September 2, 2026 — 5:00am
Il Delfino Seaside Inn, Yamba
At first, I think I’ve arrived at the wrong address. This is … a house? But no, there’s the sign, “Il Delfino, 1948”. Still, it feels very intimate, like I’m about to walk in on a group of exceptionally cool friends drinking natural wines and shucking their own oysters. Also, how do I get in? The terracotta-red doors seem to open into a private courtyard. Then, I remember: I was given specific instructions on how to get to my room, and told I should read them before arriving. Thankfully, I’m in Yamba on the NSW North Coast, not middle-of-nowhere-no-reception. I find the instructions and they lead me down a side path, where doors are clearly marked with the names of suites.
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.
This once sleepy, lesser-known beach town has had a serious glow-up across the last decade, when those tired of Byron Bay’s “Sydney on the North Coast” aesthetic went looking for a similar beach town without the crowds. Today, Yamba gets crowded in summer but outside that it still retains some of that sleepy-town charm. You could say the same for Il Delfino. While yes, it is a celebration of Italian coastal chic, it’s also a lesson in honouring history. There’s a reason the seaside inn was last year awarded a Michelin Key, the Michelin Guide tick of approval given to the most outstanding hotels worldwide. The building, perched on the ocean edge, was built in 1948, and local owner Sheree Commerford restored its quirky details while adding luxury elements, elevating it without destroying its salt-crusted character.
