Settled in northern New South Wales, at the mouth of the Clarence River is sleepy surf town Yamba. It’s primarily visited for its quiet atmosphere and ample offerings in way of surfing and fishing. It’s become a firm favourite for many big city dwellers, including One Teaspoon‘s Jamie Blakey who spends plenty of time here. “Yamba always seem to have the best weather all year round,” says Blakey. “Unless is completely torrential and flooding! But that’s not very often. There’s 4 surrounding beaches so no matter what way the wind is blowing or what the conditions you’ve always got a spot to hang for the day that will be incredible. Because it’s a fishing village, Yamba has the freshest most delicious prawns. We do a solid few hours at the beach then pick up some freshly caught prawns from the trawler and some crispy rosé from the bottle shop across the road from The Black Ace. Or have a get together and Dusk Til Dawn Bar + Co. They do the best botanical cocktails! And they will personalise them for you too.” Here Blakey shares her other favourite Yamba stops.

Need somewhere to rest your head for the night? Look no further than The Black Ace, the sleeky styled 100-year old surf shack owned by Blakey and her family. The holiday home is available to rent, and can cater to a seriously large brood of 16 thanks to its four bedrooms, rumpus room, and outdoor entertaining area. It’s intended to be a home away from home, complete with everything you could need for an coastal retreat, from board racks to the ever-reliable pool table. @_theblackace_

“Beachwood cafe is another favourite,” says Blakey. “Nice for a long lunch in the sun of authentic Turkish food.” Thanks to a Turkish founder, the eatery hosts a menu overflowing with Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern favourites. Everything is made from local and organic produce, with Beachwood’s brunch offering particularly famous thanks to dishes that include scrambled eggs with herbs, feta and turkish sausage, or the poached fruits, organic mandarin juice, coconut and cinnamon bread. 22 High Street, Yamba; beachwoodcafe.com.au.

The Pacific may well be Yamba’s most famous resident. The multi-storey white block with distinctive red roof has been a beacon for the community since it was built in 1934. It’s the hub in which Yamba’s village come together to drink, watch the surf, and indulge in some good old fashioned pub grub. Fancy it is not, but that’s not what you want from a surf town, but a casual space in which to sit and enjoy a few ice cold beers on a humid summer afternoon. For those who don’t wish to leave, you don’t have to; The Pacific has a couple of more basic accommodation options available. 18 Pilot Street, Yamba; pacifichotelyamba.com.au.

“There’s a bunch of great restaurants [on Coldstream Street in the village] but Paradiso is the favourite for sure,” says Blakey, “and they’ve got a great wine bar next door!” A former Rockpool chef heads up this coastal eatery which is focused around produce from the Clarence and Byron Bay regions. All seafood is strictly from within the Yamba vicinity (which is already famed for its prawns), including wild fish, wild octopus, netted sardines and “whatever catch we can get our hands on.” Accompany your bite to eat with a drink or two from the venue’s ever-increasing range of natural wines, or a specialty cocktail (or two). 10 Clarence Street, Yamba; paradisorestaurant.com.au.

While technically not Yamba, Angourie is just 10 minutes down the road and home to a beloved cafe of the same name, where the mantra is ‘surf, eat, relax’. Open from 7.00am, six days a week, Cafe Angourie is a favourite of the locals thanks to its bevy of morning muffins, quality coffee, and healthy breakfast bowls. 13-15 The Crescent, Angourie; @cafeangourie.