Famous dine and drink spots in Yamba

The arrival of its first boutique hotel has helped usher in a new era of cool for Yamba. But the appeal of this quintessential coastal town remains timeless, writes Lara Picone. Discover why Yamba sailed in at no.12 on your list of Top 50 Aussie towns.

Find the complete list of the Top 50 Aussie Towns here.

For an Australian coastal town with an outstretched hand to would-be holidaymakers, Yamba is a little unique. Long has the town welcomed guests to frolic in her surfside waters, weary from road trips and keen to let the sunlight evaporate burdens of everyday life. But it remained just a faint blip on the radar for the longest time. Strange, because this northern NSW town stockpiles the holiday goods, from yawning beaches pocketed with rockpools to gentle inlets and rivers, and a collection of off-beach entertainment.

sunrise watching by the seashore of Yamba — Seize the sunrise. (Image: Destination NSW)

Don’t get me wrong, people came, memories were forged, and childhoods routinely blasted with salt spray, Paddle Pop ice-creams and sunburn. But the hype never seemed to reach that of other destinations with equal assets. That has all changed now, though. And, if you haven’t yet heard, here’s the public service announcement: Yamba is the ‘it’ town. This new era of ‘hotness’ has perhaps been ushered in by the arrival of the town’s first boutique hotel, The Surf. But it’s unfair to credit one establishment with all the breathless praise, particularly when Yamba has been the ideal place to retreat into the fantasy of an endless summer for years now.

The Surf Yamba — The sleepy seaside hamlet is known for its surf. (Image: Elise Hassey)

In fact, it’s not any singular entity that makes Yamba delightful; it’s more of a feeling. It’s the nostalgia of summer holidays as a kid, complete with the freedom granted by your half-tiddled parents letting you pedal through town, flanked by other emancipated youths. It’s the quiet roar of the ocean lulling you, against better judgement, to fall asleep on the beach. And it’s the vinegar on your fish and chips that cuts through your palate like a razor. All good things made better by the fact that Yamba is, to visitors at least, unaffected, sandy-footed relaxation at its best.

Here’s where to start.

Where to eat

Karrikin

Karrikin brings to the table an ethos that revolves around the local landscape and its harvests. Owners Clare Bourke and Zac Roberts arrange flavours with light and shade, allowing each component to impress the palate. Pair with an Australian botanical cocktail in the shaded garden and enjoy the journey.

Beachwood Cafe

Sevtap Yuce’s incredible fare is more than lightly inspired by her home country of Turkey, but it’s clear the cornucopia of the Clarence River also find its way onto the plate. On a sun-soaked day, Beachwood is the perfect place for a lazy breakfast or even lazier lunch.

The Kiosk , Main Beach

A place to watch hardy locals wash onto shore in the brisk morning or children assembling ultimately doomed sandcastles, this little tuckshop in the Yamba Surf Life Saving Club is a wonderful spot for gazing into the blue and scrunching your toes in the sand while slurping a morning juice. Perched under a striped umbrella, you can easily let the morning roll into midday here.

Yamba Main Beach — Lines of swell pushing into Yamba. (Image: Destination NSW)

Yamba Farmers & Producers Market

Chances are you’re staying in apartment accommodation where you can self-cater meals pieced together with some of the area’s freshly plucked, picked and pickled produce and baked goods from Ashby Sourdough. For that, you’ll want to grab your basket and get along to the Wednesday market, held weekly.

Yamba Farmers and Producers Market — Drop by the Ashby Sourdough to grab some organic bread. (Image: Destination NSW)

Where to drink

Sanctus Brewing Co

A sidestep from town, this brewery rolls open its barn-style doors to invite thirsty punters to sample its hoppy wares. Pull up a patch on the family-friendly grass and spend an afternoon enjoying brews and seasonally inspired bar bites. Sometimes they fire up the smoker, other times, there’s live music. Best to designate a driver from the outset.

Last Rites

Extending the evening options beyond the clifftop Pacific Hotel is this newish watering hole and music venue. Loosely Gothic in theme, this semi-dive bar serves up live music and late-night bites, such as pillowy bao buns and loaded pizzas, with your freely given right to drink and be merry.

Where to stay

Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort

This place is utopia for children and parents alike . Sure, it’s relatively rudimentary but its riverside location is stunning. Whether you’re camping or staying in a waterside holiday unit, you won’t regret this if you have young children, as they will talk about it for decades to come. Pools, a jumping pillow, go-karts, and a swim-up bar have everyone covered.

The Surf

This breezy boutique hotel , a reimagining of a 1920s-era building, is a refreshing expression of beachside luxury. There’s no pomp or ceremony, just good, detailed design and a prime position within a sandal’s throw of Main Beach.

Pacific Hotel

Watching the Pacific Ocean undulate between dramatic greys and serene blues is this stalwart hotel . It’s a pub first and foremost, and a great place to clink glasses in honour of the day. Upstairs, there are two basic rooms, which are perhaps earmarked for a refresh. However, there are also two stylishly refurbished ‘signature rooms’, one town-facing and the other positioned with full view of the ocean’s theatrics. This iconic pub is a great place to retreat post-Sunday session.

Explore more of Yamba in our travel guide or find out which other towns made it into your Top 50.

From serene natural beauty to vibrant nightlife, with plenty of arts and culture in between, the NSW Central Coast has been enjoying a serious glow up.

Just one hour from Sydney, the Central Coast has long been the perfect seaside getaway. And with its ECO Destination certification with a focus on sustainability, it’s a trip travellers can feel good about, too. Recently, new and exciting openings have turned the Central Coast into a place where incredible natural beauty is still on the table, but so is a vibrant and sophisticated arts, dining and nightlife scene.

Find out what’s new to discover on the Central Coast.

1. Gosford’s glow up

room at voco gosford — Book into voco and experience the best of Gosford.

Long-time Central Coast lovers will hardly recognise Gosford these days. While always boasting gorgeous water views, a range of revamps and new openings have turned it into a busy hub of arts and culture, with an increasingly diverse and vibrant nightlife.

Landmark lifestyle hotel voco Gosford is the perfect home base for a Central Coast getaway. At this IHG hotel overlooking sparkling Brisbane Water, guests can spend sunny days soaking in the rooftop pool (or just sipping a cocktail beside it). When it comes to meals, you can enjoy multiple venues serving up everything from modern Australian fare to fine-dining Japanese.

Venture out to lay eyes on the Central Coast’s first permanent Moving Image Gallery (MIG) . Opened this year inside the Gosford Regional Gallery , the immersive space is a showcase of screen-based and digital art. While at the gallery, wander around the Edogawa Commemorative Garden, a traditional Japanese strolling garden complete with teahouse, koi pond and an ornamental bridge.

Meanwhile, the revamped Gosford Regional Library has even more than books to discover. Now, it’s one of the best in the southern hemisphere – find exhibitions, historical archives and community initiatives for all ages at this perfect family-friendly escape.

2. Newcomers to the dining scene

table full of food at Amarilla restaurant terrigal — Treat yourself to sundowners and snacks at Amarilla.

The Central Coast has long been the perfect destination for gourmands, with everything from casual eats to fine dining elevating the local offerings. And three new destinations have been added to the map.

Amarilla at The Haven in Terrigal is the perfect seaside venue for sundowners, with blissed-out beats providing the soundtrack. Book in for golden hour and choose bites from a Spanish tapas menu made for sharing. Do as the locals do and wash it all down with sangria – the Sunday Sangria Sessions have become a local institution.

Also in Terrigal, Little Miss has brought a premium Mediterranean menu to the waterfront. Try the wagyu tartare with Greek caviar or butter-poached lobster and tomato bisque, paired with inventive cocktails and a handpicked selection of Lebanese wines.

Over in Ettalong, Bar Toto is perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks. This award-winning cocktail bar is known for its creative concoctions, along with craft beer, wine and antipasti platters to snack on. The interior sets the mood, with dim lighting and wooden furnishings.

3. New Central Coast experiences

winemaker at Firescreek Botanical Winery — Book an experience at Firescreek Botanical Winery.

It’s entirely possible (and recommended) to spend a Central Coast getaway relaxing on one of its many peaceful and pristine beaches. But for those who crave more, there’s a long list of options to keep you busy.

Pop into the iconic Australian Reptile Park to see the new Weigel Venom Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that’s home to over 200 of the country’s most venomous snakes.

Get out on the water with Sail Central Coast , which offers 20 years of expertise in yacht charters. Book the Sunset Sail & Dine yacht charter for a private afternoon cruising the waterways of Bouddi National Park and Brisbane Water, stopping at Anchor on Hardys for a two-course meal with a cocktail.

For something completely different, Firescreek Botanical Winery is now offering an Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience. Learn about local cultures, stories and traditions from an Aboriginal Elder, then enjoy a botanical-inspired wine tasting led by a local winemaking expert.

4. Central Coast accommodation

view from a cottage at Noonaweena — Sleep in the hinterland at Noonaweena.

There’s simply too much to experience on the Central Coast to only stay for one day. Turn your trip into a relaxing getaway by the beach.

Allawah , a retreat on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, is accessible only by boat. This secluded two-bedroom cottage is the perfect place to unwind, allowing you to spend lazy days fishing, kayaking, paddling or unwinding with a book on your own private jetty.

In the Kulnura hinterland, Noonaweena features a range of accommodation styles, from a luxe glamping bell tent to cottages and a treetop suite. It’s a leader in green travel, with 10 years of certification from Eco Tourism Australia. Relax in the onsite wellness centre or get active on various courts and in the gym facilities.

To stay by the ocean at Toowoon Bay, book into Kim’s Beachside Resort . This adults-only property offers a luxury escape nestled within a sub-tropical rainforest. Along with 36 private timber bungalows, indulge in massages or reiki treatments at the dedicated spa, or stop by the cocktail bar and à la carte restaurant.

5. Shopping on the Central Coast

Umina’s Centred Ceramics central coast — Try your hand at Umina’s Centred Ceramics’ pottery courses.

For those after unique trinkets, handmade treasures and beautiful homewares, the Central Coast is a haven.

Markets on the Central Coast have a special flavour. Wander the Umina Beach Markets at twilight, where you’ll find small businesses from the local areas, and the Norah Head Ocean View Markets , where you can soak up good food, live music and artisan finds by the beach after sunset. ‘Tis the season for the Christmas twilight edition of the Avoca Beachside Markets, celebrating the season with pop-up bars, tasty treats and plenty of unique gift options from local artists and producers.

Galleria Ettalong has also added to the Central Coast’s recent makers and creators renaissance, wrapping cinemas, a dining precinct and over 40 boutique shops into one area.

Sign up for a pottery course at Umina’s Centred Ceramics , or peruse the shop for a range of one-of-a-kind pottery made on the premises for a special souvenir.

For more eclectic arts and homewares, pop into Blue Bird Collective Co . This marketplace supports over 35 small, local and handmade businesses, artists and creatives. Take the time to check out fashion, jewellery and homewares that won’t be found anywhere else.

Start planning your coastal getaway at lovecentralcoast.com .

Top Towns for 2022: Where to eat, stay and play in Yamba