A guide to every picturesque Yamba camping hot spot

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From spectacular sites with million-dollar water views to places to pull up your motorhome, the best Yamba camping and Yamba caravan park picks always dazzle.

Whether you’re a camping newbie or hard-core about sleeping under canvas, there’s a Yamba camping or Yamba caravan park to get you excited. Spanning old-school camping grounds, RV sites, glamping grounds and holiday parks, the best spots in and around the idyllic NSW North Coast town encourage ample time spent lazing about the water (or flying off bouncing pillows). Conveniently located to provide easy access to the top things to do in Yamba, these sites offer fishing, surfing, bush walks, beach hangs and so much more.

NRMA Blue Dolphin Yamba Holiday Resort

It’s a beautiful thing to have a mess of different families come together in communal spaces where they instantly have something in common. The NRMA Blue Dolphin Yamba Holiday Resort is like a cruise ship run aground and it’s all action stations with pedal karts, mini golf, a bike pump track, a climbing gym, arcade games, a water park and free wi-fi. The Yamba camping holy grail, which is just minutes from the heart of town, has cabins and villas as well as sites for tents and RVs.

Price: $-$$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to three-bedroom waterfront villas.

Facilities: Where to start? A pool bar, equipment hire, boat ramp, pedal kart hire, multiple swimming pools, mini golf, a bouncing pillow, playground, kiosk, camp kitchen, laundry, kids activities during the school holidays, cafe, a dump point and even more.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features wheelchair ramps and a quiet space.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, and you can choose from one-bedroom villas or powered sites.

Address: 31-45 Yamba Rd, Yamba

Big4 Saltwater Yamba Holiday Park

a caravan site at Big4 Saltwater Yamba Holiday Park
Sleep soundly in camper trailers and caravans at Big4 Saltwater Yamba Holiday Park.

Comfort is key at the Big4 Saltwater Yamba Holiday Park , where the appeal lies in a collective commitment to family fun and relaxation. The other draw card at this Yamba caravan park hot spot is The Oasis, a ridiculously lavish, totally thrilling lagoon-style water park that was unveiled in November 2024. Think palm trees, shallow bub-friendly waters, water slides and even a swim-up bar. Cue a soundtrack of children squealing as you walk around the perimeter of the park, which also features a jumping pillow, pump track, flying fox and pedal karts. The camping ground has campsites for tents and RVs, as well as cabins that are dog-friendly.

Price: $-$$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to a five-bedroom cabin

Facilities: That sprawling Oasis waterpark, a jumping pillow, two playgrounds, a boat ramp, two camp kitchens, equipment hire, a flying fox, a pump track, pedal kart hire, four barbecue areas, amenities block, a dog wash, EV charging station, DVD hire, outdoor movies, volleyball, school holiday activities and, seriously, plenty more.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, and you can choose from various sites and cabins.

Address: 286 O’Keefe’s Lane, Yamba

Pebbly Beach campground

Those setting off on the popular multi-day Yuraygir Coastal Walk will need somewhere to rest their head along the way. Stop overnight at the Pebbly Beach campground at the end of day one to carve off and wander along the Freshwater Track. There you’ll find towering pandanus palms that the local Gumbaynggirr people used to weave neckbands, dillybags and baskets. Please note that this much-loved camping hot spot, located within Yuraygir National Park, is only accessible at low tide and about a 1.5-hour drive from the centre of Yamba.

Price: $ — just unpowered sites are available, and you’ll need to pay $8 per vehicle per day for entry into the National Park.

Facilities: Non-flush toilets and you can buy firewood at the campground.

Accessibility: No

Dog-friendly?: No

Address: Freshwater Track, Barcoongere

Brooms Head Holiday Park

Brooms Head Holiday Park
Brooms Head Holiday Park is a great base camp for surfers. (Image: Clarence Coast Holiday Parks)

Embrace the region’s natural surroundings at Brooms Head Holiday Park , one of the most popular Yamba caravan parks come sunny season. Located less than 40 minutes from Yamba proper, the spectacularly positioned grounds instil instant calm as the views stretch across a golden beach and lagoon rockpools. You’re also within walking distance from Lake Arragan and Redcliff, so nature steals the spotlight every way you tackle your days. Book early to score a cabin or villa right on the beach.

Price: $-$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to two-bedroom ocean-fronting villas.

Facilities: BBQ area, playground, multiple dump points, amenities block, laundry and a boat ramp.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features wheelchair-accessible cabins, ramps and free hire of beach wheelchairs.

Dog-friendly?: No

Address: 35 Ocean Rd, Brooms Head

Calypso Yamba Holiday Park

a scenic view of the Clarence River at Calypso Yamba Holiday Park
This Yamba camping spot is nestled in an idyllic spot overlooking the Clarence River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Arrive at the Calypso Yamba Holiday Park in the early afternoon and you will find a nostalgic scene reminiscent of all our childhood memories smooshed into one. There’s a chessboard of figures moving slowly around the park: a father lifting his son onto a swing, a young family shuffling back from the beach and a salty-haired grom cooking snags on the BBQ. Pitch a tent, park your RV or rent a cabin at this soothing Yamba camping delight.

Price: $-$$$ – it ranges from unpowered sites to waterfront two-bedroom cabins.

Facilities: BBQ area, playground, amenities block, ice, laundry, a swimming pool, a bike path, a pontoon and a camp kitchen.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features wheelchair-accessible cabins, ramps and free hire of beach wheelchairs.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, across various sites during off-peak periods.

Address: 8A Harbour St, Yamba

Anchorage Holiday Park

The grounds at Anchorage Holiday Park are impeccably maintained, making it a tranquil spot to rest your head in the surrounding areas of Yamba. Positioned on the North Arm, near the Clarence River, just a 30-minute drive from Yamba, the park is full of parents who come here with one single purpose: to keep the family tight. And the park provides the means to do that each day with a dedicated social calendar of fun activities.

Price: $-$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to two-bedroom Spa Cabins

Facilities: Free wi-fi, a convenience store, swimming pool, playground, laundry, gas BBQs, fishing jetty, kids’ activity programs during school holidays, DVD hire, equipment hire, a wading pool for littlies, camp kitchen, book loans and more.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features cabins with accessible bathrooms.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, but only across select sites within off-peak periods.

Address: Marandowie Drive, Illuka

Fishing Haven Holiday Park

an outdoor deck facing Clarence River at Fishing Haven Holiday Park, Yamba
The park is perfect for active families who like to fish, spot wildlife, kayak and swim.

This popular Yamba caravan park draws repeat visitors who spend the year yearning for their annual holiday. Located on Palmers Island, just minutes from Yamba, Fishing Haven Holiday Park on the Clarence River is for active families who like to fish, spot wildlife, kayak and swim. There are powered and unpowered sites, river-view cabins as well as space for RVs. The park has kayaks, boats and mooring for hire.

Price: $-$$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to a three-bedroom holiday house.

Facilities: Three jetties, electric BBQs, a camp kitchen, boat mooring, kiosk, ice, bait and tackle.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features wheelchair ramps and accessible toilets and showers.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, across select stays

Address: 35 River Rd, Palmers Island

Higher Ground Coastal Bush Retreat & Permaculture

Romantics will thrill in glamping in fancy vintage-styled tents at Higher Ground Coastal Bush Retreat & Permaculture at Shark Creek, behind Yuragir National Park. The off-grid glamping tents are furnished with a comfortable double bed and the option of a single and guests can also rent out the 146-acre property’s homestead (enquiry via the booking page). Higher Ground is a working permaculture farm located 25 minutes from Yamba.

Price: $-$$ — glamping tent bedding ranges from single to double varieties.

Facilities: Solar power, tank water, a water hole for swimming, camp kitchen with a fridge, fire pits, nearby hot showers and composting toilets.

Accessibility: No

Dog-friendly?: Yes, as long as your pooch is well-managed and quiet.

Address: Shark Creek on the Clarence River

Minnie Water Holiday Park

campers dining outside their tent at Minnie Water Holiday Park, Yamba
Minnie Water Holiday Park is a popular stop-over for adventurers. (Image: Clarence Coast Holiday Parks)

Fans of retro family holidays will love Minnie Water Holiday Park ,  a popular stopover for adventurers on the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, one of the best things to do in Yamba. The Yamba caravan park is like a small village furnished with cabins, vans and camper sites in quiet, natural surrounds. The pet-friendly park has a tennis court, pool and open campfires and is located near beaches and bushland.

Price: $-$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to one-bedroom cabins.

Facilities: A swimming pool, camp kitchen, BBQ area, car and boat wash bay, amenities block, laundry, convenience store and tennis court.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features free hire of beach wheelchairs.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, and you can choose from sites, cabins and safari tents as long as you’re visiting in off-peak periods.

Address: 646 Minnie Water Rd, Minnie Water

Sandon River Campground

The Sandon River campground is sandwiched between the Sandon River on one side and the protected ocean on the other. As well as offering caravan sites, this lesser-known campground within Yuraygir National Park has picnic tables, barbecue facilities, a boat ramp and toilets. Find out about the remote campground’s rich Indigenous heritage from the informative panels positioned around the campground. Visitors should note that sites are suitable for caravans, camper trailers, campervans and tents, but large caravans and motorhomes are not welcome.

Price: $ — just unpowered sites are available, and you’ll need to pay $8 per vehicle per day for entry into the National Park.

Facilities: Wood BBQs, picnic tables, non-flush toilets, tank water (no drinking water), a waste point, boat ramp and coin-operated public phone.

Accessibility: No

Dog-friendly?: No 

Address: Sandon River Road, The Sandon

Secret Lake Retreat

two chairs by the lake at Secret Lake Retreat, Yamba
The quiet lakefront campground is an ideal spot to laze the day away.

This family-run lakefront campground has communal fire pits fashioned out of old truck rims, complimentary kayaks and canoes (though numbers are limited so get in early) and bushwalking trails that lead off into woodland. It’s set across 800 glorious acres and features a 60-acre private lake, but while the site feels remote, it’s just 10 minutes from the general store in nearby Lawrence. This Yamba camping highlight, just 20 clicks from its town centre, also features a swimming platform moored in the lake.

Price: $ — just unpowered sites are available

Facilities: BBQ area, camp kitchen, dining area, amenities block, dump point, tank water, communal and private fire pits, swimming platform, lawn games and more.

Accessibility: Yes, it actively welcomes visitors with access needs and features an accessible bathroom within the amenities block.

Dog-friendly?: Yes, as long as they’re well-behaved.

Address: 45 Ryries Rd, Lawrence

Iluka Riverside Holiday Park

an aerial view of Iluka Riverside Holiday Park, Yamba
Many holiday parks in Yamba are graced with a view of the Clarence River. (Image: Clarence Coast Holiday Parks)

Designed for carefree holidays centred on ample sun and surf, Iluka Riverside Holiday Park is flanked by the Clarence River and Yuragir National Park. The Yamba camping standout is about a 40-minute drive from the centre of town and positioned on the riverbanks, so fishing (there’s even a pontoon to help lend a hand) and general sun-seeking is highly encouraged. Spend every magical sunset gazing out yonder as BBQs set right off the river facilitate dream holiday memories.

Price: $-$$ — it ranges from unpowered sites to basic cabins

Facilities: Amenities block, camp kitchen, playground, dump point, gas refills, laundry, pontoon, boat ramp and boat kitty, BBQ facilities and free wi-fi.

Accessibility: No

Dog-friendly?: Yes, across the sites as long as you’re visiting in off-peak periods.

Address: 4 Charles Street, Iluka

Originally written by Carla Grossetti with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Your guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of  Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

a show at Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.