Ballina and Port Douglas go head-to-head for the title of best regional destination. Port Douglas is where you can be lazy or adventurous. On the edge of Four Mile Beach, anchor your acrylic umbrella in the sand; snorkel the Great Barrier Reef or hike the Daintree Rainforest. South of the border in Ballina, you can see two castles, a maze, macadamias, hinterland and a handful of beaches.