Yass is a town in New South Wales, Australia. The town lies at the heart of the '''Yass Valley''', an area with many attractions for the visitor.

Understand

Yass is a country town in NSW. It is primarily a service town to the surrounding communities, but also highlights its attractions to tourists, as do many other rural towns. It has a range of accommodation and good facilities.

It used to be a service stop on the Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne, but has now been bypassed by the freeway, and other services are located closer to the freeway.

  • Yass Valley Shire Council [http://www.yass.nsw.gov.au/]
  • Tourism in Yass Valley Shire [http://yassvalley.visitnsw.com.au/]
  • Yass Community Portal [http://www.yass.com.au/]
  • 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 Countrylink [http://www.countrylink.info/] (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:

  • Countrylink from Cootamundra and, in the other direction, from Queanbeyan (the service passes through Canberra but does not pick up passengers).
  • Transborder Express [http://www.transborderexpress.com.au/] (tel 02 6241 0033) from Canberra (see timetable [http://www.transborderexpress.com.au/timetable_yass_cbr.html]).
  • Greyhound [http://www.greyhound.com.au/] (tel 13 14 99 within Australia or 07 4690 9950 internationally) from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
  • Fearnes [http://www.fearnes.com.au/] (tel 1800 029918 free call within Australia or 02 6921 2316) from Canberra.
  • Get around

    See

  • '''Cooma Cottage''' [http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/cooma.html], Yass Valley Way; open Th-Mo 10am-4pm (closed from the 2nd Monday in June, reopening the 1st Monday in August); admission adults $4.40, concessions/seniors $2.20, family $11, group booking prices on application, gift shop, parking, spacious picnic grounds, wedding and venue hire, tel 02 6226 1470, fax 02 6226 3024, email mailto:coomacottage@bigpond.com - about 5 mins out of Yass town centre, and 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.
  • '''Crisp Galleries''', "Gap Range", Hume Highway, Yass Valley (west of Yass past the Cowra and Harden turn offs). ph 02 6227 6073. [http://www.petercrisp.com.au/] 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

  • '''Liberty Cafe'''. 171 Comur St.
  • Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Corona Grove Bed & Breakfast''', 28 Mount Street. tel 02 6226 4920.
  • '''Hamilton Hume Motor Inn''', 9 Laidlaw Street. tel 1800 020 559 (free call, Australia only) or 02 6226 1722. email hamhume@bigpond.com.au.
  • '''Hi-Way Motor Inn''', Hume Highway. tel 02 6226 1300.
  • '''Kerrowgair Bed & Breakfast''', 24 Grampian Street. tel 02 6226 4932.
  • '''Sundowner Motor Inn''', Cnr Laidlaw & Castor Streets. tel 02 6226 9900. [http://www.sundownermotorinns.com.au/website_sql/directory/property.cfm?PropertyID=19]
  • '''Thunderbird Motel''', 264 Comur Street. tel 02 6226 1158.
  • Get out

    Continue south along the Hume Highway to Gundagai and the Victorian border. Continue north along the Hume Highway to Sydney, or divert via the Barton/Federal Highways through Canberra.