Name: River Street Motel
Address: 285-287 River Street, Ballina Central, Ballina, New South Wales, Australia, Ballina, Ballina Shire Council, AU
Price range: $102–$131 per night
Rating: 8.43

What guests think

Across recent reviews, River Street Motel is praised for very clean, refurbished rooms, friendly and responsive hosts, and a convenient, walkable location near the river, RSL, and Ballina's shops, offering good value for short stays.

Rooms are generally spacious and comfortable with practical amenities, though several guests noted traffic noise in front units and some found beds too firm. Parking is usually straightforward with undercover spots, but high vehicles may not fit and occasional overflow parking occurs. A few reports mention damp or unpleasant odors and minor maintenance lapses. Best suited to travelers seeking practical comfort and a central base.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Parking is generally easy, with undercover and near-room spaces; however, high vehicles may not fit and guests sometimes park outside when spots are full.

Related guest reviews

8

Gerald

Dec 22, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy parking, great location, nice & helpful people running it

10

Anna

Nov 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Booked last minute and received my check-in instructions via text within 10 minutes. Room was clean and comfortable. Great shower head and water pressure. Plenty of parking spots and eateries within walking distance. Will stay again.

8

Sharon

Aug 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The lights need to be turned off at nite outside rooms ! very brite Otherwise excellent

10

nigel

Aug 31, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent customer service. Clean rooms. Undercover parking. Access from rear lane also.

8

Susan

Nov 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff were very helpful trying to accommodate our needs. We didn't realise the undercover parking would not accommodate our vehicle when booking online, as our Sprinter Van is 2.3m high. But the van could be parked in an open space on the property. They upgraded us to a bigger room than booked online and it was very spacious and clean. Located within a short walk to the RSL club and river is great, but it did get road noisy from 7am onwards in the front area. Very price friendly tho.

8

Wendy

Oct 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was on the ground floor picture showed upstairs with balcony, but room was clean and comfortable. Good Shower pressure. Designated car park undercover which is a plus. Awesome Chinese Restaurant next door, good food. Can walk to the RSL for food as well. The only downside was the traffic, which being on the main road was very noisy.

10

Shane

May 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great room. Covered well lit parking. Close to everything

10

Peter

Jul 28, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Convenient, parking close to room, in room facilities

10

Jasmine

Jan 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Close to town, RSL, River. Chinese next door. Beautiful clean rooms. Small pool to cool off in. Staff super nice. Such a easy check in and out. Was a great cheap little place to stay while travelling down the coast.

8

Barry

Sep 5, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Sometimes we had to park outside motel grounds.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is frequently praised across rooms and bathrooms; a few guests reported damp or acrid odors and occasional maintenance issues like a leaking basin or a dirty balcony ashtray.

Related guest reviews

8

Steven

Jan 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This was a last minute booking as we were driving down the coast and weren’t sure where we wanted to stay. This room was available so we took it. It appears that the office is unattended, so I called number, the manager answered, she was friendly and gave clear instructions on how to retrieve the key from the lock box… The room was clean and a decent size, we booked a room with a king bed which was comfortable, the sheets and towels were decent quality however the room had a damp smell and feel about. I ran the AC on dry mode all night to try and reduce the damp feel. It was an OK stay for the night..

6

Keith

May 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Hot water took forever to heat up. Leaking hand basin.

10

Kruze

Jan 19, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great place, clean and tidy

10

David

Jan 13, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location quiet comfortable bed clean and tidy

8

Geoffrey

Feb 23, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

As with previous stays, a pleasant,friendly check-in experience. The cleanliness of room was commented on a number of times by my partner ( a very fussy lady).friendly checkin servicefriendly checkin

10

Luke

Jan 10, 2023

·

Stayed 19,367 nights

Very clean renovated rooms. Rooms are of good size. Excellent undercover parking. Staff are very approachable and fair. East flat walk to shops, pubs , rsl club & attractions.

10

Patrizia

Jul 4, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The place was clean and spacious and the check in was easy. There was, however, an acrid and unpleasant smell in the bathroom and room which made it extremely uncomfortable to the point that we had to buy a deodoriser and spray the whole room and carpet so it was bearable. Given this, it made the room poor value for what we paid.

8

Charles

Apr 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was fine other than an ash tray full of cigarette butts on the balcony and no wash clothes. The freezer in the refrigerator was not cold enough to make ice cubes. The triple room we had was nice and comfortable as were the beds.

8

Glenda

Jan 29, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean room with everything that we needed. Friendly and helpful reception.

10

Brigid

Oct 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We did not see staff but check-in was easy with instructions remotely. Old school basic motel but clean and new furniture. Perfect for a few nights stay as walkable to central Ballina shops/cafes etc

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are older style but refurbished, typically spacious and comfortable with practical amenities; several reviews note traffic noise in front units and a few mention firm beds.

Related guest reviews

10

Deb

Aug 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was spacious and included a lounge & dining table which was convenient Clean & comfortable Extra power points for charging phones & computers Great price and one of the best rooms we have stayed in for quite a while

8

DIANNE

Dec 6, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

A nice comfortable centrally located motel. It has a chinese restaurant next door so no need to go out for a meal. The only negative was being in the front unit so therefore road noise was a bit of a problem. Comfortable bed after driving for many hours.

10

Kim

May 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The rooms were clean well maintained and had a nice retro vibe to them

8

Susan

Nov 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff were very helpful trying to accommodate our needs. We didn't realise the undercover parking would not accommodate our vehicle when booking online, as our Sprinter Van is 2.3m high. But the van could be parked in an open space on the property. They upgraded us to a bigger room than booked online and it was very spacious and clean. Located within a short walk to the RSL club and river is great, but it did get road noisy from 7am onwards in the front area. Very price friendly tho.

8

Geoffrey

Sep 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I have stayed at this motel previously and would do so again. Reception warm and welcoming, room clean and comfortable. The location is within walking distance to restaurants and venues such as the Ballina RSL club which has very good dining facilities and river views. The bed was a little too firm for me but not a real issue.

10

johan

Dec 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great staff. Good sized rooms

8

lorraine

Sep 3, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was very tidy & plenty of space Good location But close to main road & very noisy in morning with traffic

8

Lydia

May 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A bit of noise from road traffic in room 1 but still a great stay.

8

Brenton

Sep 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Older style hotel, but recently renovated , quite comfortable and very clean. Easy walk to the Mai. Shopping & dining area

8

Markus

Oct 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Bed was a bit hard

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Staff are consistently described as friendly and accommodating, with smooth check-in (often via clear remote instructions) and prompt help when issues arise.

Related guest reviews

10

Anna

Nov 18, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Booked last minute and received my check-in instructions via text within 10 minutes. Room was clean and comfortable. Great shower head and water pressure. Plenty of parking spots and eateries within walking distance. Will stay again.

10

Nola

Sep 29, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice rooms. Very friendly and helpful reception staff.

8

Robert

Sep 7, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The manager, Neil, was extremely friendly and welcoming and couldn't have been more helpful.

8

Geoffrey

Feb 23, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

As with previous stays, a pleasant,friendly check-in experience. The cleanliness of room was commented on a number of times by my partner ( a very fussy lady).friendly checkin servicefriendly checkin

10

Melissa

Oct 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I spent one night in Ballina when my flight was grounded due to storms. Neil and Emma were wonderful hosts, welcoming and kind! The room was spacious, and equipped thoughtfully, with a full set of dishes for two as well as a refrigerator and microwave. The location was convenient to restaurants, and Neil kindly gave me a ride down the street to the pub so I wouldn't have to go out walking in the rainstorm (and lent me an umbrella for the trip back). In short, the inn was nice, and the hospitality was utterly superb!

8

Helen

Jun 22, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

My check-in procedure was straight- forward and easy. The staff member was welcoming and informative when I asked for additional information. A fault with the television in my room was dealt with quickly and in a friendly manner. I enjoyed my interactions with the staff.

8

Glenda

Jan 29, 2026

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean room with everything that we needed. Friendly and helpful reception.

10

Leony

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Enjoyed everything about our stay. Check-in was easy, staff were friendly and accommodating and room had everything we needed. Would stay again.

10

Tony

Jan 11, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

I had three rooms booked and all were excellent. The managers at the Motel were extremely good. I had an issue with a lock on my trailer and they found me a grinder to break the lock and put on a new one. Motel was within walking distance of the major clubs and town center. I would definitely stay there again.

10

Brigid

Oct 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We did not see staff but check-in was easy with instructions remotely. Old school basic motel but clean and new furniture. Perfect for a few nights stay as walkable to central Ballina shops/cafes etc

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Location

Central and walkable to the river, RSL, and Ballina's shops and dining; being on the main road brings noticeable traffic noise for front rooms.

Related guest reviews

10

Robert

Sep 24, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location in the middle of the Ballina CBD. Rooms were spacious and clean as always (we've stayed here previously) and the staff were very friendly and helpful. As an added bonus the Chinese Restaurant right next door is fantastic as well.

8

SHIH HSIN

Feb 19, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

The room had a classic charm and was clean. The location was also convenient.

8

DIANNE

Dec 6, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

A nice comfortable centrally located motel. It has a chinese restaurant next door so no need to go out for a meal. The only negative was being in the front unit so therefore road noise was a bit of a problem. Comfortable bed after driving for many hours.

10

Peter

Jul 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location

10

Michael

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

What a great Motel, finally one that Management take care of and shows. The smallest details taken care of in the rooms. location great, very clean....."yes they have power points". Thank you a great stay.

8

Susan

Nov 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff were very helpful trying to accommodate our needs. We didn't realise the undercover parking would not accommodate our vehicle when booking online, as our Sprinter Van is 2.3m high. But the van could be parked in an open space on the property. They upgraded us to a bigger room than booked online and it was very spacious and clean. Located within a short walk to the RSL club and river is great, but it did get road noisy from 7am onwards in the front area. Very price friendly tho.

8

Geoffrey

Sep 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I have stayed at this motel previously and would do so again. Reception warm and welcoming, room clean and comfortable. The location is within walking distance to restaurants and venues such as the Ballina RSL club which has very good dining facilities and river views. The bed was a little too firm for me but not a real issue.

8

Neville

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Motel was well located, close to town and was clean, with friendly staff

10

Brigid

Oct 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

We did not see staff but check-in was easy with instructions remotely. Old school basic motel but clean and new furniture. Perfect for a few nights stay as walkable to central Ballina shops/cafes etc

10

Jo-anne

Sep 5, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location for our needs.

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Dining

Not enough information in reviews.

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Month	Average price
January	$109
February	$99
March	$101
April	$102
May	$100
June	$101
July	$108
August	$100
September	$92
October	$93
November	$92
December	$105

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $105	2 $112	3 $118
4 $102	5 $106	6 $121	7 $115	8 $116	9 $113	10 $113
11 $113	12 $107	13 $119	14 $116	15 $116	16 $116	17 $124
18 $116	19 $116	20 $119	21 $116	22 $116	23 $116	24 $116
25 $116	26 $131	27 $131	28 $131	29 $131	30 $116	31 $116

River Street Motel

Prices for River Street Motel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Family Room

Apartment, Ground Floor

Triple Room with Terrace

King Room

Quadruple Room

Standard Double Room, 1 Queen Bed

Guest reviews of River Street Motel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Security deposit

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about River Street Motel

Prices for upcoming dates

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23 $109	24 $118	25 $113	26 $108
27 $102	28 $105	29 $105	30 $104