Yamba Main Beach, NSW: Ocean Pool & surfing history

Australia’s oldest surfing photo was taken at Yamba Main Beach, Yamba, NSW. These days, however, you might prefer a swim at the Yamba Ocean Pool.

Where is Yamba Main Beach?

Yamba Main Beach is a beach in Yamba, New South Wales. As the name suggests, it is the town’s primary and most popular beach, although not necessarily the biggest.

Yamba Main Beach is the closest beach to the town centre, and the Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club is based behind it.

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The oldest surfing photo in Australia

The Yamba Surf Lifesaving Club is one of the oldest surf lifesaving clubs in New South Wales, and Main Beach has a good claim to being the birthplace of surfing in New South Wales.

The oldest ever photograph of someone surfing in Australia was taken at Yamba Main Beach in 1912. If you really want to see it, Australia’s oldest surfing photo is on display at the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay, Victoria.

The Yamba surf club is even older, however, being formed in 1908.

Surfing at Yamba Main Beach

Despite its history, Yamba Main Beach isn’t one of New South Wales’ great surfing beaches. It’s quite small – Yamba Main Beach is only 250 long – and it is comparatively well-protected by Yamba Point.

This means the beach breaks are somewhat inconsistent, with the most reliable break forming at the southern end by the rocks.

Yamba Ocean Pool at Yamba Main Beach

The southern end of Yamba Main Beach is also where you’ll find the Yamba Ocean Pool. Sometimes known as the Yamba Rock Pool, this pool is cut from the rocks, washed out by the tides and free to use.

The Yamba Ocean Pool isn’t the biggest ocean pool in New South Wales by any stretch, but it is 33 metres long.

The Yamba Ocean Pool is the safest place to swim at Yamba Main Beach. If choosing to swim in the ocean, stay between the flags, as the rips at the beach keep the surf lifesavers busy.

There is a car park next to the Yamba Ocean Pool.

Yamba accommodation worth looking at

Strong Yamba accommodation choices you should take a look at include…

For a budget stay by the beach: Pacific Hotel.
For really well equipped apartments by Pippi Beach: The Sands Resort at Yamba.
For romance and overall quality: The Surf.
For a holiday park with a water park kids will love: Big4 Saltwater.