The 15 best natural swimming pools in Australia

Formed in the rock face on a beach in Sydney's Royal National Park, the Figure Eight Pools have become something of a social media sensation (as far as rockpools go), and not without good reason. Be prepared to put the effort in to access this special spot. First up, you’ll need to drive an hour out of Sydney to the Garawarra Farm carpark in the Royal National Park. From there, take the walking track for six kilometres – you’ll go along Garie Road for a while, down a steep hill before joining the Coast Track, which will take you all the way to Burning Palms Beach.

Where: Royal National Park, NSW

Walk length required: Approximately six kilometres return on steep, uneven track.

Accessible by public transport: Very limited. You'll need to drive to the carpark; no direct transit to the trailhead.

According to research, New South Wales is home to a whole 50 per cent of the world’s known ocean pools. This one on the South Coast is pretty special, especially factoring in its surroundings. The idyllic seaside town of Kiama may be small, but it manages to pack in four different natural pools. Just a minute's walk away from each other, you can jump between them all and visit the famous blowhole on the way. Finish off with the (literal) cherry on top by grabbing a scoop of gelato from the main strip.

Where: Near Kiama, NSW – on the coast at Blowhole Point.

Walk length required: A short walk from the carpark down steps to the pool.

Accessible by public transport: Very limited; it's best to drive. 

Hand-carved from ancient rock by convicts in 1819, this now iconic Newcastle swim spot is named for the Dharawal word ‘to bathe’. It’s a beautiful sight, but proceed with caution; it’s not patrolled. While in the area, also check out Newcastle's Merewether Baths – the largest ocean baths in Australia (and the Southern Hemisphere).

Where: Newcastle, NSW

Walk length required: A very short walk from the lookout carpark to the pool. 

Accessible by public transport: Possibly from the inner city, but best to drive for ease.

K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, is a tropical oasis just moments away from mainland Queensland. The only problem? Most of the island’s alluring blue waters are unswimmable due to some serious currents. That’s where the Champagne Pools come in. They were aptly named after the effect of the ocean bubbling over the rocks into the pool. Located along 75 Mile Beach (that’s 120 kilometres for Aussie folks playing along at home), you can access the pools by a short walk along the boardwalk.

Where: K’gari (Fraser Island), QLD 

Walk length required: Around 700 metres return on the boardwalk and steps to reach the pools.

Accessible by public transport: No. Access via 4WD vehicle or guided tour.

Despite its tropical location, this creek is a surprisingly cool refuge from Queensland’s muggy heat. The boulders lining the waterway have been smoothed over by water flowing from the nearby Mount Bartle Frere, making for awesome spots to lie out and soak up the sun, reptile-style. A 1.3-kilometre walk downstream from the picnic area will lead you to the Devil’s Pool that was named after a dreamtime story from the Yidinji people involving two lovers, adultery, an escape and a whole lot of tears (that flowed into the gushing waters you see today).

Where: Near the town of Babinda, Far North Queensland

Walk length required: One kilometre return.

Accessible by public transport: Limited; best to drive from Cairns.

This 18-metre heritage-listed cascade plunges into a perfectly circular pool fringed by ferns and strangler figs – the kind of scene that’s been immortalised in shampoo ads and travel brochures alike. Despite the hype, it still feels like a hidden gem of the Atherton Tablelands: cool water, a grassy picnic patch and mist that hangs on in the morning air. Come early before the tour buses roll in and it feels like you’ve stumbled into your own private jungle retreat.

Where: Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland

Walk length required: A two-minute stroll down a short staircase from the carpark.

Accessible by public transport: Limited. Best accessed by car on the scenic Waterfall Circuit. 

Hidden on Hinchinbrook Island – a Jurassic-looking wilderness of misty peaks and mangroves – is Zoe Falls. A freshwater cascade drops into a jade-green pool fringed with pandanus, its upper tier forming a natural infinity edge that stares straight out over the Coral Sea. The climb to the top is short but sweaty. From the carpark it’s a short but steep walk (about one kilometre return, roughly 15 minutes) to the base of the falls. You’ll want to stay awhile, legs in the water listening to the soundtrack of cicadas and distant surf – the definition of earning your swim.

Where: Hinchinbrook Island National Park, QLD

Walk length required: Approximately one kilometre return from South Zoe Bay day-use area, around 15 minutes over rainforest terrain.

Accessible by public transport: No. Access requires private boat/charter from Cardwell or Lucinda (or part of the multi-day Thorsborne Trail).

Karijini National Park is brimming with a wealth of spots to cool off thanks to a permanent waterfall supplied by a fresh spring. While Hamersley Gorge (pictured) is all blue waters and orange rock formations as far as the eye can see, other places for a dip include Kermit’s Pool, known for its iridescent green colour, or the source of the water itself, Fortescue Falls. You can access the water by a whole heap of hiking tracks ranging from one kilometre up, but be prepared for some steep decline.

Where: Karijini National Park, WA

Walk length required: Roughly one kilometre return (depending on which pool in the park) on moderate terrain.

Accessible by public transport: No. Best reached by car/4WD. 

Bell Gorge is, quite simply, gorg. An amphitheatre of ochre cliffs and cascading water carved deep into the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges in the central Kimberley. A ribbon of falls spills into a series of crystal-clear, tiered pools – the ultimate reward after the long, corrugated drive along the Gibb River Road. The class four trail in is rocky and uneven with a few steep scrambles, so bring sturdy shoes, a wide-brim hat and the luxury of time. Come late afternoon, the sandstone walls catch fire in molten gold – a Kimberley light show worth every kilometre. 

Where: Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, WA

Walk length required: Approximately two kilometres return. 

Accessible by public transport: You’ll need a 4WD and dry-season timing (usually May to October).

Between granite outcrops and turquoise sea, Injidup Natural Spa is nature’s answer to a plunge pool. When the swell’s right, waves crash over a rock ledge and spill into the sheltered cove below, creating a bubbling, foam-filled pool. Locals claim it’s better than hydrotherapy – and on calm days, it's pure bliss. Go early or mid-week to dodge the crowds, wear shoes with grip (flip-flops won't cut it) and always keep one eye on the sea – on rougher days you’ll feel the ocean reminding you who’s boss. 

Where: Near Yallingup, in the Margaret River Region, WA

Walk length required: Roughly a ten-minute scramble over coastal rocks from the car park.

Accessible by public transport: Essentially no. Best reached by car. 

This gorgeous keyhole lookout is just one feature of the beautiful rocky outcrops lining the Eyre Peninsula. Once you’ve descended from the carpark and watched a sunset or two peak its rays through the tunnel, you can turn the corner and peruse the many rockpools. While you’re taking a dip or exploring marine life, keep an eye peeled for the dolphins and seals that regularly grace the bay.

Where: Eyre Peninsula, SA

Walk length required: A very short coastal walk.

Accessible by public transport: No. Driving is recommended.

At Gunlom, the kind of beauty that typically feels out of reach is suddenly right in front of you. Made famous as “Echo Pool” in Crocodile Dundee, this sandstone escarpment remains one of Kakadu’s most iconic (and photogenic) spots. Below, a broad emerald-green pool shaded by pandanus palms offers instant relief from the Territory's heat. Up top – after a steep, 20-minute climb that’ll leave you feeling both sweaty and smug, a chain of natural infinity pools spills over sandstone, looking out across the park’s vast southern stone country. Bring swimmers, water and a sense of humour; the hike is hot, the rocks unforgiving, but the reward is well worth it — a swim that feels suspended between sky and savannah.

Where: Southern Kakadu National Park, NT

Walk length required: A short paved path (around 100 metres) leads to the lower plunge pool; the upper pools are reached via a 20-minute steep climb.

Accessible by public transport: No. Access requires a 4WD on dirt roads, and the site is often closed during the wet season (November to April).

Who needs a plunge pool at a five-star resort when you can be one of the only ones to visit a natural one? The Jim Jim Falls plunge pool is actually one of the only places you can swim in Kakadu National Park, no matter how inviting the water looks in the Northern Territory heat. If it looks good to you, it looks ten times better to the local crocs. But fear not, because the plunge pool and mini beach are divided by rocks, making it harder for crocs to get to, and park rangers regularly monitor the two swimming spots.

Where: Kakadu National Park, NT

Walk length required: Around two kilometres return to the plunge pool.

Accessible by public transport: No. 4WD access only; closed in the wet season (November to April).

Rev up the 4WD because this spot requires some elbow grease to reach. Maguk is actually so secret that it’s only visitable for half of the year – during the dry season, that is. A beautiful waterfall means ever-changing conditions with the Northern Territory’s equatorial wet season. Set out a picnic on the sand that lines the gorge and marvel at the freshwater fish zipping past you. So many, in fact, that the area used to be known as Barramundi Gorge.

Where: Southern Kakadu National Park, NT

Walk length required: Approximately one kilometre return from the car park to the plunge pool. 

Accessible by public transport: No. Access requires a 4WD (corrugated remote track) and is only accessible in the dry season (May to October).