The best way to immerse yourself in the laidback surf culture of Yamba? By renting one of the best Yamba Airbnbs in and around town.

Yamba’s hotels and motels attract year-round bookings, and its camping sites are consistently teeming with crowds. Sometimes, a private home away from home is just a better fit. Enter Yamba’s thriving Airbnb scene. From architecturally designed beach houses and apartments in the thick of the action, to pet-friendly retreats your pup will love, the best Yamba Airbnbs facilitate every style of holiday. With so many properties to search through, we’ve created your ultimate curated list.

1. The Beach House

Starting the list with absolute luxury, The Beach House is treated to the most coveted location – on Pilot Hill, right between Main Beach and Lover’s Point.

Walking distance from everything, including the best beaches Yamba has to offer, the 1950s-restored white-washed marvel will prove almost impossible to leave, thanks to its Egyptian cotton bed linen, sweeping views of the ocean and cloud-like cushioned lounges. The sanctuary’s top floor is the only accessible space, but it can sleep up to six guests across two bedrooms so it’s never tight.

Laundry facilities, including a dryer, a dedicated workspace (not that anybody’s encouraging anything but R&R here) and a private balcony ensure every holiday haven box is ticked.

2. Little Angourie

Less than 10 minutes’ drive south of Yamba, Angourie is another must-experience part of the NSW North Coast and Little Angourie is an idyllic place to launch your adventures. One of the most stylish options you’ll find, the ground-level space is part of a larger property but its luxurious self-contained presentation oozes covetable comfort.

Inside you’ll find a fully equipped gourmet kitchen with Fisher & Paykel appliances, a laundry, open-plan living, air-con, complimentary beach towels, a private patio, king bed, private bathroom with a waterfall shower, Aesop products and more.

3. Blue Back

This private guesthouse is 200 metres from the Clarence River, and while you’ll have to walk or ride to the centre of town, the location is peaceful and removed from the busyness of Yamba’s high season.

A renovated granny flat set amid bushland, its private courtyard is ideal for bird watching and relaxing, plus guests have full use of the main yard which features a BBQ and wood-fired pizza oven.

4. Cove House

If you’ve brought along the family dog, Cove House is a dream Yamba Airbnb that’s close to town. A fully fenced yard means they can enjoy the summer sunshine while you relax on an expansive deck that extends from an open-plan kitchen. Those breezy, warm evening celebrations are just a booking away.

Three bedrooms mean up to five guests can rest their heads overnight, with two queen beds and one single providing ultra-plush accommodation.

5. The Old Clarence Brewery

Looking for something different? The Old Clarence Brewery is a rustic, Instagram-perfect choice located in nearby Maclean, about 25 minutes from Yamba. Switching out water for rainforest vistas, the Yamba Airbnb promotes serious tranquillity, all while sleeping up to eight guests thanks to four beautifully styled bedrooms.

A historic property dating back to the 1881, the sandstone and brick structure’s facade looks like something out of a dusty old photo album. But loving attention to the little things — a vintage bathtub with striking silver tap wear, an outdoor French provincial table setting, character-filled light features — ensure it’s a standout of now.

6. Pippi Beach Apartment

A cosy loft studio perfectly situated on Pippi Beach, one of Yamba’s best beaches for a morning dip before crowds swarm, Pippi Beach Apartment is a charming pick.

The property has been created for lovebirds (although it does sleep up to four people), so the couch, dining table and kitchen are small. For what it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in comfort and prettiness as a coastal palette of timber and ocean blues instil instant calm and plush amenities ensure everything’s covered.

7. Sandrift Two

Yearning for a holiday with extended blue-on-blue vistas? Sandrift Two, an apartment with panoramic views of the ocean, is ready to scratch that itch.

Located smack-bang on Convent Beach, along Ocean Street, the major drawcard is angled entirely towards its private balcony where serious sloth sessions beckon. Open plan living and dining create easy holiday living, while the building’s location on the corner of the residential strip ensures those views extend to 270 degrees. It sleeps up to six very fortunate guests.

8. Pacific Lodge

High up on Pilot Hill overlooking Main Beach is Pacific Lodge, one of the beach town’s original holiday homes, now refurbished and redesigned as a modern beach shack. With capacity to sleep eight people, this stay would utterly enchant a group of friends or two families.

Visitors rave about the sea breeze it catches through its ocean-facing windows, not to mention the property’s outstanding location – right next door to the Pacific Hotel, one of Yamba’s best restaurants.

9. Yamba Getaway

One of the town’s most accessible accommodation offerings, Yamba Getaway is a modern and self-contained unit designed to be completely wheelchair-friendly. Even more conveniently, it’s located in the heart of Yamba.

Just 100 metres from the main shopping centre and enveloped in a maze of flat footpaths that lead to beaches and cafes, the Yamba Airbnb features access ramps, handrails installed in the toilet, a wheel-in shower, plus wide doorways with grab rails throughout. It’s also pet friendly, so the entire clan’s invited.

10. Mysa Yamba

Tailored to family escapes, Mysa Yamba is a four-bedroom renovated home positioned in a quiet neighbourhood just outside of Yamba’s main village.

Full of natural light and featuring its own pontoon and swimming pool (with giant daybeds for lounging with a good book), the open-plan design will satisfy anybody craving an action-geared escape, with thoughtful additions like kayaks dialling up the fun effortlessly.

11. La Ronde 2

With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, there is enough space in La Ronde 2 to sleep up to six guests along the enviable strip of ocean-view apartment blocks on  Pacific Parade. Equally, you’re treated to a peaceful lifestyle while remaining close enough to walk to shops and beaches.

A ground-floor apartment with stunning views of Pippi Beach, it’s also decorated beautifully and features undercover parking and internal laundry facilities.

12. Ocean Sounds

One of the few Yamba Airbnbs with its own private swimming pool, Ocean Sounds is the place for lovers of salty hair and sandy feet. Beach devotees will adore the proximity to Pippi Beach, which offers prime whale watching conditions if it’s whale watching season in Yamba (late May through October). Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll likely spot the majestic creatures from the lounge room.

The ground-floor apartment features private access and there are laundry facilities within the wider block.

13. Tecoma 3

Speaking of swimming pools, Tecoma 3 might have the most impressive pick of the local bunch. Perched on the edge of the Clarence River, it is the perfect place to unwind poolside.

Also a hit among boaties, the stay features a private pontoon for mooring your ride and a deep, wide waterway suited to larger vessels. Its three bedrooms are located on the upper level, with the downstairs dedicated to open plan living and dining, complete with a modern kitchen and large deck.

14. The Black Ace

This pet-friendly Yamba Airbnb is in the heart of the village and right next door to the town’s historic cinema, which itself is one of the best things to do in Yamba. The 110-year-old cottage, restored with a sleek, minimalist interior sleeps up to 12 guests and excels at luxe living – just look at it.

Carlotta + Gee linens cover all the beds, a Sonos wireless sound system pumps throughout and a SMEG drip coffee machine makes staying indoors a dream. Best of all, a separate bunkhouse sleeps six, serving as the perfect pick for families with older kids craving their own space.

15. Riverwood Lodge

It’s not a beach escape, but are you ready for something equally restorative? Riverwood Lodge, located in nearby Maclean which is 25 minutes from Yamba, is a stately spot close to the Clarence River. A historic three-bedroom masterpiece with generous living and dining areas, it’s the type of house you fall in love with while watching Escape to the Country – the character is spellbindingly unique, unlike the vast majority of Yamba Airbnbs.

Just add polished floorboards, French doors and a stunning country-inspired kitchen and reality will start to feel a million miles away.

This article was originally written by Melissa Mason with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams.