS (Jan 2016)
Col and Linda have a delightful unit in a really stunning bit of Australia. It is across the road from the beach and you can hear the ocean at night. They made me feel very welcome and relaxed, and made the whole swap experience stress free and friendly. Found their car easily at Ballina airport (one of the big advantages of regional airports!) Their unit is really comfortable, including the bed. I can easily get a sore back in some beds but slept like a baby in Col and Linda's. And the bed looked so beautiful it seemed a shame to get in it! Also the village of Lennox is charming and there are plenty of places to eat as well as an IGA just a couple of blocks away. Very easy to get into the relaxed laid back atmosphere of the coast. I went on a walk suggested by Col and the views were spectacular. I became slightly addicted to Foxtel Lifestyle Home channel while there :) Col and Linda left my house exactly as found, and it was a pleasure to walk back in to a spotless house. A big thanks for such a wonderful swap experience. A delightful, warm and genuine couple with a gorgeous unit.
Liane from Blackmans Bay, Hobart, TAS (Jun 2015)
