F

Formerresident

1 Review0 Questions0 Answers

Reviews

Yamba

"#1 town in Australia? Read on..."

#1 town in Australia according to an Aussie caravan & camping magazine in 2009 Yamba is a small town wanting to stay that way. That's great, but don't think of retiring here if you need any regular medical attention - you'll have to make the regular pilgramage to the Gold Coast or Brisbane like many other residents.
There are 13 different types of sandflies here too - just ask the full-time researcher based in Iluka across the river - not to mention the mossies which will carry you away if you're not careful (no council mossie controls here). Local pharmacists tell horror stories of hordes of hapless tourists trapped at the Calypso Caravan Park et al..
Like gourmet foods? With a small Bi-Lo supermarket (who discontinued most of the antipasto & 'entertaining' foodstuff lines prior to Xmas-what the?) you'll be hard-pressed to purchase most things readily available to residents of the 'big smoke'. You will also get sick of paying a 'premium' on your grocery items - (e.g prices at Coles Grafton are up to $1.10 less for a $10 item than in Yamba and 20-40 cents more for each gorcery item is not uncommon). At only 14 klms from the Pacific Highway you have to ask yourself - WHY???
Fresh fruit & veg in the country? Don't count on it - the fruiterer that has the monopoly on the fruit outlets here & in nearby Maclean purchase mostly seconds from Brisbane Markets and sell them for premium prices. Your option is a 1 1/4 hours drive (each way) to do a fortnightly shop like many locals do at Grafton or Ballina.
TV, phone and internet reception are compromised here regardless of your provider. Mobile coverage? You'll be lucky - stand outside & point to the stars (of which there are many & the skies are mercifully clear, free of planes (nearest regional airports are at Coffs Harbour or Ballina).
Electricity outages are extremely common - on & off maybe 4 times in a 24 hour period on a bad day - just enough to really bugger up your fridge motor etc. (those surge control power boards are a must here!)
Wildlife abounds, yet unfortunately shore-based fishing is a miss-more than hit activity.
Yet rents & housing prices are more in keeping with better serviced parts of east-coast Oz -coast Oz - (maybe trading on the #1 town publicity?)
In reality there are few facilities/infra-structure in Yamba & surrounds with above average unemployment rate & lower income rate than state/national average for this sized town.
You've got to love a town that has no Xmas stamps for Xmas, is the home of the famous Yamba prawn when the local fishermen voluntarily cease fishing weeks earlier each year due to decreasing prawn stocks, where the price of petrol stays the same for months on end regardless of fluctuating prices (so much for buying mid-week) and where authorities assistance is based on who you know rather than what the actual situation is.
And that goes for most residents - don't think you'll be welcomed with open arms by the locals - they are wary of the 'blow-ins' from all over and tend to keep to themselves - regardless of how you throw yourselves into the local community activities. Someone we know waited 2 years to be invited for a meal and then it was us that invited them - and we were (newish) residents!
Nevertheless, should you choose to move here you will undoubtedly be inundated with visitors wanting to experience the #1 town in Australia...until next year that is....

2
hathy

sounds like Yamba would be better off without you anyway. Go live with your city based prices etc. Mobile reception never any problem and shore based fishing is excellent

Yamba

I think there is pros & cons in Yamba but you make it sound terrible. I had no problems with Yamba & lived there for three yrs. We bought our first home & still would live there if we didn't have to move due to a family member being ill. I grew up in Sydney & thought I'd never live in the country but if I could I'd be back there in a second. If you go & explore the other stores on offer I don't see why you would miss much in the way of shopping. I feel people who live local should support the local community by shopping local. Why spend the money on petrol driving to Graften or the like when you can take the ease out of shopping & stay local. Invitations to go for dinner is not a problem. It dosen't take long for anyone to become friendly in Yamba. Just take a early morning walk along the Marina Walk & you will end up in a converstaion with another local. Many times my dog walking took me alot longer for the many conversations along the way. If you can't be open & see the beauty in Yamba than maybe your needs would be suited elsewhere.

oliver_klozoff

Sounds like Ecuador or Belize, except they're 100 times cheaper!

malachimc

The Pros of Yamba?... Its natural beauty.. the Cons? stupid idiots that say stuff like this... you sound like a 6 year old dobbing on another kid or sumthing...I lived in Yamba for 5 years and loved it... Just keep to yourself and enjoy the beaty...

patrickm5

Ive been living in Yamba 14 years...and camped on holiday for many years before that ; surfing, kayaking, boating, fishing, crabbing, eating out and loving it. The comment above from 'former- resident' can very quickly be seen for what it is...the product of a sad and bitter mind. Just an unhappy person. Some information is very old. There is no Bilo...We have a modern Coles which stocks most things which most gourmands would need. The prices are the same as at Coles in New Farm and the fruit as good. We have excellent doctors. I had a heart attack and died 5 years ago. Maclean hospital...14 mins away by ambulance kept me going. If Maclean Hospital cant do whatever you need, Grafton Hospital is 50 mins away and Lismore Hospital does stents. Ive been to them too for other surgery and wrote a letter to the Minister congratulating them on the quality of service. There are sandflies, but after a short time the body becomes immune and there is no swelling or itching . There are sandflies throughout the world, even in very cold countries. Google it ! There are mossies throughout the world, googlable too ! I can buy petrol cheaper at a servo here than at most servos between Sydney and Brisbane and I use 98 octane. Do some things sometimes annoy some people here? Yes of course...just like anywhere else. Do you want a place to relax, take it easy, very little traffic..traffic jams here are unknown. You can always find a park. Beaches face North ,East, and South, so there is always a sheltered one or a bigger- wave one . How many beaches have we got? I am not too sure, but there are a lot; too many to think about right now !!! After 14 years as well as the camping years , I can assure you Yamba is well worth a visit, and I have travelled the world and can safely say 'Yamba is up there with the best in its class'.

emk
emk

Yamba also has the best climate in Australia

atheistmac
atheistmac

the op is correct on many fronts, we lived there for six years in the early 00s, and was so-so on many fronts. Good beaches and some restaurants, but really is an isolated small town in many ways, and quite insular. Big deal to get to any decent shops, and other facilities, including an airport. Good place for a holiday, but that is very different to living there. Best climate it is not, summer temps are always hotter than what they give it as.

atheistmac
atheistmac

and mozzies and sandflies, lol at the poster who says you get used to them. There is no other place this like this. Council won't spray, they'll just tell you to go back to the city too.

danielj21

Great town to retire to.

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