Monday, 13 October 2025

Sunset at Ballina, NSW

On the home front here in Launceston, Tasmania there has been very strong winds and rain.  Two people from the same family were standing outside in a paddock on the northwest coast and were killed as the tree fell. It was a large strong looking tree but alas - the wind.  Trees all over the roads, falling on houses in the whole of the State of Tasmania, no power for so many people fortunately we were lucky.  No planes flying, no ferry across the sea all too rough.  Today it's a lot better as many workers have cleaned the mess up over the weekend.  Now to continue todays post.

Ballina is a town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.  It lies 740km north of Sydney and 185 km south of Brisbane, Queensland. The urban population in 2021 was 46,190 people. 

There are few lovely beaches in the area and of course fishing for those that love to fish. The town center has everything one could need.

We've stayed there a few times in the past as we travelled towards home and looked about the area.  

Photos taken at a caravan park and just a few steps to take these photos of the sunset and Richmond River.





The Big Prawn situated in the carpark of a hardware store known as Bunnings in Australia.


62 comments:

  1. Some beautiful pictures you have here!!
    Including that big prawn. : )

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  2. Replies
    1. Yes it was and is very sad. A lot of damage done too but today is beautiful and sunny with little wind.

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  3. Beautiful photos, Margaret. I am glad you didn't lose power. My prayers 🙏 for all who were affected by this.

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    1. I'm thankful we didn't lose power too, we would have been cold as we only have electric heating as many do and they lost their power.

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  4. Replies
    1. It was lovely, each night I would lookout the caravan window to see if the sunset was a good one, or near enough a good one.

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  5. The photographs you've shared here look beautiful.

    However, I was sorry to read about the very bad weather which has caused damage and loss of life... my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. Not a nice time for many caught in the rain and wind plus loos of life.

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  6. Ballina certainly brings back memories from way back years.
    My parents took we four kids there for the school holidays
    and much later Mum and Dad bought a holiday home there.
    I was in Papua/New Guinea in those days.
    Strange that I can't recall that prawn/lobster.
    Some coastal towns sure have strange logos.
    Big Pineapple etc etc.
    Lovely sunny day here but stormy last night.
    Yep your storms caused havoc = also in other places down the
    Pacific Coastline.
    Cheers
    Colin
    PS: A miracle achieved - no pub last week. My mates all
    up at Bathurst getting wet - ha ha!

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    Replies
    1. That's interesting your folks bought a holiday home there, nice place to have one. Oh yes, a wet Bathurst indeed, Colin.
      Beautiful day here today, snow on Ben Lomond again! Be gone tomorrow I suppose.

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  7. Sorry to hear about the storm and all the damage. The sunset and river are beautiful. Love the giant prawn.

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    1. Thank you, R., Wasn't good the wind and rain. Over it now!
      That prawn is a beauty.

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  8. Hello Margaret.
    What beautiful photos of the sunset.
    So sad that people died in the storm.
    I wish you a wonderful new week.
    Greetings Irma

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Irma.
      Very sad that two people from the same family died in the wind and rain..

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  9. The sunset is very beautiful, Margaret. I enjoy the colors. The Prawn is very big!

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    1. Yes it's a very big prawn, can see if easily.
      Thank you.

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  10. Sorry to hear of the destruction in Tasmania. Stay safe.

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  11. Klasse Bilder vom Sonnenuntergang sehr schöne Farben.
    Gruß
    Noke

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Noke, sunset often brings out the best colours, and always different.

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  12. Beautiful sunset Margaret. And what a huge prawn! enormous!

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  13. We used to rent a caravan for a few weeks of holidays throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, but not since. Did you enjoy your caravan stay?

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    1. Well that would have been fun, a good experience caravan life. If you like it it's good, if you don't it's not good. Yes, we did enjoy our stay - thanks, Irma.

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  14. Love Ballina, its Beaches and Caravan Park.

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  15. Those sunsets are spectacular, inspiring, and magical.
    Best regards.

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  16. Such a beautiful country... I'm sorry to hear about the destruction caused by storms and severe weather.
    When you see the wonderful sunsets, it's unimaginable that the weather can also have a downside.
    Best wishes and alt det best for you.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Viola. Strong winds often cause problems, thank goodness we don't have them often.

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  17. Darling Margaret,

    We know very little about Australia or Tasmania and have never visited, so it is most intriguing to have a travel guide in our own home. Ballina looks so pretty but the storms sound to have been extremely frightening and so worrying for everyone.

    Nature does seem to have great extremes these days. One day one can be in such lovely surroundings and the next there is devastation. It is all a reminder to take care of what we have and enjoy.

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    1. Lovely to read a comment from you, Jane and Lance.
      Australia is very different from Europe as I'm sure you are aware of, and it is wonderful to be able to see it through someone else's eyes as it is for me to see your country and lifestyle through your eyes.
      Take care.

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  18. I am very sorry about the couple, such a tragedy. We hear of such things here too in bad weather. It must have been a terrible storm. Thank you for those stunning photos and for the two maps. I love those too. Have a great rest of the week Margaret!

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    1. Thank you, Denise, not so good when people die in storms. At the moment we have two people missing one due to weather and the other the weather had a contributing factor.
      It was an awful storm; we don't get many like that one.

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  19. Stunning photos. Best shrimp.
    Hello and welcome to see my new picture :)

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  20. Hello Margaret,
    Wonderful pictures. Amazing that sky with the golden colors. It looks like a big fire in the sky.
    Nice figure by that store. Great!!

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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    1. Yes it does look like a fire, Marco. A rather large prawn, biggest I've seen.

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  21. Those must have been some winds! I will never likely make it down your way so it is nice reading about it through your eyes.

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    1. Thank you. Living on the other side of the world, it's a long way away, so I understand that you are your wife would probably not visit Australia. We do have fishing...lol Good to see photos through your eyes too of you country.

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  22. What a beautiful spot! 🌅 Ballina sounds like such a peaceful place to unwind — beaches, fishing, and those stunning river sunsets, what more could you ask for? The photos must be absolutely breathtaking with that golden light over the Richmond River. 💛

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  23. With very strong winds, you can never be too careful. The weather can be very unstable and cause many disasters, damage, and deaths. So sad that two people died.
    An absolutely magnificent sunset. Fantastic photos.
    What a Big Prawn 😊

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    1. Thank you Maria, yes, a mighty big prawn.
      The Neighbour next door had a big tree cut down today due to it swinging about too much and plus it looked dead.

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  24. Such charming and fascinating sunsets are truly hard to ignore. Summer sunsets can sometimes be captivating here, but the days are getting shorter and the evenings are getting cooler; it's finally autumn. It's a pleasure to watch a sunset like this, because it's truly enchanting.

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    Replies
    1. The photos are of a winter sunset and for some reason they do look different, but it's good to see it.

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  25. Oh dear that tree falling off and killing people is heartbreaking and horrifying dear friend 😔🥹
    Thank goodness you didn’t loose power Margaret !
    The are you shared is beautiful undoubtedly.
    I feel speechless by the beauty of your sunset shots wow🤗👍👍♥️

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