Why Ballina’s Op Shop Trail is Paradise for Thrifty Shoppers
Our guide to Ballina’s ‘secret’ treasure troves — back in action for 2026
Ballina is best known for its Big Prawn, airport and relaxed coastal lifestyle, but there’s another ‘secret’ side to the town that locals have quietly embraced for years.
At a time when recycling, up-cycling and conscious shopping are not just sensible but stylish, Ballina is already ahead of the curve.
As of today, all nine op shops in Ballina’s CBD are back in action, dealing with the post-Christmas rush as unwanted gifts are re-gifted and holiday clean-outs send donations flowing through charity stores.
It may be one of the most concentrated stretches of op shops anywhere.
And the work these shops support — from animal welfare and crisis care to food programs and rescue services — matters more than ever.
Welcome to the Ballina Op Shop Trail
Ballina News Daily’s Guide to the Ballina Op Shop Trail
1) Northern Rivers Animal Services Op Shop
268 River Street
The NRAS Op Shop may look modest from the street, but inside it opens into a space packed with surprises.
Manager Donna Lloyd said the post-Christmas period is always the most challenging.
“It’s horrendous at this time of year,” she said.
“Everyone does their New Year clean-outs and we just get far too much stuff.”
To manage the flow, NRAS limits donation days to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, giving volunteers time to sort goods before they reach the shop floor.
“The op shops are how the shelter survives,” Ms Lloyd said.
“They fund vaccinations, microchipping, desexing, food and care.”
She said what keeps the shop going is the commitment of its volunteers.
“They’re happy, they like what they do, and customers feel that,” she said.
Julie Cook and Cheryl Dorey – volunteers at the NRAS op shop
Ballina’s Team ADRA; Lorenzo Preolani, Sue Schmolling, Beth Winkler,and Ernie Feletti
2) ADRA Op Shop & 3) The ADRA Furniture Shop
Corner of Kerr and Tamar Streets/ 130 Tamar St
The ADRA Op Shop reopened after Christmas to a familiar surge in donations.
Manager Lorenzo Preolani said the operation is built almost entirely on volunteer effort, and that caring for those volunteers is just as important as caring for customers.
“We rely on around 30 volunteers across the two shops,” he said.
“Many of them are seniors, and we’re very careful not to burn them out.”
Volunteers range from their late 60s into their 80s, and shifts are managed carefully.
“This is not just a workplace for them, it’s a place to have fun, to feel useful, and to help people,” Mr Preolani said.
That philosophy carries into how ADRA supports the community.
“Even if someone steps through our door and they are homeless or being abused, we don’t just provide goods,” he said.
“We sit with them. We listen. We try to care.”
ADRA supports international aid programs and is well known locally for its Five Loaves kitchen, which provides free meals.
It is also one of the few Ballina op shops that accept and sell tested electrical goods, and it operates the town’s only dedicated op-shop furniture outlet, a few doors further down at 130 Tamar St.
With storage space limited — particularly after Christmas — donations are best made during opening hours so volunteers can safely receive and process goods.
Grandma’s old figurines spotted on the Op shop Trail – now they’re referred to as ‘Grandmacore Collectibles’
4) Anglican Op Shop
112 Tamar Street
The Anglican Op Shop is known for its fast-moving stock, particularly clothing.
Because of the volume of donations it receives, the shop operates specific acceptance times, which are clearly signposted.
Volunteers say checking times before dropping goods off helps prevent items being damaged or left unattended outside the store.
5) Lifeline Shop
212 River Street
The Lifeline Op Shop stands out as the only op shop in Ballina open seven days a week.
Trading from 9am to 5pm weekdays and more limited weekend hours, it is a reliable stop for locals and visitors alike.
Purchases support Lifeline’s crisis support and suicide-prevention services, with volunteers managing donations, stock and customers throughout the week.
The shop is particularly popular with younger shoppers, with a strong clothing selection and a steady turnover of stock helping keep the shop busy throughout the week.
Donations are accepted most days, with donors asked to check in with staff or volunteers and use the rear access when available. Like most op shops, some items — including underwear and socks — cannot be accepted.
Running a seven-day operation requires a large volunteer base, with around 30 volunteers needed to keep the store operating smoothly, so they’re always keen to hear from now starters.
6) Dove Cafe
81 Tamar Street
Okay, it’s not an op shop, but solid bargain hunting builds up a thirst and appetite.
Midway along the walk is Dove Café, run by Wesley Mission.
The café provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities and serves the amazing Old Quarter locally roasted coffee, making it a natural pause point before continuing the trail.
7) Ballina Bargain Centre
77 Tamar Street
The Ballina Bargain Centre has a more warehouse-style feel than nearby stores and remains firmly welfare-focused.
Run by Life Church, it combines an op shop with a food bank, offering low-cost groceries and free fresh fruit and vegetables supplied daily by supermarkets.
“People are quite welcome to come in and help themselves to the fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost,” manager Tracy Walsh said.
Prices are kept deliberately low.
Tracy Walsh, with a brand new juicer – one of those unwanted Christmas gifts
“We’ll bargain with people if they come and talk to us about what they need,” Ms Walsh said.
Like ADRA, the centre accepts and sells tested electrical goods, but donations are best made when the shop is open, particularly during busy periods.
8) Salvation Army Op Shop
79–81 River Street
The Salvos Op Shop offers a brighter, more retail-style experience, with clearly defined sections and a steady turnover of stock.
These days it operates on a more commercial basis, with paid staff as well as volunteers and new unused goods as well as those donated.
Because of its profile, it often receives high volumes of donations, and staff encourage donors to check availability during peak times so goods can be handled safely.
Above: the newly re-opened Helicopter Op Shop on Martin St.
Main Photo: the re-opening day crew; Jenny Mills, Betty Wright, Steve Adams, Neil Marsh, Laraine Hugo, Jan Reilly and Helen Moore
9) Helicopter Op Shop
8 Martin Street
One of the biggest drawcards on Ballina’s op shop trail reopened this week, with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter charity Op Shop welcoming customers back after a four-month closure for refurbishment.
The shop closed in early September, creating what manager Steven Adams described as clear pent-up demand.
“A lot of people understood we were closed and held onto items for us,” Mr Adams said.
“So we’ve been pretty fortunate.”
Like other op shops across the region, the reopening has coincided with post-Christmas clean-outs, traditionally one of the busiest donation periods of the year.
Mr Adams said the Helicopter Op Shop model resonated strongly with communities because the impact is tangible and local.
“People respond to it because it’s local and community-based,” he said.
“The money stays in the region.”
He said many volunteers and donors had a personal connection to the rescue helicopter service, either directly or through family and friends.
10) Vinnies – St Vincent de Paul Society Op Shop
7 Martin Street
The final stop on Ballina’s op shop trail is Vinnies, located directly across the road from the Helicopter Op Shop — making the two an easy pairing for shoppers short on time.
Like the helicopter shop opposite, Vinnies benefits from strong foot traffic and a steady stream of donations, particularly following Christmas and during seasonal clean-outs.
The Ballina store is well known for its direct welfare focus, with proceeds from sales supporting people in need through local St Vincent de Paul services.
The Salvo’s Op Shop – features both new and pre-loved items
The shop is clean, well organised and consistently well stocked, with a broad range of clothing, bric-a-brac and household items, and new donations arriving regularly.
Vinnies also accepts donations most days, though donors are encouraged to call ahead, particularly during busy periods, to ensure staff and volunteers can safely manage incoming goods.
Like many op shops across Ballina, the store relies heavily on volunteers and would welcome additional help from community members interested in supporting its welfare work.
A quiet local claim to fame
Ballina’s thrifty shopping may not feature on tourism brochures, but few towns offer so much charity retail in such a small, walkable area.
Nine op shops.
One kilometre.
Powered by volunteers.
Do the Ballina Op Shop Trail, and you’ll come away with more than a bargain!
Great article – thank you!