Australia’s rainiest place: the tiny NSW town has had just 14 dry days this year

The lingering La Niña and developing Indian Ocean Dipole may mean Australia sees historic levels of rainfall this year. Photograph: Jason O’Brien/AAP

There’s not much to Yarras, a suburb on the scenic Hastings River inland of New South Wales’ mid-north coast.

An hour’s drive west of Port Macquarie, and with a population of 65, the landscape around Yarras is dominated by farmland. To find a pub or general store you’ll need to travel 15 minutes down the Oxley Highway to the next village, Long Flat.