Yamba has got to be one of my favourite places to go for a holiday. For me, it’s a foodie paradise! Famous for its fresh and locally sourced seafood, this small coastal town is a must for any seafood lover.
I recently went there for a family holiday (this is the third time) and I once again fell in love with the place! If you decide to go to Yamba, (and you definitely should) then I recommend staying in a holiday house instead of a hotel. It’s a lot more private and relaxing and you don’t have to worry about anyone staying across the hall. We stayed at a place called Seagrass and it was amazing! It was a double storied house and both levels were self-contained, but seeing as there were eleven of us, we rented both. The only downside about it was that there was no pool, but considering that it was only a short walk from Main Beach, that didn’t matter too much.
Yamba has so many amazing attractions, including lots of great boutiques like Birdscage, Totalook Clothing and Rooster & Rabbit, just to name a few. It’s safe to say that I came home with some beautiful new outfits. But that’s not all Yamba has to offer! One of my favourite things that we did was the Mini Golf at the Bowlo Sports & Leisure (Yamba Bowls Club) we had the best time with some friendly family rivalry!
Unfortunately, I was not the mini-golf champion, although I didn’t really expect to be. The Bowlo also served lunches between 12pm and 2pm, which is perfect after a fun game. They also have Tenpin Bowling, rock climbing and an arcade, so it really is the perfect family holiday destination.
Now, I wouldn’t have labelled it my “Foodie Paradise” if I didn’t tell you all about the foodie activities on offer, would I? No. I wouldn’t have. So let’s kick things off with the Yamba Farmers & Produce Markets that are held every Wednesday from 7am to 11am. They have a variety of stalls and they’re nearly all fresh and food-related, which is my kind of place.
There’s also the Nicholson Fine Foods tasting tour, where guests are taken on a tour of the factory, sampling products on the way. There’s also the Wombah Coffee Plantation, which is a must for any coffee connoisseur. They boast a superior grade coffee that is completely organic and hand-picked. The property also has a cottage styled cafe that sells Wombah Coffee, fresh juices and a selection of locally baked quiches, pies and cakes.
And I haven’t even mentioned the food! Oh my god, so many delicious options! If I ever get asked, “where’s the best place to eat in Yamba?” I have lots of recommendations. but today I’ll share with you my top three eateries. These places are a combination of Cafes and restaurants, for breakfast, lunch or dinner, so enjoy….
Sassafras Pasta & Pizza
Number one on the list is probably my favourite pasta place, ever. Everything is just so good! I will admit that Sassafras is one of the main reasons I love going to Yamba. I highly recommend the Fettuccine Australis; it has big, fresh king prawns that taste unbelievably good! It’s BYO, offers alfresco dining and is well worth a visit!
Sandbar Cafe & Restaurant
This little cafe was very close to where we were staying, which means that morning coffees were a must, and they were oh so good! Sandbar is also extremely close to Main Beach, which is perfect because they specialize in fresh, locally sourced seafood! We went there a couple of times during our visit, the first of which was a quick brekky; a bacon and egg burger on a brioche bun with a house-made relish. Now that was a great way to start the day! For our next breakfast there, we ate in. I ordered the goats cheese croquettes with smashed avo on sourdough. I was really excited about trying this one because I’d actually never had goats cheese before, so it was another thing ticked off my foodie bucket list. For dinner, they offer a unique share plate menu, offering the perfect opportunity to sample a variety of the regions best. Everything I tried was sensational!
BRGR SPOT
BRGR SPOT is a trendy burger joint with delicious food. They have a range of burgers to suit any taste, a great assortment of sides and even a bar and cocktail menu. The burgers were great and the chips had an amazingly tasty seasoning. I ordered the ‘Yew Beauty’ burger; it had a juicy burger patty, bacon, pickles, cheese, salads, tomato relish and their special BRGR sauce. It was unbelievably good! As for the sides, I got chips and mozzarella sticks, which were deep-fried cheesy goodness!
My family and I love Yamba and we can’t wait to go back! But, we’ll probably have to wait until next year in the Summer. We all had a great time on our trip and I’m sure you will too if you decide to go! Happy travels!