Perfect relaxation at Angourie Rainforest Resort

This month we headed down to the Angourie Rainforest Resort to spend a few days in the Clarence Valley region on the north coast of New South Wales.  We'd only stopped for a couple of hours in the coastal towns of Yamba and Angourie previously as part of a road trip from Coffs Harbour to Brisbane.  At the time we loved the beautiful beaches and relaxed vibe and planned to return very soon and explore it further.

They're two beach towns have great surf breaks, interesting rock shelves and long white sand beaches.  The regular sightings of whales, dolphins, kangaroos, a huge variety of birdlife and our first seal in Australia makes it a great destination for nature lovers too.  

If you are a hiker or enjoy the outdoors you may be familiar with the Yuragir National Park, the northern end of the park begins at Angourie beach.  If you want to take a series of shorter walks on that spectacular coastal track rather than the full multi-day walk this might just be the ideal base.

Location

A while back I'd purchased a great deal through an online booking site and got a great price on 3 nights at the Angourie Rainforest Resort.  We'd spotted it as we passed last time commenting that it looked like an oasis set out on its own along Angourie Road and surrounded by the coastal forest.  It seemed a good spot to unwind with just the right balance of nature and comfort.

Check the latest prices for Angourie Rainforest Retreat here

The setting gives it a quiet and relaxed feel from the moment you drive up.  There are lagoons, gardens and palm trees throughout the resort and it's fringed by rain forest.  Being set apart from the town means it wouldn't be overly convenient if you didn't have your own transport but it's only a 5-minute drive either back to the Yamba town centre or along to the Yuragir National Park at the southern end of the road.

For us, on a 4 day escape from the city the location meant waking up to the sounds of birds singing and enjoying a tranquil green outlook from our private veranda.  We were wanting to explore the wider area and all the beaches and nearby National Park so we would have been out and about in our car anyway.  

We spent our evenings at the beach watching the sun go down and the dolphins frolicking in the bay so it was very convenient to wander over the road to town for dinner before heading back out to the resort.  The resort also had its own restaurant although the only meal we ate there on this visit was breakfast which was included in our room deal, the breakfast buffet was well presented and a good standard.

The Angourie Rainforest Resort Apartments

For your stay there is a choice of apartments or villas, the style and layout seems quite similar across the two.  We were in a one-bedroom loft (upstairs) apartment, room 206 in block B.  There are 4 blocks and in our opinion, it would be our pick again if we were given the choice as it was furthest from the road, restaurant and function centre.

The loft apartments had very high ceilings which combined with the light modern decor made them bright and airy.  With reverse cycle air-conditioning and a fully insect screened veranda looking out to the garden and rain forest beyond they should maintain a comfortable temperature regardless of the season.  

I loved the veranda area which had a choice of a 4-seater outdoor table or a super comfortable day bed for relaxing on, it was lovely to sit out in the early morning and at night without having to worry about the mosquitoes.

Inside there is a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and stove, full-sized fridge freezer, dishwasher and enough gear that you can fully self cater your meals if you wanted to.  They include enough dish liquid or powder for the dishwasher, tea towels and cloths for you to use during your stay.  Outside there is a communal gas BBQ with undercover seating area if you prefer to cook outdoors.

The bedroom has plenty of hanging and drawer space if you're are staying a while and the bed and pillows were really comfortable.  The bathroom was accessed from the hallway or as an ensuite from the bedroom.  It included a corner spa bath, shower and good sized vanity again with heaps of drawer and cupboard space.  A hairdryer and the usual hotel toiletries were provided.

We were there 3 nights and the apartment wasn't serviced during that period.  I don't mind that at all but I do wish resorts would allow two sets of towels if that is the case, 2 days is OK given water conservation issues but 3 is a bit too long in my view.

Other facilities within the unit include a desk area with wifi throughout the apartment although it was only free for the first hour.

Angourie Rainforest Resort Facilities

The resort includes a large pool with swim lanes and a freeform area for relaxing, there was also a separate children's water play area with a slide and fountains.  Loungers and undercover seating with tables were available in the pool area.  

At the back of the resort, there's a rain forest walk, it's short but interesting with a lot of birds and they obviously have a resident bandicoot judging by the familiar holes.

The resort has a restaurant that is open for dinner with a booking and the continental breakfast included in our package deal was good.  The restaurant area also has function facilities and there was a wedding on when we arrived, it was a daytime function though and we didn't notice any noise during the nights we stayed, it was very peaceful.

If you want a bit of extra pampering and relaxation there is a day spa on the premise.  There is also a cardio gym if you are so inclined - given the beautiful location I think most were taking their exercise outdoors and the gym seemed to be very quiet.

Near the entrance to the rain forest area is an undercover BBQ area for communal use and the apartment blocks had shared laundry facilities that were free to use.

Other accommodation options in the area

Overall I was very happy with the resort and felt that at the price we paid for our stay was excellent value, we would definitely book there again.

Check latest prices for Angourie Rainforest Resort here

However, if the Angourie Rainforest Resort isn't what you are looking for there are a number of other options in the area.  At one end of the spectrum, there are walk-in campsites at Shelley Head in the Angourie National Park which is about 6 km from the northern track entrance.  

If you want a drive-up camp or caravan site there is a choice of two in Yamba, one on the river as you come into town and the other a short stroll to the main beach and breakwater.

The area has a wide variety of other accommodation options including hotels, motels, villas and hostels to suit all budgets.

Compare prices and facilities of places to stay in Yamba

If you're looking for ideas of what to see and do in Yamba and Angourie take a look at our travel guide for the region featuring all the top reasons to visit these gorgeous coastal towns.