Ballina, Australia

North of Grafton, the old port of BALLINA, at the mouth of the Richmond River, is a tranquil holiday town that hasn't escaped the clutches of the "big things", with the Big Prawn marking the entrance to town on the highway from Grafton.

You can fly to Ballina from Sydney with Virgin Blue, Regional Express or Jetstar, who also have flights from Melbourne. Greyhound and Premier Motor Service connect the town by bus to all stops between Sydney and Brisbane; Kirklands run to Byron Bay, Brisbane, Lismore and Lennox Head; while Blanch's operate services to and from the airport, and to Lennox Head and Byron Bay. To get around town, you can rent bikes from Jack Ransom Cycles (Tel:02/6685 3485) at 16 Cherry St.