The 3 Closest Airports to yamba
The 3 Closest Airports to Yamba
Yamba, a beautiful coastal town in New South Wales, doesn’t have its own commercial airport. Visitors flying to the area typically use one of the regional airports nearby or the closest major airport slightly further afield. Choosing the right airport depends on your origin, airline preference, budget, and willingness to drive.
Here are the three airports geographically closest to Yamba:
Clarence Valley Regional Airport (Grafton – GFN)
This is the geographically closest airport to Yamba, located near Grafton. It’s a small regional airport primarily serving the local Clarence Valley community.
- Distance to Yamba: Approx. 65 km (about a 50-60 minute drive)
- Address: 906 Locked Bag 23, Grafton NSW 2460, Australia
- Pros: Shortest drive to Yamba. Cons: Very limited flights and destinations, often requires connecting flights, smaller aircraft.
- Airlines: Primarily Regional Express (Rex).
- Car Rental: Limited options, check availability (e.g., Hertz may be available with booking).
- Official Website: www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Building-planning-transport/Airport
- Phone: +61 2 6643 0200 (Clarence Valley Council)
- Rating: Approx. 3.5-4.0 stars (based on general user reviews)
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK)
Located north of Yamba, this is a bustling regional airport serving the popular Byron Bay area and surrounding Northern Rivers region. It offers significantly more flight options than Grafton. While not the closest overall, it’s often considered the most convenient regional airport for accessing Yamba due to its better flight connectivity.
- Distance to Yamba: Approx. 100 km (about a 1 hour 15 minute drive)
- Address: 210 Southern Cross Dr, Ballina NSW 2478, Australia
- Pros: Good range of domestic flights (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle), more frequent services than Grafton, serves popular tourist hub. Cons: Longer drive than Grafton, can be busy, fewer international connections than major airports.
- Airlines: Jetstar, Virgin Australia, QantasLink, Rex, FlyPelican.
- Car Rental: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty, Sixt.
- Official Website: ballinabyronairport.com.au
- Phone: +61 2 6681 1858
- Rating: Approx. 4.0-4.3 stars (based on general user reviews)
Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS)
Situated south of Yamba, Coffs Harbour Airport is another significant regional airport offering a good selection of domestic routes. It’s a viable alternative, particularly if travelling from or connecting through southern cities.
- Distance to Yamba: Approx. 130 km (about a 1 hour 30 minute drive)
- Address: Airport Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Australia
- Pros: Good domestic connections (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane), generally easy airport to navigate. Cons: Furthest drive of these three options to Yamba.
- Airlines: QantasLink, Rex, Link Airways. (Note: Airlines change, always check current schedules).
- Car Rental: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar.
- Official Website: www.coffsharbourairport.com.au
- Phone: +61 2 6648 4800
- Rating: Approx. 4.0-4.2 stars (based on general user reviews)
Conclusion
The closest airport to Yamba is Clarence Valley Regional Airport (Grafton – GFN). However, due to its limited flight schedule, many travellers find Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) or Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) more practical options, offering more frequent flights from major Australian cities.
For the widest range of domestic and international flights, the closest major airport is Gold Coast Airport (OOL), located approximately 170 km north of Yamba (around a 1 hour 45 minute to 2-hour drive). While not one of the top 3 closest geographically, it’s often the preferred choice for those needing more extensive flight connections.