Ballina Hi Craft Motel
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Ballina Hi Craft Motel

295 - 297 River St, Ballina, New South Wales 2478 Australia
Traveller (17)
King bed
Room & Suite (4)
Bathroom (1)

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About

#13 of 14 motels in Ballina
3.6 of 5 bubbles
Location
2.7 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Value
3.6 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
3.8 of 5 bubbles
Service
3.4 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
HiCraft motel is under new management since May 2014.We have done lot of changes in the motel including bed linens ,vanaties and painting.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Breakfast in the room
Canoeing
Golf course
Meeting rooms
BBQ facilities
Parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Vending machine
Water park
Fishing
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Air conditioning
Iron
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Languages Spoken
English, Hindi

Location

295 - 297 River St, Ballina, New South Wales 2478 Australia
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 62 out of 100
62
Ballina Byron Airport
Lismore Airport
28.2 km
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Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
AJ Pato wrote a review Feb 2021
Kempsey, Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Yes from other reviews it is a little outdated but if you need a bed for a night or two close to the centre of town this isn’t that bad. The hotel offers everything you need. Microwave, toaster, jug etc. great water pressure. Clean nice feeling linen. We enjoyed our stay. The car park is a little tight but it’s off street and I felt safe. For the costs it’s worth it. Spend your saving at the RSL just down the road. The staff couldn’t be more helpful.
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Date of stay: February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allison H wrote a review Sept 2014
4.0 of 5 bubbles
After reading the bad reviews was very happy with our room very clean beds made well shampoo conditer shower gel dispensers. The staff were wonderful very nice its close to everything and a lot of work has been done to it since the new owners took over 4 months ago. Would definately stay here again and no loud neighbours with kids travelling with us is a bonus.
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ZoeHarris wrote a review July 2012
Nambour, Queensland, Australia
2.0 of 5 bubbles
On arrival I was greeted by the stench of cigarette butts and an incredibly rude receptionist. I was given a key and pointed toward my room and nothing else. The room smelt like sewrege but I figured it would go away. I went out for an appointment and dinner and returned at 9pm. The room still smelt foul but reception was shut so I decided to have a shower and just go to sleep. I had my shower and tried to sleep but the stench was too strong. i found a guest information pamphlet and found an after hours number to call. i rang the number and spoke to a man who sounded very intoxicated and wasnt helpful at all. I covered the room in perfume and went to sleep. When I woke up the room still smelt horrible. I had a shower and packed my things immediatley. I dropped the key at reception and spoke to a man about the stench. I wasn't rude to him. I just explained what had happened and reccomended he fix it before other guests stay in that room. He responded my crossing his arms and implying that it was really my fault that I didn't come to reception on arrival. I explained to him that I was running late for an appointment and by the time I returned reception was closed. He stood by that it was my fault. I will NEVER stay with Hi-Craft again and I reccomend you don't stay there either. Being blamed for someone elses motel issues is discusting and I am very unimpressed.
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Date of stay: July 2012
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
2.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
1.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen W wrote a review Mar 2018
Brisbane, Australia
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Stayed here overnight over EASTER on our way back up north. Right from the start we were not made to feel welcome. Not told were our room was and not given the wifi password had to go and ask later. It’s was so slow it was useless anyway. Rooms are old and worn. Taps twist aren’t secured and sink plug doesn’t work. Saggy old pillows. TV is like something out of the 90,s. AC stopped working during the night. Fan switch was broken. Just a packed in, noisy, busted old motel I’d give this one a miss.
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
intotheforest wrote a review Aug 2014
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Found this hotel had 4 rooms available at $70 on Booking.com. Seeing as I was just round the corner I walked in, past the sign 'Rooms from $70', to be told I could have one for $85. All the Booking.com and $70 ones were 'sold'. Riiiiiiight. Walked out...
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Date of stay: August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa B wrote a review Jan 2016
Melbourne, Australia
1.0 of 5 bubbles
We booked this through wotif. We requested a family room as we had both of our fathers travelling with us. From the photos on the web the rooms seemed suitable. On arrival we were so disgusted with the room we left straight away, it was so small there was only one chair to sit on. Not enough for room for 4 people at all! The "kitchenette" consisted a buffet less than 1foot from the main bed. It was nothing like advertised. There was also a terrible smell though the place. My dear father inlaw took one look from the car and didn't get out!
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Date of stay: January 2016
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Halfanidea wrote a review June 2011
Sydney, Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
The Motel was fine if a bit musty smelling but it does rain a lot up there; mind you it also had a pool so it must be hot sometime. Ballina is about a half hour away from Byron but all the accommodation is outrageously priced in Byron for the festival – one night in basic hotel room $500, guest house $350 !!! Even the motel in Ballina had added a half onto its price, so $120 p.n. instead of $80 and all motels in Byron were booked out long ago.

But there was a privately run bus from Ballina to the festival via 2 other towns Lennox head & Suffolk Park, that takes 50-60mins costing $9.80 one way during the day and $10 at night. It said on the web site they were running the buses on the Saturday time table on the Thursday, but that was not the case so we got a cab.

Later that night (day 1) getting back to base took a while because it was a so called 'slow day' so there was only one bus out of there at 12:30pm and no one seemed to know what was going on, so the organization there was bad and there was no timetables up anywhere (we did at least know the time thanks to the earlier phone call to the bus co.). Funnily enough 'slow day' tickets didn’t cost any less, so we really thought the lack of public transport that day was a poor show, it’s very much advertised as a 5 day event not a 4 day one so everything should work all 5 days. (When you are booking the accommodation they are all “No worries there’s loads of shuttle buses”, no mention of 'slow days' then.) Then of course people who went early for the bus and ended up waiting for 90mins nearly came to blows with last minute queue jumping local teenagers.

So motel was fine but don't think I'd stay again when really I wanted to be in Byron.
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Date of stay: April 2011
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
2.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Al G wrote a review Sept 2019
1.0 of 5 bubbles
This would be classed at the bottom end of the market. Very tired and in need of makeover. Great location. Parking a little tight for larger vehicles. Housekeeping a bit hit and miss, check quantities of towels and such before a shower. All furnishings worn, aged and starting to fail. Beds very firm, (hard). Has microwave, toaster & sink.
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Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FuudTrip wrote a review Feb 2016
Australia
3.0 of 5 bubbles
If you are a fussy traveller who must have all the frills do not stay here! This was the perfect motel for our needs, one night stop over, close to shops, rsl club & Main Street & esplanade, with pubs, restaurants etc all within walking distance. Room has microwave, kettle toaster & kitchen sink so enough to prep a basic meal or breakfast yourself. Aircon in room, ours had a king bed, parking right at your door, bathrooms a bit dated but had all the necessary bits. All for $70 booked via a last minute type website, good value & just what we needed.
Although they had a nice pool area at the time of our visit it was not particularly clean & water a bit murky so was a shame as it was very hot & would have been nice to swim! But the inlet from ocean right across the road so you can swim there too.
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stockses wrote a review Nov 2014
Morayfield, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
First time to see a 24 hour check-in machine. Lifesaver. When travelling from Brisbane to Sydney you want to get as far as you can before stopping to rest. The problem is, if you don't book a place, there are no motels that stay open for late travelers! After trying places in Brunswick heads and all along the highway we decided to wait until Ballina. A huge storm hit with torrential rain making driving difficult. We rang the Ramada, the only Hotel open at 10:00pm, only to find they were fully booked. By the time we had trolled the Main Street in Ballina, seeing only 'no vacancy' signs, it had passed 11pm and even all the Hotels/pubs were now closed. We decided to keep driving and sleep in the car and plough end through the rain to head out of town. Just past the lights we saw the HiCraft. The sign said '24hour self-check in'. We did a u-turn and drove in. The self check in machine was under cover. Phew. After completing the easy instructions and paying by credit card, the machine popped out the key. At that moment, the manager turned the lights on and popped his head out to see if we were ok. We had been allocated a second story room, but our luggage was very heavy and the steep stairs in the rain scared us. He changed the room for us, which turned out to be a delux room (usually an extra $15). Very helpful and friendly. The room? Well, to us it was a palace with shining gold fittings. But honestly, it had been recently refurbished with tasteful decor. It was very clean and had everything we needed. It even had a mini kitchen outside the bathroom. This is handy for travelers sharing a bathroom, you can fill the coffee pot while someone uses the bathroom. They provided shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap, hand and body lotion, and shaving cream dispensers. They even had nice instant coffee (not international roast!). The room had a large flat screenTV and lots of lighting. The car backs onto the front as with other motels. The rooms are brick, so noise from neighbours was actually zero. In the morning you could hear the noise from the highway, but not as much as you would think, it was very muted.
Lovely staff, top standard motel rooms, price? We paid $105 for self-checkin, but wotif had them for $77 if we were better organised. Fantastic. Will mark this down on our Brisbane to Sydney list! No stress. Great sleep. Thank you Hi Craft.
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Date of stay: November 2014
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Room 23 great. A bit close to the road side. Choose a room further from the road to ensure quiet.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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dancerman2323 wrote a tip Jan 2021
Nelson Bay, Australia27 contributions41 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Ask for a room at the rear, I think it would be quieter"
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Andrew F wrote a tip Aug 2019
10 contributions6 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Don't stay here."
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UnbiasedAssessment wrote a tip Feb 2018
Townsville, Australia186 contributions72 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Stay elsewhere."
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Graeme N wrote a tip Jan 2017
Bacchus Marsh, Australia224 contributions86 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"The downstairs room we had was fine and I would expect them all to be very similar."
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Unique Monique wrote a tip Dec 2016
Brisbane, Australia51 contributions28 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Ground floor easier with a family"
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LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesBallina ShireBallina
NUMBER OF ROOMS
26
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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BALLINA HI CRAFT MOTEL - Reviews - Photos of Motel - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballina Hi Craft Motel
Which popular attractions are close to Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Nearby attractions include Northern Rivers Community Gallery (0.9 km), Captain Cook Park (0.5 km), and Fawcett Park (0.8 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Ché Bon Restaurant, Ballina Gallery Cafe, and Thai by Night by Chalee.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Ballina Hi Craft Motel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.2 km away from the centre of Ballina.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Ballina Hi Craft Motel?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Hindi.
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