Yamba

Yamba. This is a popular holiday town on the southern bank of the Clarence River in the Northern Rivers part of New South Wales. It is located 277 kilometers south of Brisbane via the Pacific Motorway and 674 kilometers north of Sydney. The origin of the name is quite interesting. There is considerable confusion about the name Yamba and how it came about. In 1864, the town was officially gazetted as Yamba, but at the same time the government was claiming that the local pilot station, post office, school, and police station were all located at Clarence River Heads. To confuse things further, the locals referred to the town as Woolly Woolly. Finally, in 1885, the town was officially proclaimed Yamba, which is presumed to be a local Yegul, Aboriginal word which either means carpet snake, Yamba, or was a term used for the headland. Although it is only a short trip across the Clarence River from Iluka, the 2 towns could not be more different. Iluka lives in a time warp and is a 1950s holiday town. Yamba prides itself, as the local brochure states, on its vibrant mix of award-winning restaurants, Funky cafes and boutique shopping and a wide range of accommodation. In other words, it is a prosperous town pitched at holidaymakers wanting to enjoy the buzzy vibe while gorging on the famous Yanba prawns. Clarence River Lighthouse and the Pilot Hill stands out. The lighthouse on South Head was built as recently as 1955. It stands 41 meters above the sea, is 18 meters high, and can be seen 17 nautical miles out to sea. Prior to 1866, there was a kerosene lamp on a platform at the most easterly point on Pilot Hill. In 1866, it was replaced, and by 1880, the first proper lighthouse was completed at a cost of £1,097. It was visible for 6 nautical miles out to sea. The lighthouse was automated in 1920. A new lighthouse was completed in 1955, and the light dating from 1880 was dismantled. Today, Parlet Hill offers excellent views up and down the coast and is ideal for watching whales in the spring. Nearby is a replica of the original 1879 lighthouse Erected by volunteers and used as a community radio station. Yanba is known for its exceptional beaches, which are ideal for swimming and surfing. There are 5 excellent beaches close to town. Each caters for a different group of enthusiasts. Yanba Beach, the main beach in town, has a rock pool for safe swimming and is located on the southern side of the Clarence River Lighthouse. On the northern side of the lighthouse is Turner's Beach. Whiting Beach is a river beach which is suitable for families with young children. It extends from the western side of the breakwall along the sand spit known as Icky Island. Convent Beach extends eastwards from the rock pool at the eastern edge of Yamba Beach to Yamba Point. On the other side of Yamba Point is Pipi Beach, which extends south to Anguri. There are many reasons to visit Yamba: the sun, the sea, the surf, the sand, and above all, the lighthouse on Pilot Hill is its crowning glory.