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.

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon. — Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

Aerial view of Wilderluxe. — Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe. — Sleep beneath the stars.

Style and character

When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe. — Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake. — Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

A person kayaking through serene waters. — Paddle into peace.

The details

A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

The interiors of the glamping tent. — Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.

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