Ballina can get pretty windy so in choosing a park or site keep that in mind & be sure to tie your awning down securely at all times.
We usually stay at Ballina Lakeside. Its a Top Tourist park & pretty pricey with all the kiddy stuff, but our grandkids love it. A bit of a bugger to launch the kayak from there, except for into the 'lake'. We like sites along the lakeside ... sites 134 to 140.
Shaws Bay park across the lake has been done up & has a few good looking sites along the lake & out of the wind howling up the entrance. Might be a bit noisy on sunday afternoon from the next door pub. Easier to get the kayak into the river from it.
There is another well patronised one in town but it doesn't appeal to us because of the traffic.
On the way in from the north there is one that doesn't really cater for tourists (a mate of mine manages it). Gets its business from semi permanents I think. Too far from the beach for me.
Another on the south side that doesn't appeal to us either.
Haven't been over the ferry to South Ballina but I think that it might be a good quiet CP with a good share of semi permanents too.
hope this helps ..
ps.. The 'Lake' was originally Shaws Bay but has been cut off by the rock wall. The 'lake' is tidal with a fair population of all the normal species of fish.
