There’s a stretch of water off Blue Point in Bermagui that shifts through four colours before you’ve finished your swim — azure, then turquoise, fading to blush, then canary yellow where the light hits the rock shelf underneath. It’s not a filter. It’s not photoshopped. It’s just what happens when a 50-metre ocean pool sits exposed to the Tasman Sea on one side and sheltered cliff on the other.
Locals just call it the Blue Pool. It’s been drawing swimmers since 1937, when Bermagui resident Bill Dickinson expanded it to its current size, and it’s still one of the best ocean pools on the entire NSW coast.
Where It Is and What You’re Getting Into
The Blue Pool sits below the cliff face at Blue Point, right at the entrance to Bermagui Harbour, on the state’s Sapphire Coast.
It’s about a 34km, 27-minute drive south of Narooma, and roughly 4 hours 45 minutes from Sydney if you’re planning a longer coastal trip rather than a quick detour.
This isn’t a 10-minute stop. Budget at least an hour if you’re swimming, longer if you’ve brought snorkels or a picnic — there’s a grassed area and picnic tables near the car park above.
The One Thing That Makes It Worth the Trip
It’s not just the colour. It’s the seals. The rock platform around the pool is a regular haunt for fur seals, and more than a few visitors have shown up for a swim and ended up watching seals hunt in the surf just metres away instead. Bring a snorkel if you can — the pool itself has enough marine life to justify it.
Getting There
Address: Pacific Drive, Bermagui NSW 2546 (entrance near Bermagui Harbour).
There’s a car park at the top, with a short walk down to a viewing platform, then a steeper set of stairs to actually reach the pool. It’s not a difficult walk, but it’s not a stroll either — wear proper shoes, not thongs.
Honest downside: Parking at the bottom, right by the pool, is limited and can fill up on weekends and school holidays. There’s more parking on the street above if the lower car park is full — just budget a few extra minutes to walk down.
Best Time to Visit
Low tide is your friend here. Several regular swimmers specifically time their visit around low tide, when the water is a touch less cold and the pool is calmer. The water is sea-fed and genuinely cold year-round, even in summer, so don’t expect bath-like conditions — think refreshing, not warm.
If you’re visiting between August and November, keep an eye on the horizon. This stretch of the Sapphire Coast is a recognised whale-watching spot during migration season, and it’s not unusual to spot whales offshore while you’re at the pool.
What to Bring
- A snorkel and mask — the marine life here (including the seals) is a genuine drawcard, not just a bonus
- Proper footwear for the stairs and rock platform, which get slippery when wet
- A towel and dry layer — there are showers and toilets on-site, but the water is cold enough that you’ll want to warm up fast
- Cash or card for nearby Bermagui if you’re planning to grab lunch afterwards at the Fishermen’s Wharf
Access and Safety Notes
This is worth being upfront about: the Blue Pool doesn’t cater well to people with access needs. The path down involves a proper set of stairs, and the rock platform around the pool is naturally uneven and can be slippery. If mobility is a concern, the nearby Bruce Steer Pool at Bermagui Harbour is a better bet — it’s a 150-metre netted saltwater pool with an all-abilities access ramp, level parking, and a sandy, gentler entry point for young kids.
Entry to the Blue Pool is free, and there’s no set opening hours — it’s a natural rock pool, open to the elements, so conditions (not a locked gate) are what determine whether it’s swimmable on any given day. After heavy swell or storms, the pool can be rougher than usual — if in doubt, check conditions with the Bermagui Chamber of Commerce visitor line before making the trip.
Where to Go Nearby
If the Blue Pool has you in the mood for more ocean pools, it’s worth knowing this isn’t a one-off — NSW has more than 100 ocean-fed rock pools along the coast, and the Blue Pool is regularly ranked among the prettiest. Further north, our guide to Norah Head Rock Pool covers a similarly photogenic (and considerably warmer) alternative, while Merewether Ocean Baths is the pick if you want a big, patrolled pool rather than a wild one.
And if you’re chasing whales rather than rock pools, the Boat Harbour Whale Watch Lookout is another solid spot during the same August–November season that lights up the waters off Bermagui.
