Yamba, NSW 2464

If you want to go back to your school days and hang around females that have never grown up and act like school girls, move to Yamba! Ugh.....a bunch of insular horrible insecure people. Don't believe me go onto their Facebook Notice Board and watch them all attacking each other.

Yamba is such a lovely place, it really is. Its the people that let this town down. Unless you're 76th generation, forget it. You will spend your whole time feeling like an alien. The food in this town isn't great either. Infrastructure is limited and the people who live here think they own the town so nothing will ever evolve. They are constantly moaning about lack of services and doctors yet blatantly tell people not to live there.

Gorgeous beaches and scenery which is what attracts most people here. However, it's like walking into a high school. The bitching and moaning is off the scale. You only need to see the constant arguing in the Facebook community noticeboard. Those that have lived here for a while claim to own the town. Great spot to holiday but just know the locals are constantly moaning about tourists so if you can handle that, take a trip.

Perfectly good spot to spend your advancing years. There's more than enough to do and keep you occupied, and you can swim and go walking most of the year. Getting doctors appointments can be difficult, but that's the only con, and is a problem seen in most country towns. We don't know many people with young families, but there's plenty of schools etc here too.

We moved back after many years away. Hasn’t changed that much which was/is good, as we are close to retiring. Great coastal walks, bush land and scenery. Good choice of eating out and restaurants. Neighbours are quiet but friendly.
Weather is warm most of the year, and a mild winter. Good for arthritis issues.
The town can close off during heavy rain/ floods, but this is only a minor inconvenience.
Certainly would recommend it as a great place to live and play.

Unless you’ve lived here more than 10 yrs the people are not welcoming. It’s sad as the place is gorgeous .. some (some) of the people spoil it due to their unwelcoming behaviours My immediate neighbours are a prime example

Wonderful scenery - the Clarence River is a beauty, the beaches are superb, the views from most everywhere spectacular.
Great climate - OK the 3 summer months are a bit humid but winter is to die for (I've never needed a heater), spring and autumn are warm and sunny. However, when it rains it really rains, 10 inches in a day isn't that unusual, and low-lying areas flood, occasionally the town gets cut off as it only has one access road.
Poor public infrastructure - even though rates are very high the water supply is periodically poor and many buy their drinking water. Local roads are a problem, there is only one road in and out and it is really stretched during peak tourist periods where the towns population trebles. Police presence is inadequate even though crime is low, more often than not you wait if you need a policeman. Medical facilities are OK GP-wise, but local hospitals in Maclean and Grafton are limited in expertise and equipment, if you're really sick it's Lismore or the Gold Coast. If you need public transport to get around you'll find life difficult.
Sport and leisure - the golf course is magnificent, the bowling club very well patronised (it even has a ten pin bowling alley), sports fields for rugby league and union, cricket, gyms, annual triathlon, surfing, deep sea and river fishing, the list goes on and on. Two of the best sited pubs in the land, quality and reasonable restaurants, bowling and golf clubs, an upmarket backpackers hostel, dozens of indoor/outdoor cafes, a cinema, a thriving U3A, Wires animal rescue, bridge and euchre clubs, etc.
Employment - plenty of work for the skilled, all tradesmen, professionals such as doctors, dentists, vets, accountants, lawyers, optometrists, physios, a thriving tourist and hospitality sector, and quality aged care hostels..
Schooling - state and catholic primary schools, high school in Maclean, Tafe offering limited courses, good library facilities.
Shopping - a reasonably sized Coles supermarket, butchers, bakers, clothing stores, post office, telecoms, IT, alcohol outlets, half a dozen service stations, travel agent, newsagents, reject shops, shoe shops, and a large industrial centre with furniture and floor covering, hardware, paints, boat building, engineering, etc.
Cost of living - food is reasonable, fuel a bit expensive, ocean and riverfront real estate expensive.

In summary, I wouldn't live anywhere else but it's a horses for courses thing. If you aren't sporty, don't like the outdoors and can't cope with mass tourism in peak season the town isn't for you. If you want to change the place into a metropolis, a 'jobs and growth' precinct, then you'd be better off living in a big city because most locals resist 'progress'.

One of my favorite places in the world. The town, although small, is rife with activities and beaches, and fun things to do. There's a cute little movie theater, wonderful shops, lots of new 'hipster' cafes and restaurants. There's icecream and fudge shops and surf shops galore. Perfect for laid back, beach lovers who dont want to be mixed up with the city mumbo-jumbo. NO CONS THAT IVE EVER SEEN

Multiple patrolled beaches both for surfing and relaxing, two cinemas in town plus surf brand shops and designer clothes stores along the main strip. The best frozen yogurt shop ever!
Country clubs, golf courses, swimming pools, pubs and lawn bowl competitions for visiting families. The people are the most friendly and humorous you'll meet anywhere.
Dozens of restaurants, plus the hotel/pub overlooking the main beach and the kiosk literally metres from the sand. We enjoy Yamba every year we visit.

The beautiful beachside town of Yamba is now going to be spoilt by the construction of a 115 seat McDonalds restaurant with Drive-Thru at 7 Treelands Drive, Yamba.

4,000 people petitioned and wrote to the local Council saying they were against it but they approved it anyway. What a shame. I hope all visitors to Yamba will continue to support the local cafes and eateries and ignore this ugly American food giant.