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The most incredible ocean pools in NSW
Yamba Ocean Pool
Carved from the rocks at the sheltered southern end of Main Beach, Yamba Ocean Pool is mighty enticing in a place where you are already spoiled with lush swimming locations. Built in the 1960s, right near one of NSW’s oldest surf lifesaving clubs, it’s the northernmost ocean pool in the state and stretches 30m. Find a shady spot under nearby pandanus trees and relax between dips.
Yamba Main Beach and Ocean Pool, Yamba -Credit: Sean Scott | My Clarence Valley
Angourie Blue Pool
Not too far from Yamba, you’ll find the azure waters of the Angourie Blue Pool appearing like an oasis before you. Once a rock quarry, this picturesque swimming spot was created when an underground freshwater spring was disturbed during excavation. These days, the pool is a particularly welcome sight for hikers who have tackled the 10km coastal walk from Angourie. But you can also access this lovely swim spot from the car park 100m away.
Sawtell Memorial Rockpool
With its natural rock bar edge and prime position tucked into the headland, the Sawtell Memorial Rockpool is a beautiful stop if you’re in the Sawtell and Coffs Harbour area. Sawtell Beach is a hotspot for surfers, so this pool at the foot of the Bonville Headland is ideal if you’re drawn to calmer waters. Opening in 1963, the 42m-long pool has a rough-hewn feel and is often home to fish and other sea life, so it’s worth bringing your snorkel to catch a glimpse of what lies beneath the surface.
Sawtell Memorial Rock Pool, Coffs Coast
Forster Ocean Baths
Supersized and offering a protected alcove from the waves rolling onto Main Beach, Forster Ocean Baths are primed for stretching your swim stroke. Also known as the Bull Ring, this pool boasts the unique dimensions of 50m x 56m x 69m meaning there’s plenty of room for everything from floating to freestyle. And, as Forster’s within the Great Lakes region including Wallis Lake and Myall Lakes National Park, you’re in easy reach of numerous water wonders.
Forster Ocean Baths, Forster
Bogey Hole
Newcastle lays claim to the oldest human-made ocean pool in the state: the heritage-listed Bogey Hole. Hand-carved out of the rock platform in 1819, the pool was originally known as Commandant’s Baths but is now referred to as the Bogey Hole, drawing on the Dharawal word for bathe or place to bathe. Tip: a sunrise visit to this beauty is something to behold.
Merewether Ocean Baths
If you’re in the Newcastle area, don’t miss Merewether Ocean Baths: the largest ocean pool in the Southern Hemisphere. Approximately 50m x 100m, these spacious baths are one of Newcastle’s most popular attractions. Whether you’re keen to swim laps, splash in the shallows or soak up the relaxed beachy vibes of the location, you can set your own pace here.
Newcastle Ocean Baths
Newcastle is truly blessed with baths that beckon, including the Newcastle Ocean Baths that are flanked by a heritage-listed Art Deco pavilion. The mint-green amphitheatre-like steps that surround one end of these baths make them a popular haunt for water-side relaxation, but the pool allures too. The large rectangular pool has a separate area for swimming laps or, if you crave a lower intensity, the nearby round Canoe Pool has a shallow depth making it popular with families. Both sections of the baths feature nice wide ramped areas, making them accessible places to swim.
Grant McBride Baths
You’re spoiled for choice in how you swim at the Grant McBride Baths on the Central Coast. Comprising a 50m outdoor pool, a 22m lap pool and a wading pool ideal for little ones, these baths cater to swimmers of all levels. Not too far from here, you’ll also find smaller ocean pools at Pearl Beach and Macmasters Beach.
Coalcliff Pool
At the southern end of Coalcliff Beach near Wollongong, you’ll find the beautifully situated Coalcliff Rock Pool. A bit of a petite gem, this 27m pool with its neighbouring toddlers’ paddling pool offers prime views of the dramatic escarpment, which you can enjoy from the partially shaded platform beside it or on one of the rocks ideal for perching after a cool dip. There’s also a kids’ playground nearby, so it’s a lovely place to pack a picnic and make a beeline for when the sun’s out.
Bulli Rock Pool
Jutting out of the headland between Sandon Point Beach and Bulli Beach, Bulli Rock Pool boasts an unbelievable location – you might just feel like you’re swimming on the edge of the earth. Sandwiched between the two white-sand beaches, the 50m-long expanse of water has been enjoyed by locals and visitors since the 1930s. The town of Bulli itself is big on charm, and not far from other gorgeous ocean pools in Towradgi, Woonona, Thirroul, Coledale and Austinmer.
Blowhole Point Ocean Pool
If you’re headed to Kiama, it’s worth stopping by the Kiama Blowhole Point Ocean Pool. With its natural shape and rocky floor, you’ll feel completely immersed in nature when you slide into the water. Once you see it, you’ll know why it’s been a prime cool-off spot since the 1880s.
Continental Ocean Pool
Just a 15-minute walk from Kiama Harbour, past Black Beach Reserve, you’ll find the Continental Ocean Pool. This 50m body of water is ideal for swimming laps, so much so that it’s also known as the Olympic pool. Its rocky bottom makes it a welcoming environment for the sea life brought in with the tides – there was even a resident octopus here at one stage.
Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool
If swimming laps is your focus, the Beverley Whitfield Ocean Pool in Shellharbour is worth a visit. This eight-lane, 50m lap pool is filled with saltwater and sits at the southern end of the foreshore. It also features a shaded kids’ pool, showers, picnic tables and barbecues so you can make a day of it when the sun’s shining.
Shellharbour Swimming Pools, Shellharbour
Ourie Ocean Pool
If you’re visiting the charming coastal village of Gerringong, you’ll find South Werri (Ourie) Ocean Pool – a gorgeous sight at any hour. Situated at the southern end of Werri Beach and Point, this rectangular pool is carved into a flat rock shelf and has a smooth concrete bottom so it’s easy going underfoot if you’re wading out to the far edge.
Mollymook Bogey Hole
Travelling through the Shoalhaven region? Head to Mollymook and discover the Bogey Hole, a natural rock pool accessed from the sand and nestled between the popular Golfie surf break and the headland south of Mollymook Beach. Make sure to visit between mid and high tide when this picturesque spot is a haven for sea life, making it ideal for snorkelling. The protection from the outer rock shelf means little ones can happily splash in the shallows.
Mollymook Bogey Hole, Mollymook – Credit: Shoalhaven Tourism
Bermagui Blue Pool
Named for the way it reflects a blue sky, the Bermagui Blue Pool is one of the many incredible gems lining the Sapphire Coast. A carved pool set into the rock face and continually washed with clean, clear ocean water, it’s home to thriving marine life, with fish, crabs and nudibranchs (marine snails) all coexisting happily with swimmers and snorkellers. At 50m long it makes for a great lap-swimming pool and there’s also a shallow wading pool for kids right next to it.
Aslings Beach Rock Pool
Aslings Beach Rock Pool is one of the southernmost ocean pools on the NSW coastline. It’s quite the diamond in the rough as it’s carved into the pink-and-white cliffs at Aslings Beach in Eden, a six-hour drive from Sydney. It’s only a short walk from town, but the pool’s low profile makes it hard to see from further down the beach. Make your way over the rocks from the beach and take a dip at low tide to soak up the beauty of the setting.
