Iluka is a small village at the mouth of the Clarence River north-east of New South Wales, Australia, situated directly across the river from the resort town of Yamba the village has only a populations of about 1,800 people it's of the pretties village along the coast of NSW with the best cleanest beaches. A small town may not be everyone's cup of tea but there are times when you just want that peacefulness and tranquility and you will find that in Iluka village.
Illuka village is one of them little charming, sleepy village that people dream about to retire, this pretty little village maybe small in population but it has everything you need to be comfortable here. We had heard a lot about this small charming village but had not had the opportunity to visit this charming village till a friend of ours who lives there invited us down for a weekend.
Seeing that it is high season in our home town of Byron Bay at the moment we felt a little boxed in by the crowds, so we took my friend's offer packed the car up and took the 120 km drive from Byron Bay to IIuka Village to spend some quality time with our friend and his wife, it was quite a pleasant drive on a sunny Saturday morning along the Pacific Highway coastline and we were there in no time. My friend's house is surround by the natural beauty of the lluka Village rainforest on the outskirts of IIuka Village the most perfect spot you step out his front door and your in the rainforest.
When we arrived at his place last Saturday morning we were only spending the one night in Iluka Village we had per-booked a lovely room by the beach only 10 minute drive from his house he would have liked us to stay over at his house but my wife and myself wanted to make it a bit of a romantic weekend you know what I mean and we were right across from the beach and a great looking cafe run by a lovely Japanese couple who made the best ricotta salad sandwich and great veggie burgers.
We were actually very surprised for a small village how there was everything available breakfast cafes everywhere by the stunning beach even a beautiful mobile van by the beach with the best homemade chocolate muffins just had to try one of them.
After having the most filling breakfast my friend and his wife suggested we take a drive into the village market and buy some fruits and veggies for tonight's dinner we had planned on a nice seafood dinner and wine at home amongst the romance of the rainforest.
It wasn't any small market as, I expected they had quite a variety of things like clothing, healing stones, food vendors, plants, and a nice fruit and veggie outlet very fresh at reasonable prices. It was a pleasure to see such a tidy, clean and well organized open market.
After picking up what we needed from the markets it was back home to prepare dinner and have a nice chatty relaxing night catching up on old times. The next day it was out to check out the local beach and the village, for a small community they certainly knew how to live there lives here looked like everyone was out enjoying this beautiful day either barbecuing by the sea or the river. Here you can enjoy a abundance of water activities also like boating, fishing, surfing, hire kayaks or stand-up paddleboard and take to the waters without the crowds.
IIuka Village has the great advantage of been surrounded by water the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Clarence River on the other side and surrounded by miles of empty beaches where you can wonder for miles listening only to the sound of the ocean or you can get lost in the heritage rainforest, there are many outdoor adventures to enjoy in this charming little village, I for one was so taken back by this beautiful village that I will return to enjoy more my friend has certainly picked a paradise to live in.
