Yamba

On the water

Just south of Yamba is Angourie Point, a National Surfing Reserve ranked among the top right-hand point breaks in Australia. It’s a popular spot for experienced wave riders year-round, with smaller swells also suitable for those still getting acquainted with their boards. For a dip closer to home, have a swim at Yamba Main Beach (and its scenic ocean pool), Turners Beach or Pippi Beach.

Turners Beach, Yamba

Meanwhile, keen anglers can catch plenty of fish either from the beach, along the estuary or off the rocks. You can hire boats or fishing kayaks, and drop into one of the numerous bait and tackle shops for tips on where the fish are biting. Both Reel Time Fishing Charters and Yamba Fishing and Charters offer expeditions out into the Pacific.

Pick up your paddle to explore waterways on a tour with Yamba Kayak, offering jaw-dropping experiences that allow you front-row, eye-to-eye encounters with dolphins along the estuary – you may even spot migrating whales, from May through November. A similar perspective is available when you cruise with Clarence River Ferries, which runs scenic jaunts and a passenger service to Iluka, on the northern side of the river.

Yamba Whale Watch Ocean Adventures, Yamba

Escape into nature

While Yamba is known for its epic beaches and waves, the surrounding countryside is just as alluring for its swathes of native forest – and all the outdoor adventures that ensue. Clamber to the Yamba Lighthouse, and then continue south on the 65km Yuraygir coastal walk all the way to Red Rock, following ancient emu trails in the Yuraygir National Park.

Yuraygir Coastal Walk, Angourie

Seaside villages such as Brooms Head dot your route, which ends in the hamlet of Wooli, its narrow peninsula surrounded by forest, beaches and the Wooli Wooli River (known for providing perfect growing conditions for Sydney rock oysters). Just offshore, the Solitary Islands Marine Park covers 71,000 hectares, the protected reserve a haven for coral, fish, dolphins, grey nurse sharks and whales during migration. Snorkel or dive into this immense ecosystem with Wooli Dive Centre.

Yamba Ocean Pool, Yamba - Credit: My Clarence Valley

Things to do in town

Be sure to explore the town either on foot or two wheels – hire your bike from Bike Shop Yamba. Retrace the steps of explorer Matthew Flinders on a self-guided walk exploring the town's historical highlights, including Flinders Well and Yamba Museum.

The main drag, Yamba Street, is home to a collection of charming boutique shops, such as One Country Mouse, Flots & Jets and The Corner Store. Literature lovers should make tracks for second-hand bookshop, The Nook.

Couple enjoying a walk through Yamba, Clarence Valley

Eat, drink & be merry

If you can drag yourself away from the beach, Yamba delivers a thriving food scene and an events calendar filled with festivals, markets and sports. Sample all the best locally caught seafood – including famous Yamba prawns – at fish shops and restaurants around town, such as Sandbar, Clarence River Fisherman's Co-Operative and Yamba's Fisho. Visiting on a Wednesday? Take a walk through the fantastic Yamba Farmers & Producers Market, which hosts 45 permanent stallholders selling regional gate-to-plate produce.

Yamba Farmers and Producers Market, Yamba

Yum Yum Angourie Cafe and General Store has been a local favourite for years, drop in for a coffee in the sunshine at their outdoor tables and a chat with the locals. For gin cocktails, grab a seat at Yamba Distilling Co, and for craft beer, head to Wobbly Chook Brewing Co. Don’t miss a meal at the 1934-built Pacific Hotel, where your ocean views are matched with a menu that pays homage to the region’s produce. Can’t bear to leave? Your room awaits.

Yum Yum Angourie Cafe and General Store, Yamba

Where to stay

You’ll find plenty of accommodation options in Yamba, from campgrounds and holiday parks – including Calypso Yamba Holiday Park, Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort and BIG4 Saltwater at Yamba Holiday Park – to an award-winning youth hostel, farmstays, luxury retreats and tiny houses. The Surf Yamba, a boutique hotel offering 12 rooms, has become somewhat of a town landmark, with a sunlit rooftop with a heated plunge pool overlooking the Main Beach. The Pacific Hotel, as its name implies, features Pacific Ocean views and cosy rooms.

The Surf Yamba, Yamba - Credit: Elise Hassey

Getting there 

It’s a scenic seven-hour 30-minute drive north from Sydney to Yamba, and it is a popular stop on an east coast road trip to Byron Bay. It's three hours 30 minutes south from Brisbane and the closest airport to Yamba is Ballina, where you can hire a car for the one hour and 15-minute drive south. 

The Port of Yamba serves the entire Northern Rivers and New England regions including the towns of Grafton, Maclean, Ballina, Lismore and Casino. Cruise ships would sit at anchor in the harbour and passengers brought to shore on tender boats.