A village town in the Northern Rivers region of the New South Wales North Coast was a river port town established in the 1800s.
The Wardell Bridge, opening 10th April 1964, changed the Pacific Highway. Before the bridge was built, crossing the Richmond River was by ferry at Burns Point Ferry, a point of long delays travelling on the Pacific coastal highway. In 2022, the highway was once again changed with a motorway bypass around Ballina, and bypassing Wardell as well.
Wardell Pies is still a popular spot with a variety of pies that are not seen at most pie shops. I couldn’t have one, split between having Duck and Mushroom pie, or a Stoat Beef pie. Later on the same day, Wardell pies were at Summerland House Farm 
, so a Curry Beef was also had.
Wardell is the start of the Hinterland Tourist Drive 28 
, driving in the north direction to Mullumbimby, via Alstonville, Bangalow, and Newrybar.