19 December 2024
12 mins Read
The seaside village of Yamba is the sort of place that prompts visiting city dwellers to dream about downsizing. Grab an obligatory schooner of beer at the Pacific Hotel, sign up for a surfing lesson, enjoy an iconic coastal walk, swim at a nearby waterfall and fall for Yamba’s low-key Australian charm by exploring its lovely landscapes and beautiful beaches. Here are 18 fabulous things to do in Yamba.
Exhale Yamba features a dreamy outdoor spa bath in a lush garden setting.
Australia’s obsession with the rejuvenating art of spa baths knows no bounds with Yamba the latest destination to embrace the trend. Drop your bags and float over to Exhale Yamba to explore the beach town’s first foray into holistic bathhouse territory. Offering mineral-enriched baths in a lush garden setting, plus traditional and infrared saunas and cold plunging in an ice bath, the wellness haven is undoubtedly one of the most replenishing things to do in Yamba. It opened its doors in November 2023 and also offers massage treatments, breath work services and beauty services.
The Blue and Green Pools make an escape to Yamba even more magical. (Image: Destination NSW)
You’ll need to veer off the Pacific Highway and cross the serpentine, Clarence River, to get to Yamba, which is only a couple of hours from its boho sibling, Byron Bay. And while salty-haired surfers flock to Yamba to go surfing, a visit to the emerald Blue and Green Pools makes an escape to Yamba even more magical.
Both are open for swimming, although it’s good to check local guidelines as there can be algae blooms, especially in summer. The pools are located at The Crescent, a reserve that is culturally significant to the Yaegl community.
Hop aboard MV Mirigini along the scenic Clarence River.
Admire Yamba’s tropical beauty from the water with Clarence River Ferries’ historic MV Mirigini, which sluices daily between Yamba and Iluka on the mouth of the Clarence River.
The ferry also offers informative excursions to nearby Harwood Island on Wednesday and Friday, as well as a live music cruise on Sunday.
Yamba is the poster child for the beautiful beaches of Northern NSW. (Image: Destination NSW)
Yamba is the poster child for the beautiful beaches of Northern NSW. Take the pup down to dog-friendly Pippi Beach or relax under palm fronds at the lesser-known Convent Beach.
Keen fisherman? The surrounding waterways in Yamba are teeming with fish, and you’ll find a plethora of great fishing spots – head to Yamba Bait and Tackle in town and ask where to get started. The knowledgeable staff are happy to help out. Avid surfers will love Main Beach, which often has great waves, or nearby Angourie with Spooky Beach being one of the best places near Yamba for snorkelling, too.
The Yamba Bowlo is an institution, renowned for its extensive kid-friendly activities. There’s ten pin bowling, a mini golf course, a rock wall and a maze for toddlers, so even the little ones are well-catered for.
The Friday and Sunday raffles are big news, especially in the high summer season (winning a seafood BBQ dinner? Nothing beats it!), and its Norfolk Bistro offers up classic club fare like schnitties and seafood baskets. It’s also worth checking out the bowling club’s gig guide as loads of major Australian artists, including the Hoodoo Gurus and Paul Kelly, have played there.
Soak up the sun and laidback feasting aboard a BBQ boat charter. Services can be snapped up via Yamba B.B.Q. Boat Hire, located at Yamba Marina on Yamba Road. Take your pick from three six-seater cuddy cab runabouts, two eight-seater vessels, two 10-seater vessels and two 12-seater pontoon choices.
All boats include your all-important barbecue, cushioned seating, toilets, life jackets, a first aid kit and shading to fend off those epic local rays.
Time your visit for harvest season and pick your own peaches fresh from the trees.
For those craving an escape to the country, The Peach Farm Bush Camp delivers with its rural surrounds in the Lower Clarence, a top spot to spend a night under the stars. It’s also a great day activity for families as visitors are invited to feed farm animals (think bunnies, chooks, sheep, guinea pigs and more) as bags of feed are available to guests for a fee.
The kids will also find their fix at the beautiful nature playground and there’s a neighbourhood shop stocked with the farms’ pickings, snacks, sweets and more.
While we’re on the topic of boats, it’s worth considering a full or half day fishing charter out there, too. The options are abundant with the likes of Yamba Fishing and Charters, Reel Time Fishing Charters and Solitary Island Fishing Charters facilitating regular charters.
Whatever you opt for, Yamba fishing charters always promise to guide you through baiting your hook and rigging your line to help you land a big, juicy one for that ultimate happy snap. Already a seasoned pro? These expeditions are pure indulgence, brimming with plenty of opportunities to make a catch.
Playful pods of dolphins are a regular sight in Yamba.
One of the best Yamba jogging routes is along the Yamba Breakwall, which separates Turners Beach and the Clarence River. You’ll head past the historic Yamba lighthouse, which has existed in its coastal location for over 100 years. Keep an eye out for dolphins which often frequent the waters here.
Best of all, the Yamba Breakwall is dog-friendly (just keep them on a leash), and wide enough to enjoy strolling alongside friends, too.
Embrace your own boat-to-plate experience at the Yamba Prawn Shack.
The Clarence River Fisherman’s Co-Op is marked on the Sydney Fish Market map as a suggested stop on a seafood-centric road trip, so you know it’s worth a visit. As well as selling fish and chips alongside fresh seafood you can BBQ at home, the co-op supplies Yamba prawns, oysters and other delicious crustaceans to the Yamba Prawn Shack, one of the best boat-to-plate spots to pick up fresh seafood in Yamba. Order a bucket-load of prawns to go, then head to the headland overlooking Main Beach for a picnic.
Change your clocks to Clarence Valley time and settle in for a tasting at Yamba Distilling Co., where you can indulge in tasting paddles and cocktails crafted from the team’s dry gin (and coffee liqueur) creations.
It’s an adult-specific thing to do in Yamba but children and dogs are welcome within the venue’s Gin Garden, if they’re kept under control.
Bed down at this Art Deco beauty.
The Pacific Hotel is a Yamba mainstay and one of the best Yamba accommodation picks. But it’s also plenty frequented for its views. A renovated beauty with one of the best seats in town, the prominent landmark offers surf, sea, and sun on tap, so expect a few crusty surfers lurking on the deck in search of a swell. Go for the house-beer-battered fish served with salad and fries and stay for the live entertainment.
Treat yourself to a rejuvenating treatment at Mikahuna Massage & Bodywork.
Yamba has several excellent day spas and massage specialists worth checking out if you need some wind-down time on your holiday. Melt Massage and Beauty in nearby Maclean is a popular salon, offering massage and body therapies as well as facials and lengthier packages.
Another popular choice is Ngara Beauty, a day spa run by mother and daughter locals, Natalie Le Breton and Daisy Lloyd. For something different, Mikahuna Massage & Bodywork offers traditional Hawaiian massage techniques.
Yamba offers numerous picturesque cycling spots. (Image: Destination NSW)
While you can drive to the Blue and Green pools in Angourie, a nice day trip can involve renting a bike and cycling along the highway between Yamba and the sleepy surf town. Bike Shop Yamba rents bikes out to visitors, and the ride will take you approximately 20 minutes.
Many of Yamba’s hotels and motels will also have bikes you can borrow for free, so it’s worth checking with your accommodation before looking beyond. Remember to always wear a helmet and be cautious when riding – the highway is wide and has a dedicated bike path but there is an 80 km/h speed limit along some stretches.
Corkscrew around the Clarence for long enough and chances are you’ll steer into Wobbly Chook, located in Yamba’s industrial estate. The microbrewery offers a selection of beers including lager, IPA and a particularly memorable ‘Dirty Bird’ brown ale, which will, according to owner Justin, “put hairs on your chest”. The must-visit is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, selling everything from bacon and egg rolls to pulled pork nachos — delicious stomach-lining stuff.
The 65-kilometre-long multi-day walk traces the coastline from Angourie to Red Rock. (Image: Destination NSW)
The multi-day Yuraygir coastal walk along the Clarence Coast is dotted with places to stop for a snorkel or swim or to look out for whales. The 65-kilometre-long multi-day walk traces the coastline from Angourie to Red Rock with overnight stops at beautiful beach campgrounds.
The trail journeys through the traditional homelands of the Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl nations along an ancient path followed by Australia’s coastal emus. Time it right (around October) and you’ll be able to bask in flannel flower pastures, which are pretty spectacular.
Hunt for treasures to take home at Island Collective.
Yamba is loved for its quirky charm, and a large part of that charm is due to the local, independent boutiques and homeware shops that wouldn’t look out of place in our beloved Byron Bay (but without the bumper-to-bumper crowds).
Bounce between One Country Mouse, Podium (which stocks Australian labels like Zulu & Zephyr and Rowie The Label) and Island Collective while hunting for treasures to take home. Don’t miss Summi Summi, too, a local fashion label stocking killer summer wardrobe essentials.
Whether you prefer cult classics or new releases, this independent movie theatre will offer your fix. The cinema is all old-school Yamba nostalgia with its single-screen space, however up to 200 guests can comfortably fit within its walls. Located just a few minutes from the town centre, the ultra-comfy cinema is dressed in red-velvet curtains while also serving popcorn and choc-tops at its snack bar.
Fill your basket with fresh produce. (Image: Destination NSW)
To see this tight-knit community do what they do best, factor in a visit to Yamba Farmers & Producers Market, which operates Wednesdays from 7am at the Whiting Beach carpark on the corner of Clarence and Harbour Streets.
Young creatives have moved to the region in droves, and you’ll get a sense of this when you wander around the weekly event, as stallholders sell everything from microgreens to sourdough and sushi.
Alternatively, check out the Yamba River Markets, which take place on the fourth Sunday of every month at Ford Park on the Clarence River. You’ll find loads of local businesses selling everything from fresh produce to fashion.
The Clarence River region holds great importance to the local Goorie (Aboriginal) people, and this driving route steers visitors around significant sites where you can honour the stories of the Traditional Owners of the Land.
Stop at 13 sites along the way to learn Dreamtime stories about the Durrangan (which the Goories believe to be a powerful spirit) and the creation of the Clarence Aboriginal People.
Get off the grid and unwind in one of the campsites.
Eight sections. 195 kilometres. Eight waterfalls. 12 campsites. Australia’s longest mapped whitewater trail, the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail within Nymboida Camping and Canoeing, snakes between Nymboi-Binderay National Park and the township of Copmanhurst, containing some of the most diverse conditions for paddling found anywhere in the world. But it’s not just for gung-ho action heroes. The epic trail also has family-friendly sections and experienced guides who can paddle with you.
Explore mangroves along the Clarence River on a kayak. (Image: Destination NSW)
Skip the frothy surf for a meander down the stunning Clarence River. Yamba Kayak offers a range of diverse tours including the standout three-hour River Island Tour which explores local islands, mangroves and secret beaches inside the mouth of the river. Morning tea, coffee and tea is also included.
This article was originally written by Carla Grossetti with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams.
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MY YAMBA. Untamed beauty