Yamba: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Yamba stands on the south side of the mouth of the Clarence, one of the biggest rivers on Australia's east coast, and everything here comes back to the river: the pilots who guided ships over its bar, the breakwalls that tamed it and the prawn trawlers that work it. This walk goes from the museum up to the lighthouse and along the beaches to the ferry. About two hours on foot, with hills; leave time for a swim in the ocean pool.
The ten best sights in Yamba
1Yamba LighthouseOn Pilot Hill above the beach; the best sunset spot in town
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2Yamba Main Beach
Patrolled town beach below the lighthouse
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3Yamba Ocean Pool
Free sea pool at the end of Main Beach
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4Pippi Beach
The surf beach; dolphins often ride the waves here
5Turners BeachBeside the breakwall; watch the boats cross the river bar
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6Yamba–Iluka ferry
A passenger ferry across the river mouth; check the timetable
7Angourie PointWatch the surfers from the headland; the wave is for experts
8Blue PoolA deep freshwater pool beside the sea; people jump from the rocks
9Yuraygir National ParkEmpty beaches and headlands south of Angourie
10Iluka Nature ReserveWorld Heritage rainforest by the sea, across the river
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Yamba →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Yamba:
Free walking tours in Yamba
The town at the river mouth
Yamba stands on the south side of the mouth of the Clarence, one of the biggest rivers on Australia's east coast, and everything here comes back to the river: the pilots who guided ships over its bar, the breakwalls that tamed it and the prawn trawlers that work it. This walk goes from the museum up to the lighthouse and along the beaches to the ferry. About two hours on foot, with hills; leave time for a swim in the ocean pool.
- Yamba Museum · The museum is run by the local historical society and tells the story of Yamba as a river port, from the pilot station to the timber and sugar that went out over the bar. Ships had to wait here for the right tide to cross.
- Yamba Lighthouse · Pilot Hill is named after the river pilots who watched the bar from here. The present lighthouse dates from 1955 and replaced an older one from 1880.
- Yamba Ocean Pool · The pool is built into the rocks at the end of Main Beach and topped up by the waves, so you can swim in the sea even when the surf is too big. Entry is free.
- Pippi Beach · The beach is named after pipis, small clams that live in the wet sand at the water's edge. It faces the open ocean and is the main surf beach of Yamba.
- Turners Beach · Turners Beach lies against the southern breakwall of the Clarence. The walls were built from rock quarried at Angourie to keep the river mouth deep enough for shipping.
- Yamba–Iluka ferry · There is no bridge at the river mouth: by road Iluka is about 40 minutes away, round through the Pacific Highway, but the passenger ferry crosses in a few minutes. Dolphins are often seen on the crossing.
Quarry pools and an empty coast
South of Yamba the houses stop and the coast becomes a national park, broken only by a few small villages. On the way are a surf break protected by law, two pools left by the men who quarried stone for the breakwalls, and a shallow prawning lake. Half a day to a day by car; the last stretches to Brooms Head and Minnie Water are on quiet roads with no shops between them.
- Angourie Point · Angourie was declared one of Australia's first National Surfing Reserves in 2007, protecting the break and its surroundings. The right-hand point wave has been famous among surfers since the 1960s.
- Blue Pool · The Blue Pool and the Green Pool beside it are old quarries: rock for the Clarence River breakwalls was cut here, and when the work stopped the pits filled with spring water. The Blue Pool is very deep, and only metres from the sea.
- Spooky Beach · A short path through the coastal heath leads down to this small beach in the Yuraygir National Park, just south of Angourie village. It is unpatrolled and often empty.
- Lake Wooloweyah · The shallow lake is part of the Clarence estuary, and its waters are a nursery for the school prawns that the local trawlers catch. Small boats trawl the lake itself in season.
- Brooms Head · Brooms Head is a tiny village wrapped around a headland, with a large beachfront holiday park and a rock pool. It sits in a gap of the Yuraygir National Park, which runs on both sides of it.
- Yuraygir National Park · Yuraygir protects the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in New South Wales. A coastal walk of about 65 km runs through it, from Angourie south to Red Rock.
Up the Clarence
The Clarence is wide enough to hold islands with farms and towns on them, and its valley mixes sugar cane, Scottish settlers and jacaranda trees. This route starts across the river mouth in rainforest on the sea and follows the river up to the city of Grafton. A full day by car, about 1.5 hours each way with stops; in late October and early November Grafton is purple with jacaranda flowers.
- Iluka Nature Reserve · The reserve holds the largest remaining stretch of littoral rainforest in New South Wales, rainforest that grows right behind the beach. It is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
- Iluka Bluff · The bluff is the northern edge of the river-mouth headlands, and its lookout is a good whale-watching spot in winter and spring. Below it, Iluka Bluff Beach runs north into the Bundjalung National Park.
- Maclean Lookout · From the hill above Maclean you see how the Clarence splits into channels around large islands such as Woodford and Chatsworth, covered in sugar cane. The cane is crushed at a mill nearby at Harwood.
- Maclean · Maclean was settled largely by Scottish Highlanders and calls itself the Scottish town in Australia. Its power poles are painted in clan tartans, and a Highland Gathering with pipe bands is held every Easter.
- Ulmarra · Ulmarra is an old river port whose main street of 19th-century shops and pub faces the Clarence. Ferries and river boats once stopped here on their way between Grafton and the coast.
- Grafton Bridge · The bridge opened in 1932 with the railway on the lower deck and the road on top, and it completed the rail link between Sydney and Brisbane. Grafton's Jacaranda Festival has been held every spring since 1935.
Getting to Yamba and getting around
- Clarence Valley Regional Airport · Small airport outside Grafton, 45 minutes inland; check current routes
- Grafton Station · The nearest stop on the Sydney–Brisbane line; few trains a day
- Yamba Coach Stop · Buses run to Maclean and Grafton, timed to some of the trains
Cheap eats in Yamba
Yamba is a prawn town: the Clarence River trawler fleet lands its catch here, and the thing to eat is a bag of cooked prawns or fish and chips on the grass above the river or the beach. The cafés along Yamba Street and Coldstream Street are the morning centre, and Angourie has a shop for surfers' breakfasts. Prices are in Australian dollars; local prawns cost far less here than in the cities.
- Yamba's Fisho · Fish, prawns and chips in town, about A$15-25
- Yamba Seafood · Local prawns and fish to take away, about A$15-30
- The Bakehouse Bakery · Pies and pastries, about A$6-12
- Irons and Craig · Breakfast café in the centre, about A$15-25
- Caperberry Cafe · Café for coffee and brunch, about A$15-25
- One Fine Cup · Coffee before the beach, about A$5-15
Nature and day trips near Yamba
- Yuraygir National Park · Empty coast and the four-day coastal walk
- Iluka Nature Reserve · World Heritage rainforest walk
- Angourie Point · Protected surf break and headland walk
- Bundjalung National Park · Lakes and beaches north of Iluka
- Lake Wooloweyah · Shallow lake for birds and paddling
- Iluka Bluff · Whale lookout, May to November
Things to do in Yamba with kids
- Yamba Ocean Pool · Free sea pool, safe from the surf
- Blue Pool · Rock jumping and a freshwater swim
- Yamba Main Beach · Patrolled beach with grass behind it
- Yamba–Iluka ferry · A short boat trip across the river
- Turners Beach · Calm beach beside the breakwall
Museums in Yamba
- Yamba Museum · River port, pilots and local families
- Yamba Lighthouse · Pilot Hill lookout and sunset
- Maclean · Tartan poles and Scottish heritage
- Grafton Bridge · Historic double-deck bridge over the Clarence
Where to eat in Yamba
- Yamba Shores Tavern · Tavern by the river south of town; meals about A$25-35
- The Mexican Yamba · Mexican; mains about A$20-30
- El Ocaso · Dinner in the centre; mains about A$25-40
- Tom's Seafood Chinese Restaurant · Chinese with local seafood; mains about A$20-35
- Yamba Bowling Club · Club bistro and bar; meals about A$20-30
Frequently asked questions about Yamba
What is there to see in Yamba?
The top sights in Yamba are Yamba Lighthouse, Yamba Main Beach and Yamba Ocean Pool. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Yamba?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Yamba without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Yamba?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Yamba, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The town at the river mouth.
How do you get to Yamba and get around?
The main ways are Clarence Valley Regional Airport, Grafton Station and Yamba Coach Stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Yamba, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Yamba that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Yamba for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.