Yass - town in New South Wales, Australia
Yass is a country service town on the intersection of the Hume Highway (M31) and Barton Highway (A25) in New South Wales, just under an hour north-west of Canberra. It has a range of accommodation and good facilities for those passing through, and a handful of local attractions for wishing to relax a little longer.
Understand
Before the Yass Bypass was complete, the Hume Highway used to pass straight down the main street of town. The high street consisted of service stations, take-aways and motels. There are now highway services on the freeway, and little passing traffic through the town.
Get in
By car
Yass is 3 hours drive from Sydney and 6 hours drive from Melbourne on the Hume Highway. Yass is approximately a 40-50 minute drive from Canberra, the national capital.
By train
Because of an historical curiosity, the train service from Sydney to Melbourne does not pass through Yass. It was linked by a spur line that has long since closed. Accordingly, you will need to be picked up or get a taxi from Yass Junction to Yass.
Train services run from Sydney and Melbourne to Yass Junction and are provided by NSW Trainlink (tel 13 22 32). Trains run run twice a day in both directions. It is approximately 4 hours from Sydney by train ($45 economy) and 7.5 hours from Melbourne ($90 economy).
By bus
Bus services are provided by:
- NSW Trainlink from Cootamundra and, in the other direction, from Queanbeyan (the service passes through Canberra but does not pick up passengers).
- Transborder Express (dead link: January 2023) (tel +61 2 6241 0033) weekdays to and from Canberra (see timetable)
- Greyhound (tel 13 14 99 within Australia or +61 7 4690 9950 internationally) from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
- Fearnes (tel 1800 029918 free call within Australia or +61 2 6921 2316) from Canberra.
Get around
See
- Cooma Cottage, 756 Yass Valley Way (about 5 km southeast of town centre), -34.8629°, 148.9484°, +61 2 6226 1470, coomacottage@nationaltrust.com.au. F-Su 10AM-4PM. Gift shop, parking, spacious picnic grounds. Conserved by the National Trust since 1970, this single-storied colonial cottage was built by pioneering pastoralist Cornelius O'Brien in 1835. Between 1839-1873 Cooma was home to one of colonial Australia's great overland explorers, Hamilton Hume (whose name was given to nearby highway), who added his version of Palladian-style wings and a Greek Revival portico. Set in a pastoral landscape the house represents an unusual mix of building techniques and styles and includes a fine, mid-19th century stables outbuilding. A museum to the life and accomplishments of Hamilton Hume is to be found at the house. Adults $10, Seniors & Concessions - $7, Families $20, National Trust Members free
- Crisp Galleries, +61 2 6227 6073. "Gap Range", Hume Highway, Yass Valley (west of Yass past the Cowra and Harden turn offs). The Crisp Galleries are a permanent exhibit of the glassware works of Peter Crisp.
Do
- Country Stuff. It's not exactly the most thrilling town in the world, but its great for photographers and historians!
Buy
Eat
If you are passing through on the Hume, there is a major set of services at Yass, that don't require you to venture more than a few hundred metres from the freeway. Fuel and fast food available 24 hours.
- Liberty Cafe, 171 Comur St.
Drink
Sleep
- Corona Grove Bed & Breakfast, 28 Mount Street, +61 2 6226 4920.
- Hamilton Hume Motor Inn, 9 Laidlaw Street, +61 2 6226 1722, hamhume@bigpond.com.au.
- Hi-Way Motor Inn, Hume Highway, +61 2 6226 1300.
- Kerrowgair Bed & Breakfast, 24 Grampian Street, +61 2 6226 4932.
- Swaggers Motor Inn ((formerly Sundowner Motor Inn)), Cnr Laidlaw & Castor Streets, +61 2 6226 9900. Free continental buffet breakfast. 2017-01-15
- Thunderbird Motel, 264 Comur Street, +61 2 6226 1158.