Yabulu is a small township beside the Bruce Highway, about 24 kilometres north of Townsville's CBD in a straight line. It sits between Black River, Bluewater and the coast at Saunders Beach. For decades it was best known for the nickel refinery on its outskirts, which closed in 2016. Today it's a quiet semi-rural community of around 650 people, with township homes and rural-residential blocks. Rents are generally more affordable than in the suburbs to the south, and many properties have room for trucks, trailers and boats. That appeals to tradespeople, workers in the northern industrial areas, and families and couples looking for value and space. Deeragun's shops and high schools are about 10 to 15 minutes' drive away. Rentals are relatively few, and the RTA reports Yabulu's rents as part of postcode 4818.
Rental snapshot
Median weekly rent for new leases in postcode 4818 (there were too few new bonds in Yabulu itself for the RTA to publish a suburb figure).
- 3-bedroom house June 2026 · up $75 on a year earlier
- $600 per week
- 4-bedroom house June 2026 · up $40 on a year earlier
- $640 per week
Source: Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA), median weekly rent for new bonds lodged. Medians move around from quarter to quarter, and a specific home can rent well above or below them.
Get an appraisal for your propertyWho rents in Yabulu
Yabulu’s tenants are generally practical people looking for value. Tradespeople and workers in the northern industrial areas value the room for vehicles and the easy highway access. Families and couples wanting an affordable home with a bigger yard also rent here, as do people who like being close to Saunders Beach for fishing and the coast.
With relatively few rentals, a well-maintained Yabulu home with air-conditioning and a secure yard tends to attract steady interest.
Schools, shops and getting around
There are no schools or major shops in Yabulu. Families use Bluewater State School or the primary schools in Burdell, and Northern Beaches State High School and St Anthony’s Catholic College in Deeragun for secondary. Shopping is in Deeragun or at North Shore Marketplace in Burdell.
Yabulu sits right on the Bruce Highway, so the drive south to the city or north towards Bluewater and Ingham is straightforward. Saunders Beach is close by for a swim, a walk or a spot of fishing.
Local considerations for landlords
Many Yabulu homes are older and may need ongoing maintenance of roofs, gutters, plumbing and electrical systems. Roof fixings should be checked against current cyclone expectations. Rural-residential blocks need clear lease terms about grounds, fences, sheds and any water or septic systems.
Low-lying land near creeks and the coast can flood in heavy rain, and rural blocks carry bushfire risk in the dry season. Check the council’s flood and bushfire maps for the address, and make sure landlord insurance covers storm, cyclone, flood, fire and loss of rent.
Managing a rental in Yabulu
The postcode 4818 median is dominated by newer suburban homes further south, so we appraise Yabulu properties against comparable leases in the township and surrounding rural-residential areas. We market to tradespeople, industrial workers and families who value space and affordability.
Our inspections cover the house and grounds, and we give you practical, prioritised maintenance advice for older homes. Yabulu is about 20 minutes up the highway from our Kirwan office.
Yabulu FAQs
Is Yabulu a good place to rent affordably?
Yabulu's rents are generally lower than those of the suburban estates to the south, and many properties have extra space for vehicles. Tenants need a car, as shops and schools are in Deeragun and Burdell.
What's near Yabulu?
Saunders Beach is close by on the coast, and Deeragun and Burdell, with shops and schools, are about 10 to 15 minutes' drive south along the Bruce Highway.
Sources: population from the ABS 2021 Census. Distances are straight-line, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). School list from the Queensland Government schools directory. Page reviewed September 2026.