📍14 Best Things To Do In Yass Valley, NSW. (Activities & Attractions 2024.)

In the New South Wales countryside north of the Australian Capital Territory lies Yass, a beautiful quaint township nestled in the picturesque Yass Valley. These lovely undulating hills are home to a prolific Australian explorer and plenty of nature-based attractions.

So whether you’re going through the scenic region en route to Sydney or Canberra, or heading out on a road trip inland, here is a list of things to do in Yass and the surrounding valleys, from visiting the Cooma Cottage to camping at the Wee Jasper Reserves and exploring an subterranean world that I came across on my NSW and ACT trip that’ll make you want to stop by and explore it thoroughly.

1. Enjoy Historic Architecture.
Yass Town Walk.

Yass is a gorgeous township lined with beautiful heritage buildings and deciduous trees that make the town look dramatically different as the seasons change. Because of how beautiful it is, it’s very inviting to get out of the car and explore the stunning architecture and the boutique stores existing inside them. It’s also a great way to stretch your legs after a long journey and is one of the best things to do in Yass to familiarize yourself with the area.

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2. Read Some Famous Words.
Banjo Patterson Park.

Banjo Paterson was a famous Australian writer and poet known for his vivid depictions of rural and Outback life. His most notable work is Waltzing Matilda and The Man From Snowy River, which have become synonymous with Australian culture.

He grew up in Binalong, a tiny village 35km northwest of Yass and to commemorate his indelible and timeless work, he has a park dedicated to him featuring a sculpture of his bust and plaques featuring snippets of his most famous works.

It’s a lovely place to visit and get re-acquainted with the renowned poet, but it’s also a great location to take the kids as it has a playground where they can burn off their energy. It is also only a stone’s through away from the main street, so one can easily incorporate a town walk with a visit to the park.

3. Check Out The Old Trains.
Yass Railway Museum.

Those who like exploring historical trains and associated memorabilia will love exploring the railyard at the Yass Railway Museum. Walk amongst the main station building, home to the shortest platform in New South Wales and an array of locomotives, including the Vulcan and iconic 1307 steam locomotive, which serviced the state railway system for close to 95 years.

4. Gain An Insight Into Yass’ Past.
Yass And District Museum.

For a more generalized look at the region’s history, a visit to the Yass And District Museum is a must. The small museum, located close to the Visitor Information Centre, showcases a collection of old photographs and artefacts that depict the notable moments of the area’s past. It also provides visitors with a glimpse of life from earlier times.

5. Relax By The River.
Joe O’Connor Park.

Another lovely place to visit in Yass is Joe O’Connor Park. Sitting on the banks of the Yass River, this expansive open space is a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors within the town’s vicinity. Have a picnic amongst the picturesque landscape or go wild swimming in the tranquil waters.

I also pleasantly surprised to discover that it is a free overnight rest area, so for those who are tired and need a place to crash, this is a fantastic spot to do so.

6. See The Final Resting Place Of An Australian Explorer.
Hamilton Hume’s Grave.

Hamilton Hume was Australia’s first native-born explorer. He was born on 19 July 1797, and in 1824, when he was 24, along with British-born William Hovell, an English sea captain, and with the help of Aboriginal people with whom he was friendly, discovered a route between Sydney and Melbourne that is now known as the Hume Highway and mostly follows most of their original track.

Hume eventually settled in Yass with his wife and lived there for 30 years until his death. Both were buried in town, and their final resting places are visitable towards the northern end of the local cemetery.

7. Visit Hamilton Hume’s Home.
Cooma Cottage. – $.

A short drive out of Yass towards Canberra is Cooma Cottage. It’s here where famed explorer Hamilton Hume lived out the last 30 years of his life with his wife.

The estate and the gorgeous sprawling grounds they owned are now one of the top tourist attractions in Yass, where visitors can get an insight into Australia’s first native-born expeditionist and how he and other pioneering families lived in the early days of colonial Australia.

The beautiful property also has gardens and picnic areas to enjoy and can be hired out for events such as weddings, photoshoots and more.

8. Follow Famous Footsteps.
Hume And Hovell Track.

One of the best things to do in Yass is hike the historic Hume and Hovell track. Hamilton Hume and William Hovell were responsible for finding a route between Sydney and Melbourne, and despite the many challenges, they were successful.

While most of the route between the two capitals is now the Hume Highway, a lengthy portion of track that hasn’t been converted into a national freeway still exists. The trail starts at the beautiful grounds of Cooma Cottage, where Hume resided for the last three decades of his life continuing for a mammoth 426 km to Hovell Tree at Albury and can be tackled as a day trip, section by section or as an extensive trekking adventure.

For day trippers, each of the track’s five sections has several access points making it easier to accomplish for those who don’t have the time or endurance for longer walks. They are also of different lengths and difficulties, making them perfect for anyone of any skill level. Those looking for a more challenging trip can enjoy overnight hikes to complete a section at a time. They range from 72.1km to 97.5km in length and vary in difficulty from easy to hard.

People looking for a true out back and beyond adventure can undertake the entire trail in one fell swoop. It is earmarked to take between 18-24 days to complete this mammoth wilderness trek, depending on your fitness level and speed. Cross over 100 footbridges, follow the rivers, and enjoy breathtaking views and so much more along this magnificent historical trail.

9. See A Bushrangers Grave.
Johnny Gilberts Grave.

In the early days of colonial Australia, the country had a bushranger problem. They would cause mayhem and rob people left, right and centre and some were so notorious they became legends. The most infamous was Ned Kelly, with his armour made of plough mouldboards and his famous last words, “Such is life.”

But another man of notoriety was Ben Hall and his band of merry men who roamed the central west of New South Wales in the 1860s. One of his gang members was Johnny Gilbert, who was brought to his end in Binalong, a short drive from Yass. He is buried there and you can go and visit his grave at the village cemetery where he was shot dead by police.

10. Have Some Fun At The Lake.
Lake Burrinjuck.

Those looking for water-based things to do in Yass Valley will want to head to Lake Burrinjuck. The lake is a scenic 50-minute drive west of Yass and is a lovely place to enjoy all sorts of water sports, such as swimming, kayaking, boating and jet skiing. It’s also great for picnics, BBQs and walks along the foreshore.

However, the only way to access the day-use areas is through the caravan parks and day-use fees apply.

11. Explore The Underworld.
Careys Cave. $.

On the lengthy backroad linking Yass and the Kosciuszko gateway town on Tumut lies Wee Jasper, a picturesque village in the midst of rolling hills. I was blown away by the beauty of this place. The drive itself is gorgeous coming in from the eastern side and is well worth the scenic detour alone. But the village is home to a fantastic hidden gem, making adding Wee Jasper to your things to do in Yass itinerary a must: Careys Cave.

A guided tour takes people beneath the Earth to explore a 400 million-year-old limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites compacted by ancient corals. Marvel at the unique formations and have a go at singing if you dare. The cave is a natural amphitheatre and amplifies acoustics making it a fantastic place to belt out a tune. It even occasionally hosts concerts there and the space is also available to hire for weddings.

But a word to the wise, the guy who runs it is quite the character. He kept singling me out because everyone else was part of a geology group (if I recall correctly) and was more knowledgeable about underground cave systems, and I was also much younger than them. He tried to make it fun and inclusive, but I prefer to listen than interact.

The tour was also supposed to go for an hour but ended up well over two hours! While I loved spending more time in the cave, I didn’t appreciate that he spent an hour talking to us before we went in. And the geology group was not certainly happy as they had to drive back to Melbourne afterwards. Some of them even left the cave before the tour inside it was complete.

He also has many mixed reviews about his conduct online, with many people being annoyed at the things he says and his timekeeping skills, so it’s just a few things to consider before visiting.

12. Get In Touch With Nature.
Wee Jasper Reserves.

Also in Wee Jasper are the gorgeous Wee Jasper Reserves, a series of primitive camping and day-use areas that are some of the best places in Yass Valley for getting back in touch with nature.

With picturesque landscapes, gentle streams and even a waterfall, these incredible natural settings are perfect for day trips and weekend getaways going hiking, wild swimming, and star gazing.

13. Weereewa Lookout.

Over on the south-eastern fringes of the Yass Valley is Weereewa Lookout which overlooks Lake George. This lake beside the Federal Highway is unique because it is an endorheic basin which means rivers, creeks, or streams flow away from it.

Despite this, it experiences dramatic and sometimes sudden fluctuations in its water level, so it may either be full of glistening water or be so dry you won’t even realize one of the oldest lakes in the world is right in front of you.

Part of the reason for these rapid changes is the lake’s shallow depth and evaporation. It also has a very narrow catchment area and is only replenished by rainfall and overground seepage, so you never know which Lake George you’ll see, but it’s worth the stop to see which one you do and stretch your legs at the same time.

Yass Map.

Yass Accommodation: Where To Stay.

• Colonial Lodge Motor Inn Yass.
• Thunderbird Motel.
• Wee Jasper Reserves – Primitive Camping – $.
• Joe O-Connor Park – Free Overnight Rest Area.

For those travelling along the Hume Highway north of the ACT, it’s well worth allocating some time to explore the things to do in Yass Valley as there are some incredible attractions to discover, such as the Cooma Cottage, Hamilton Hume’s grave and Careys Cave.

If you are planning to visit Yass, consider looking at these other posts.