Angourie Beach House - total ocean views

The Sands Resort at Yamba

"Perfect place for a family stay. Great location, 1 mins from the beach. We stayed in an ocean view apartment which saw the sunrise every day. Pool was perfect for the kids and big enough even though it was the school holidays. 100% recommend. Also Yamba was perfect. Amazing beaches. Will definitely go back."

Il Delfino Seaside Inn

"I don’t often write reviews, but after stays in both Byron Bay and Yamba, I felt compelled to share a clear comparison. In Byron, we stayed at Raes at Wategos — genuinely exceptional in every respect: immaculate rooms, perfect beachfront setting, included breakfast, nightly turndown service, and staff who made every detail feel personal. It’s a true five-star experience. By contrast, Il Delfino looks stylish and enjoys a great ocean view, but that’s where the resemblance ends. Despite being in roughly the same price range, it’s completely unstaffed and offers no service at all — no daily cleaning (just a light one every four days), no minibar, no room service, nothing beyond a coffee pod machine and milk in the fridge. It operates more like an Airbnb with hotel pricing. At about $1,000 a night, it feels stripped-back and impersonal — design without hospitality. If it were priced around $500, it might rate a 4/5 for its looks alone, but at this level, the value simply isn’t there. The design is elegant, yes, but the experience lacks warmth, care, and any sense of welcome. Coming straight from Raes, the contrast was stark: one is world-class; the other just looks the part. All things considered, 2 out of 5 feels generous."