What, only four? Well, there’s a lot more, but what I want to show you are some of the barely known natural rock pools on the Central Coast that are not so obvious to find. I’m not that vain to think I’m the first one to write about them, and surely, you can find very attractive shots about them on Instagram, but I aim to give you the best description to actually locate them, and also some good advice for safety and enjoyment.
So let’s see the best natural rock pools on the Central Coast.
Best place to stay on the Central Coast:
- luxury: Beachside Villa in Ettalong Beach (southern Central Coast), The Beachcomber Hotel & Resort in Toukley (northern Central Coast)
- mid-range: NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort in Umina (southern Central Coast), Ibis Styles The Entrance (northern Central Coast)
- budget: Nightcap at Ocean Beach Hotel in Ettalong Beach (southern Central Coast), Blue Lagoon Beach Resort in The Entrance (northern Central Coast)
My favorite Central Coast rock pools
Catherine Hill Bay rock pool
My very favorite is the Catherine Hill Bay rock pool. Actually, I’m not sure about its name, but you can approach it from Catherine Hill Bay Beach.
The rock pool looks huge from above, but the deep pool area where you can swim is relatively small, fit for a few people only. The larger pool area is shallow and is a popular place to snorkel. And then you find a number of smaller pots where you can plunge in. I visited this pool quite a few times, and I never saw more than one or two families there – which is the ideal number for the size of the pool. (Also, Australia is unbelievable that such amazing places are barely visited by anyone!)
The challenge? You need to walk there. (We saw an Aussie family having driven down there with a 4WD. Okay, we actually saw them parking by the rock pool, but I couldn’t imagine how one drives down?!) And you need to bring a thick beach mat, because the rocks are not at all smooth, and it won’t be comfortable to sit or lie down near the pool without something soft underneath you. Obviously, there’s no shade either, but you’re used to that, aren’t you?
So how to reach the rock pool? Look for a wide dirt trail at the northern end of Catherine Hill Bay Beach. It leads you into the bush, but you won’t follow it all the way. Take the first junction that leads you out to the coastal cliffs, and that’s where the pretty walk continues towards Shark Hole.
This 1.3 km walk to Shark Hole is worth doing all the way, but the rock pool is about halfway, between Bogey Hole and Drummer Hole. You’ll notice it, because it’s a beautiful and tempting rock pool on the plateau below you. However, approaching the central, deep pool area is only safe at low tide. Waves crash into the pool at high tide. But with the right conditions, it’s quite an idyllic natural swimming hole on the scenic rocky plateau.
Rock pools to the right of Frazer Beach
Frazer Beach is a dreamy, long sandy beach, backed up by the Munmorah State Conservation Area. It’s most ideal for surfing, but low tide makes the water entrance very shallow, and small sandy islands appear, turning it into a fun water playground for kids. But the rocky plateaus to the left and right of the bay are also exciting to explore – at low tide, to be safe!
There are about ten rock pools in different shapes and sizes to the right of Frazer Beach, on the huge rocky plateau. Some of them are more of a plunging pool, but some are small swimming pools.
I love Frazer Beach because of its remote feel. But still there’s parking and a washroom building just up the stairs behind the beach. And there’s a basic campground, too, if you’d stay overnight.
Spoon Bay rock pools
Spoon Bay is a magical little bay at the northern end of Wamberal Beach. Unlike the latter, Spoon Bay is sheltered from the powerful currents. The tiny bay truly looks like a spoon, surrounded by rocky peninsulas and islands. It has an amazing azure color, and the best time to enjoy it is actually mid tide, when you have plenty of water in the pools, but they’re already sheltered enough. Low tide makes it a fun water play area for kids.
The rocky headland north of the beach has excellent tide pools, with lots of little crabs, fish and anemones.
You can park at the end of Spoon Bay Road. There’s a small parking lot, but parking is allowed on the street, as well. From there it’s a short walk down to Spoon Bay on a well-maintained track through coastal forest. Sadly, there are no toilets either at the parking lot or at the beach.
Norah Head rock pool
This one is half-natural, but it’s the best kid-friendly rock pool, and it can be combined with an easy, scenic coastal walk to Norah Head Lighthouse. Half-natural means that it’s not a concrete pool, but a shallow, protected corner of Cabbage Tree Bay, fenced off by huge rock boulders. It’s too shallow for swimming, but it’s a great water play area.
If you continue walking towards the lighthouse, you’ll find countless more rock pools, full of sea snails, crabs and small fish. Herons and cormorants like feeding here, too.
Parking is off Bush Street or at the Young Street Reserve, and a staircase takes you down to the rock pool and the beach from there. Toilets are just behind the beach, and also in the parking lot.
Man-made rock pools on the Central Coast
Then if you’re in search of man-made rock pools for safe swimming, there’s no shortage of them all along the Central Coast. Though I find them less romantic than the natural rock pools, you still enjoy wonderful ocean views:
- three pools at the Entrance Ocean Baths
- Macmasters Beach Pool
- Avoca Beach Rock Pool
- Terrigal Ocean Baths
- MacMasters Beach Rockpool
- Pearl Beach Rock Pool
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