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Major city · Australia

Iluka

Give Iluka one night, two at most: the rainforest walk, the bluff and the river mouth fill a day; the ferry to Yamba fills the second.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Sep–Nov, Mar–May
avoid Dec–Jan (school holidays, heat, booked-out parks)
Airports
BNK · OOL · CFS
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Iluka is a village of about 1,800 at the mouth of the Clarence River, on the north bank, inside the Northern Rivers region. Its Iluka Nature Reserve holds one of the largest remaining stands of coastal rainforest in New South Wales and is part of the Gondwana Rainforests listing. There is no bridge to Yamba: you cross by ferry or drive back to the Pacific Motorway. Come for the walk, the fishing and the quiet, not for a resort.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Iluka, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Street or quick mealBakery pie or sandwichA$6–12 (≈ US$4–8)
  • BeerDraught beer in a pubA$7–11 (≈ US$5–8)
  • Budget bedPowered campsite (own tent or van), a night, per personA$25 (≈ US$17)
  • Mid-range bedHoliday-park cabin, a night, per roomA$190 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedHoliday-park cabin, a night, per roomA$300 (≈ US$200)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$280 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Iluka Nature Reserve rainforest walkIluka Bluff and the river mouthClarence River fishing and oystersIluka Jetty and the Yamba ferry
Airports
BNK Ballina Byron Gateway (About 1 h 15 min by car via the Pacific Motorway; the closest airport with regular jet services.) · OOL Gold Coast (About 2 h 30 min by car north; useful if you are already on the Gold Coast.) · CFS Coffs Harbour (About 2 h by car south.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Iluka: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C

20°C

13 rd

Feb

29°C

20°C

13 rd

Mar

27°C

18°C

14 rd

Apr

25°C

15°C

11 rd

May

22°C

12°C

10 rd

Jun

20°C

9°C

8 rd

Jul

19°C

8°C

7 rd

Aug

21°C

9°C

7 rd

Sep

23°C

12°C

8 rd

Oct

25°C

15°C

10 rd

Nov

27°C

17°C

11 rd

Dec

28°C

19°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is small enough to walk: jetty, shops, bakery and the rainforest track are all within about 15 minutes on foot. Without a car you can realistically reach Iluka Bluff via the rainforest trail and not much further. A car opens the beaches, the Bundjalung National Park and the run to Maclean or Grafton. The 386 bus from Maclean runs a few times a day; bring cash, as some services have no card terminal.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Yamba

go

Door to door: About 30 min plus waiting

Clarence River Ferries shuttle from Iluka Jetty, about 4 services a day

One-way fare A$11.90, half for pensioners and children under 16; a family return pass for 2 adults and up to 4 children is A$80. No ferries on Christmas Day or Australia Day.

Maclean

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

386 bus from Iluka, a few services a day

Small river town with a Scottish heritage theme; bring cash for the bus.

Ballina

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min by car

Car via the Pacific Motorway, or the daily NSW TrainLink coach

The coach runs once a day in each direction and connects to the Casino–Brisbane XPT.

Lennox Head

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Car south past Ballina

Surf beach and headland walk; pair it with Ballina in one day.

Grafton

caution

Door to door: About 1 h by car

Car via the motorway, or the daily NSW TrainLink coach

Jacaranda season (Oct–Nov) is the reason to go; otherwise it is a service town.

Lismore

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Car inland via Maclean and the highway

Regional centre with markets and galleries; a wet-day option.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Iluka village centre (Charles St and Young St)

Walk to the bakery, the jetty and the start of the rainforest track; the motel and the riverside park are both here.

Iluka Riverside Holiday Park

Cabins and powered sites on the Clarence River, 4 Charles St; book ahead in school holidays.

Yamba (across the river)

More beds, cafés and beaches; reach it by the Clarence River Ferries shuttle or a long drive around via the motorway.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–150 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–250 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
High
A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × A$170A$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$160A$320
Yamba ferry, return2 × A$24A$48
Family ferry pass, 2 adults and up to 4 children1 × A$80A$80
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$20A$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$66
Trip total≈ A$362 per person per day, bed includedA$724≈ US$500

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Bakery pie or sandwichA$6–12 (≈ US$4–8)
Pub main (Sedgers Reef Hotel)A$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Draught beer in a pubA$7–11 (≈ US$5–8)
Yamba ferry, one wayHalf for pensioners and children under 16.A$11.90 (≈ US$8)
Fuel, unleadedAbout A$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) per litre

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Iluka is a quiet village and street crime is not the issue. The real risks are water (river currents, unpatrolled surf at the mouth), summer heat and bushfire or flood closures on the feeder roads: check NSW Rural Fire Service and Live Traffic before a long drive.
  • There is no direct road from Iluka to Yamba: take the ferry or drive back to the Pacific Motorway and around.
  • The last ferry of the day does not always return to Yamba; check the timetable before you cross for the evening.
  • Ferries do not run on Christmas Day or Australia Day.
  • The 386 bus may not take cards: carry cash.
  • Swimming at the river mouth and the bluff is exposed to current and swell; there are no patrolled flags here.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From a mobile
112
NSW SES (flood and storm)
132 500

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

IlukaIluka

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Embassy

No consulates in Iluka. The nearest are in Brisbane; the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand all have consulates there.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Iluka → Yamba ferry, one way: A$11.90 (≈ US$8), half for pensioners and children under 16
  • Family ferry pass, return: A$80 (≈ US$55) for 2 adults and up to 4 children
  • 386 bus, Maclean → Iluka: cash recommended; some buses have no card terminal

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • One ticket, please — One ticket, please
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the jetty? — Where is the jetty?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is it safe to swim here? — Is it safe to swim here?

Iluka is small: fill the tank and take cash before you arrive.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Iluka. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Sep–Nov, Mar–May · avoid Dec–Jan (school holidays, heat, booked-out parks) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry timetable and last-crossing fixture for Iluka Jetty, with a taxi and overnight fallback.
  2. Two walking clusters: jetty and village, then rainforest track to Iluka Bluff.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the rainforest track, the bluff lookout and the jetty, plus eat pages with last orders.
  4. Holiday-park and motel availability fixtures so the one-night and two-night plans can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources