Looking for a relaxing and picturesque coastal escape for a day trip or weekend away within 3.5 hours drive from Brisbane and less than 2.5 hour from the Gold Coast, Ballina and Byron Bay airport. Pack your bags and head down to Yamba in Northern New South Wales, one of NSW's best kept beachside escape secrets.
Follow our guide for all of the top things to see and do and find all of the best places to eat in a day in Yamba.
Take a short drive south of the Queensland Border past the the Tweed Coast and Byron Bay and you'll reach the coastal town of Yamba. It is the the perfect seaside escape for a day or weekend. We love this spot as a quiet and local alternative to Byron Bay.
If you're planning to spend time in Yamba why not stay a night or two? Here's a few options you can book. If you follow our link we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For the best views in Yamba, we recommend a stay at the Iconic Pacific Hotel.
The hotel has recently under gone a million dollar renovation to it's North Wing offering a more premium 'signature' accomodation options of king and queen rooms, which include ensuites, detailed joinery, large televisions, WiFi and a mini-bar. The hotel is also the perfect location being walking distance to the beach, lighthouse, shops and cafes.
Top things to see and do, plus where to eat in a day or weekend in Yamba, NSW
Cafes - Have coffee at Palmers Store:
Start your morning with coffee from Palmers Store as you drive into Yamba. They are the perfect spot for a takeaway cup, and to pick up some locally made small delicacy picnic snacks for the rest of the day.
Lunch & Views - Eat overlooking the ocean at the Pacific Hotel Yamba:
If there's one place you can't miss a visit to in Yamba it's the Pacific Hotel. If you're looking for accomodation, we recommend a stay here, otherwise stop by for lunch and a drink. This hotel offers 180 degree views over the Pacific Ocean, we were lucky enough on our visit to watch the Humpback Wales passing along with seeing dolphins riding the waves at the beach below.
Visit the Yamba Lighthouse:
Just a 5 minute walk from the Pacific Hotel is the Yamba Lighthouse, which has been guiding ships along Australia's East Coast for over 100 years. The location is surrounded by beautifully green grasslands making it perfect for an afternoon picnic or fish and chips while watching the surf, dolphins or even whale watching.
Take a swim at Yamba's Main Beach and Ocean Pools:
Built into the rocky coast of Yamba's main beach, overlooking the iconic Pacific Hotel are Yamba's ocean pools. For swimming at the beach, there is surf life saving patrol and flag on weekends and school holidays from September through to Easter. For a calmer swim, opt for the ocean pool, which is clean out daily with the tides changing!
Visit the Angourie Blue and Green Rock Pools:
Take a drive 10 minutes south from the centre of Yamba and you will reach Angourie, home to the blue and green rock pools. We believe these are Yamba's hidden gem. The pools were originally formed by a mine quarry which ran into a bit of a problem when the stone struck a freshwater spring and suddenly got filled with water creating the perfect swimming holes.
We hope you enjoyed our day trip guide to Yamba. To see more of our other Australian destination guides click here.
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