Bermagui Blue Pool: The Complete Visitor’s Guide (2025)

The Bermagui Blue Pool is one of the most spectacular ocean rock pools in New South Wales. Whether you simply visit and admire views of the pool from afar, or actually go for a swim in the pool itself, you’ll be blown away by its natural beauty and magnificent coastal setting. In this guide, we’re going to provide all of the necessary information to help you plan your visit to the serene Bermagui Blue Pool.

About Bermagui Blue Pool

The Bermagui Blue Pool is one of the iconic landmarks on the Sapphire Coast, which is located on the South Coast of NSW. Managed by the Bega Valley Shire Council, the natural seawater swimming hole is a popular place for locals, and visitors alike, to go for a swim. But, even if you’re not planning on going for a paddle, you’ll still have a great time visiting this beautiful ocean rock pool. After all, the rock pool is one of the prettiest on the east coast of Australia!

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details about visiting, let’s briefly look at the interesting history behind the Bermagui Blue Pool.

What Is the History of Bermagui Blue Pool?

Given the rock pool is a major attraction in the area, its construction and development are very much part of Bermagui’s history.

In 1936, local philanthropist Bill Dickinson proposed a plan to build the Bermagui Blue Pool. Most of the construction of the rock pool took place in 1937. And, the following year, the pool opened to the public. Since then, the rock pool has been a popular destination for locals and tourists to visit.

Admittedly, the rock pools haven’t changed much since their inception. As they say, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it! Of course, the pool has required some repairs over the years. After all, the powerful force of the ocean does take its toll. In particular, in 2016, rough conditions swept away part of the pool wall! But, if you visited these days, you wouldn’t even know!

FYI – interestingly, during WWII, fears of Japanese invasion led to the setup of a coast watch above the pool.

Where Is Bermagui Blue Pool?

Bermagui Blue Pool is located on the South Coast of New South Wales. As you may have guessed, the pools are located in Bermagui, which is one of the loveliest coastal towns on the NSW coast. Bermagui is around a 5.5–6 hour drive away from Sydney.

To help get your bearings, please click on the image below to access an interactive map of the location on Google Maps.

Our Experience at Bermagui Blue Pool

So you know what to expect at the Bermagui Blue Pool, we’ll tell you a little about our experience visiting this lovely spot. Before venturing down the steps to access the pool, we recommend heading to the viewing platform once you arrive.

Bermagui Blue Pool Viewing Platform

From the main viewing platform, you’ll enjoy amazing views of the Bermagui Blue Pool set on the wondrous coastline. The main viewing platform is located near the entrance for the steps leading down to the pool. But, admittedly, there are other great viewpoints to enjoy.

Essentially, along the fenced roadside footpath, along the clifftop, there are various unmarked vantage points, where you’ll have views of the pool. There is even a picnic table and bench on a grassy area overlooking the pool, which provides excellent views.

Whichever viewpoint you scope out, you’ll hopefully time your visit with a clear and sunny day. Indeed, the amazingly contrasting blue and green colours of the water of the ocean, the rock pool and the wading pool, really pop in the sunlight.

Personally, Beck and I visited on a clear day around mid-morning during winter. This was an excellent time to visit. Visiting outside of summer and avoiding midday, on a clear day, was a great time to view the ocean pool before it was filled with swimmers.

After enjoying views from the various viewpoints, it’s time to make your way down the steps to access the pool.

Getting Down to Bermagui Blue Pool

From the car park, there is a relatively steep set of steps that lead down to the ocean pool. By tackling the roughly 75 steps, you’ll descend the dramatic rocky cliffside and arrive at the glorious pool. Once you make your way down, you’re free to explore the incredibly gorgeous ocean rock pool.

If the tide and swell allow, you can even walk around the parameters of the grand 50 metre long Olympic size ocean pool. With calm conditions, Beck and I enjoyed wandering around the outside of the pool.

Of course, if you’ve made the effort to walk all the way down, why not go for a dip?

Swimming at Bermagui Blue Pool

It’s hard not to go for a plunge in the breathtaking pool, especially on a hot summer day. The Bermagui Blue Pool is definitely an idyllic spot for swimming. With the wading pool next to the main pool, it’s convenient for the whole family to visit and enjoy. Whether it’s a gentle paddle or you’re doing laps, the pool is an excellent place to cool off and enjoy a swim.

The best time to swim is usually mid-morning, at low tide, after a hot day. At this time and with these conditions, the ocean is usually calmer, and the pool tends to store warmth better than the ocean. You could even say, with these conditions, you’ll enjoy a pseudo-thermal experience!

Make sure to also pack your snorkelling gear if you’re into that type of thing. If the surf conditions aren’t too rough, we recommend heading to the far end of the pool. That’s where you’ll find the bedrock walls create somewhat of a channel. This is where you’re more likely to see an array of fish. If you’re lucky, you might also see anemones, starfish, crabs and marine snails.

Personally, Beck and I visited in winter, so the temperature of the water was still a little chilly for our liking. With a busy day planned, we resisted the temptation to swim, simply enjoying the sensational views of the pool from beside it and above it.

Other Things to Know Before You Go

To help you plan your visit to Bermagui, there are a few extra things you should know before you go. Let’s start by looking at the main facilities and amenities at the pool.

Facilities and Amenities at Bermagui Blue Pool

The Bermagui Blue Pool has excellent facilities and amenities. Below, we’ll list the main facilities at the site.

• Car Park
• Public toilets and changing rooms (next to the car park)
• Showers
• Picnic table and bench
• Viewing platforms
• Pool rubber step entry

In terms of accessibility, the area is not equipped for those who are mobility impaired. There are also no shaded areas by the pool or in the car park.

The pool is open all day, every day.

How to Get There

The easiest way to get to Bermagui Blue Pool is to drive there as there is no direct public transport access to the pool. If you don’t have a car, we recommend hiring one for the day or for your South Coast NSW road trip.

The car park is fairly small with only eight car spaces. If the parking area is full, people usually park on the side of the road on Pacific Drive here.

In terms of public transport, you can get a bus to Bermagui and then walk to the attraction. But, depending on where you’re travelling from, this could be a long and tedious journey. So, it’s best to drive yourself, if possible.

Car Park Address: 13 Pacific Drive, Bermagui NSW 2546, Australia

To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.

Where to Stay in Bermagui

Other Things to See Nearby

Other than visiting Bermagui Blue Pool, there are plenty of other great things to see in Bermagui. There is actually another ocean pool called Bruce Steer Pool. Although Bruce Steer Pool isn’t quite as spectacular, it’s definitely still worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Of course, one of the best things to do in Bermagui is to visit the famous rock formations – Horse Head Rock and Camel Rock. Incredibly, these rock formations are around 450–500 million years old!

Otherwise, just north of Bermagui, you’ll find loads of great coastal attractions in Narooma. And, south of Bermagui, there are plenty of great things to see in the Mimosa Rocks National Park.

Read more: Camel Rock, Bermagui – The Complete Visitor’s Guide

Read more: How to Get to the Bottom of Horse Head Rock (at Low Tide)

Where to Eat Nearby

If you’re feeling peckish after your swim, you’ll have to head to the Bermagui Marina, which is lined with plenty of nice restaurants and cafes. If you’re after a coffee, breakfast or lunch, we recommend heading to either Bermi’s Beachside Cafe or the Boneless Vegetarian Cafe. Otherwise, you’ll find nice fish and chips at Bluewave Seafood and delicious ice cream at the Bermagui Gelati Clinic.

Gear Essentials

Here are our gear essentials for your road trip along the dazzling South Coast of NSW as well as other trips around the globe!

Of course, for your visit to the rock pool, you’ll also need to wear a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a long-sleeve shirt and water.

To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite travel gear, camera gear and hiking gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.

Bermagui Blue Pool FAQs

Below, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about the Bermagui Blue Pool.

Is It Free to Visit Bermagui Blue Pool?

Yes, it’s free to visit the ocean rock pool. There is no Bermagui Blue Pool price of entry.

When Was the Bermagui Blue Pool Built?

It was built in the 1930s, opening to the public in 1938.

How Long Is the Bermagui Blue Pool?

It’s approx. 50 metres long.

How Deep Is Bermagui Blue Pool?

It’s not very deep. Most parts of the pool are only 1–2 metres deep.

Please leave us a comment below.

We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.