Discover Yass: history and river nature

Yass offers a range of ways to explore: the 440-kilometre Hume and Hovell Track begins at Cooma Cottage, while the Yass River and its habitats offer a different perspective on nature. There are also historic railway sites, a main street with buildings dating from the 1840s, and an archive of national significance. You can shape your stay around outdoor activities, river nature or town history – or combine different themes.

Trails and a historic property

The Hume and Hovell Track begins at Cooma Cottage and is 440 kilometres long in total. Those interested in longer hiking trails will find a specific starting point here, distinct from the walking opportunities along the Yass River. The stated distance refers to the entire track; by itself, it says nothing about the duration or difficulty of any individual section.

Cooma Cottage offers personal tours of the historic property on its original 100-acre grounds. This makes it possible to plan a visit around the history of the property, while the track offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. If you’d like to shape your trip around different interests, you can treat historical insights and outdoor activities as separate priorities.

Railway and town history

At the Yass Railway Museum, visitors can walk around the museum grounds and see the main station building, an original loading platform, a goods shed and steam locomotive 1307. The Yass Town Railway Station and yard group is the only surviving tramway or light railway station complex.

The streets and the town’s history offer other ways to explore. The Yass Historic Walk and Drive passes through a well-preserved main street with buildings dating from the 1840s. The Yass Town Drive, in turn, focuses on the town’s history and heritage. If you prefer exploring historic places and buildings, these options can help guide the cultural focus of your stay. The Yass Valley History Centre adds to this perspective with a nationally significant archival collection – an interesting option for anyone who wants to learn more about the region’s history and records.

Yass River and nature watching

The Yass River and its surrounding habitats are home to native flora and fauna, including fish, birds, marsupials, reptiles, amphibians and insects. This diversity makes observing nature a different focus from exploring historic buildings and collections. On the Yass Town Trail Walk, you can spot birds, marsupials, amphibians, insects and plants; information boards along the route also explain the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Yass River.

A path runs around the river at Riverbank Park, where you can walk alongside the ducks. There are several ways to enjoy the outdoors: watching animals and plants on the Yass Town Trail Walk, learning about the river’s history and nature, or taking a waterside stroll at Riverbank Park. Which of these perspectives interests you most can help shape your days in Yass.

Tailor your stay to your interests

When looking for a holiday rental in Yass, it’s worth first deciding what you’d like to focus on during your trip. Would you like to explore historic buildings, railway history and archive collections, or are river nature and walks more your priority? The start of the Hume and Hovell Track at Cooma Cottage may also be a deciding factor. If you’re travelling with people who have different interests, these themes offer different starting points for planning your trip together, without limiting Yass to just one way of exploring.

More places to discover: Myall Park, Worrowing Heights, Maclean, Diamond Beach, Ocean Shores, Mandurama, Currans Hill, Coonamble.

For the broader travel guide: New South Wales.