For full details of Clearance procedures into Australia, see the Australia Formalities page.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) manages designated Ports of Entry for all international sea arrivals, requiring 96-hour pre-arrival notice for vessels. However, under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all international vessels and goods become subject to biosecurity control when they enter Australian territorial seas.
If your vessel is subject to biosecurity control, you can only enter Australia at ports that are ABF first Ports of Entry (FPOE) AND Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity First Points of Entry.
This ensures that vessels enter Australia at a location with appropriate facilities and personnel to manage the biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.
Yamba is NOT an ABF Port of Entry or a DAFF Biosecurity First Point of Entry for non-commercial/recreational vessels.
Therefore, to enter Australia at this port you must apply for permission from DAFF at least 10 days prior to your expected arrival date.
See the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website for details on the application process.
Contact the local Marine Rescue on VHF Channel 16 before crossing the bar, either to enter or leave the river entrance.
Last updated: May 2026
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Clearance: Neither Yamba or Iluka are clearance ports.
Yamba Marina has a travel lift and ramp facilities together with anchorages/mooring on the Yamba main channel, fuel, Yamba fleet fish co-op outlet and small chandlery.
Illuka on the north-side boasts a very large protected anchoring area behind a large sea wall and like Yamba has good floating wharves for dingy’s. Illuka also has the fish coop on site and they can be contacted for fuel and birthing options (limited).
See local tourist websites for details or Alan Lucas’ Cruising the NSW Coast for details. When using the public wharves at both locations be mindful of the ferry which uses the same wharf and provides a convenient way to travel between the two sites if desired. On the Iluka side, the Sedgers Reef Hotel is 50m from the dingy pontoon adjacent to the Iluka fleet Fish Co-op.
Both have a variety of fresh food, grocery, and shopping within walking distance of the dingy wharf. Upriver there are floating docks and excellent pub meals at Harwood, McLean, Lawrence, Bushgrove and a short dingy ride to Grafton where low wires stop masted vessels just before the town.
The mouth of the Clarence is blessed by two towns. Yamba on the southern shore and Iluka on the northern. This provides heaps of great space to anchor and depending upon the wind two options to rest-over.
The Clarence River is also fantastic inland water well worth exploring even for masted vessels well up to its upper reaches. There is a ‘platform lifting’ bridge when provides access for masted vessels up to 35 metres or so with 24 hours (generally) notice.