Yamba is on the traditional lands of the Yaegl people. It’s about three hours’ drive south of Brisbane on the New South Wales north coast. My family moved here when I was 11. I left for university and work and moved back 20 years ago when I had children.
I live in town with Pippi beach on one side and Convent beach on the other. In summer, I try to get into the ocean every day.
Food
Even in the 1980s, Yamba had great restaurants. Partly because it’s a tourist town but also because locals live healthily and are a bit alternative and environmentally minded. Fresh and locally sourced food isn’t new – great sourdough and coffee are though!
Playa Bodega is very popular (book ahead). It’s not one of those cheesy, gut-filling Mexican restaurants; it’s all super-fresh ingredients with traditional herbs and spices. It uses lots of local seafood in dishes such as chargrilled octopus and prawn tacos.
The Italian chef at El Ocaso offers dishes such as zucchini flowers, veal pappardelle and risotto. There’s an extensive wine menu. You can get entrees on the balcony or opt for a huge three-course meal with a focus on seafood and freshly made pasta. Last time I went the chef had harvested seaweed off a local beach.
Locals often get takeaway from Yamba’s Fisho on a Friday night. It’s great quality and always busy. We love Drift Pizza Bar, too. It uses free-range meat, handmade cheese and organic flour and offers delicious starters, including house-baked focaccia with whipped ricotta and honey. I’m a non-drinker and Drift’s mocktail take on Aperol spritz is fantastic.
All of Yamba’s best cafes use the beans roasted at Botero up the road in Maclean. Pinewood Corner is a cool cafe and hub for young people run by two local women. Yum Yum does a great soy chai (my beverage of choice), as does Gather Yamba.
Green spaces
Yamba doesn’t have that whole Byron Bay influencer thing going on. There’s no one spot to go for the Instagram photo. But you can’t venture far in any direction without running into water. We’re surrounded by rivers, lakes, rock pools and beaches and a protected spot to swim on a windy day is always possible. Drive around and see where all the cars are parked. That’s the tell!
My local is Pippi beach, or
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