Ballina lies south of Byron Bay in the Northern Rivers region. While Byron Bay is the more popular of the two towns - it's a stop on the international backpacker trail for one thing - many visitors looking for a quieter time will take cheap flights to Ballina, base themselves there, and take day trips to Byron.
Ballina's wonderful climate, its location at the mouth of the Richmond River, superb beaches (South Ballina Beach is the star) and hinterland, offer lots of options for holiday makers. There are the water-based attractions - swimming, scuba diving, surfing (at Lennox Head, between Ballina and Byron Bay), fishing (river and beach), boating, whale-watching (between June and November) and dolphin watching (all year) - and the seafood is, naturally, wonderful.
Close to Ballina, the Victoria Park Nature Reserve is one of the remnants of the Big Scrub. The reserve covers 17.5 hectares, with eight hectares of untouched rainforest, and clearly marked walking trails.
This Ballina should not be confused with the town in Mayo, Ireland, although it is a sister city.