Austinmer has twin rock pools at the southern end of the beach, overlooked by a historic pavilion, in one of the prettiest beach villages north of Wollongong. They are free, popular all year, with toilets, change rooms and showers.
Key facts
- Type
- Rock pool
- Good to know
- Toilets, Showers, Change rooms
- Facilities and access
- Toilets, change rooms, showers; on Lawrence Hargrave Drive
- Managed by
- City of Wollongong
- Cost
- Free
- Lifeguards
- Not at the pool
- Public transport
- Austinmer station, about 10 minutes' walk
- Best time to go
- Calm mornings
- Water quality
- GoodAustinmer Beach, 0.1 km away. Sampled 24 Oct. Source: NSW Beachwatch.
- Cleaning
- Not stated
- Town
- Austinmer, NSW
What it's like
The two pools sit side by side on the rock shelf below the pavilion: the southern one is narrower and slightly longer than its northern neighbour. Both get topped up by waves at high tide, and locals swim in them all year round.
They are thought to date from the 1920s, when visitors came by train to stay in Austinmer's guesthouses. Council said in 2014 that they were 80 to 90 years old, when they reopened after repairs.
When to go
Calm mornings are best, and the pools are busy on summer weekends. Council publishes estimated cleaning dates for its rock pools, which can change with the weather and sea, so check before you go.
Getting there and facilities
The pools are on Lawrence Hargrave Drive at the southern end of Austinmer Beach. There are toilets, change rooms and showers, and cafes in the village. Austinmer station is about ten minutes' walk.
Good to know
There are no lifeguards at the pools; Austinmer Beach is patrolled in season.