The Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort in Yamba is situated on the bank of the picturesque Clarence River. It has the ideal location and plenty of activities and play areas to keep the kids happy, as well as all the amenities required for a convenient stay. Just turn up and pull out the fishing rods as deadlines and schedules are quickly forgotten. We were so chilled out after our first couple of days here that we extended our stay by an extra night – we didn’t want to leave!
Located three and a half hours south of Brisbane on the north NSW coast, Yamba is a small town with a big reputation. We heard about it from my sister and after we had booked our trip away and mentioned it to friends in passing we discovered that it was a popular holiday destination.
Accommodation
The Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort has multiple accommodation options to suit any budget. From waterfront spa villas offering gorgeous views of the river, to cabins with and without ensuites, riverside van sites and both powered and unpowered tent sites – there is not shortage of options to choose from.
Having just purchased our new tent, we decided to book a powered grass site. Beautifully maintained, the site was very comfortable and affordable at $40 per night. Being the only campers when we arrived (we visited during the winter months and in the middle of a school term), we were offered prime position. Camped only about 20 metres from the foreshore – we were close to the waterfront camp kitchen and a short walk to the bathrooms.
Fun for the kids!
While Celso set up the tent, I took Alden for a stroll through the resort. We soon found the Kidskave – a room for under 5-year-olds. It had ‘Little Tike’ push cars and blocks to play with as well as a big jumping castle! Just next door is the bar and restaurant area, overlooking several pools including one with a swim-up bar. It was easy to imagine this as a bustling spot during the warmer months. Some pools are heated – and even during the cool and overcast weekend of our visit there were families enjoying the water. 
Another pool area in the park includes a kid’s wading pool and water slide. A jumping pillow and climbing frame with slides caught the attention of Alden as we wandered back to our tent. These areas are great for toddlers, and a larger climbing frame and slide is also available for bigger kids. The resort also has a large arcade room and pool tables.
The resort makes the best of its ideal location on the Clarence River – boasting its own jetty for fishing. You can hire canoes, boats, bikes, go karts and SUP boards here too!! It’s impossible to imagine running out of things to do. When you have a little one fun can be found everywhere – our toddler had a ball just wearing his gumboots and playing on the river bank! 
Food and Drinks
We enjoyed cooking up breakfast on our camp stove each morning. One morning we even took ourselves down to the river to have pancakes with a view! Another great thing about The Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort is if you don’t feel like cooking they have a lovely restaurant on site. Overlooking the pools which are lit up at night, the restaurant has a very relaxed and tropical setting. The menu is affordable, and includes classic favourites like steak and parmigiana. Kids meals include a juice and ice cream for dessert!
Location
The Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort is located within walking distance (just over 2 kilometres) or a short drive to town. During our stay we checked out the lighthouse, Yamba museum, bowls club and the Yamba markets. We enjoyed some of the freshest seafood we’d ever tried just a short stroll from the resort.
The Yamba bowling club (the Bowlo) was a surprising highlight of our trip. More than just a bistro – it’s leisure centre includes an indoor soft playroom that Alden couldn’t get enough of, a large indoor rock climbing wall, arcade games, mini golf range and ten pin bowls!
We were lucky enough to be visiting for the Yamba River Markets – held on the fourth Sunday of the month. We headed down after breakfast and browsed through the stalls before stopping to listen to a local duo perform their original songs. Alden had a dance, and then we wandered further down the river and enjoyed the great views.
Of course, being on the NSW coast, Yamba also has stunning beaches to explore including Turners Beach, Main Beach and Pippi Beach.
Good to know…
Don’t forget to pack insect repellent – the area is quite well known for its mosquitos. We certainly saw a few around but our Thermacell kept them at bay so we weren’t bothered.
We absolutely recommend a trip to Yamba and The Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort! We loved our stay and the friendly staff made it even more special.