Jellybean Pool is a gorgeous swimming hole in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains. Given its popularity, there are many parking areas near the pool, which means there are several different ways to get there. For the first-time visitor, it can be a tad confusing to know where to park and how to visit in the most convenient way possible.
In this guide, we’ll break down the different options for getting to the Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook, highlighting the easiest way to visit.
As mentioned, the natural pool is very popular and can quickly become overcrowded during peak times. For this reason, we’ll talk about the best time to visit and reveal some other insider tips to guarantee an enjoyable visit. On top of that, we’ll also mention some excellent nearby swimming holes that are quieter and equally impressive.
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Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook: An Overview
Jellybean Pool is one of the most visited natural attractions in the Blue Mountains. It’s located in Glenbrook, in the Lower Blue Mountains, just a stone’s throw from Sydney. Other than the site’s natural beauty, the area’s closeness to Sydney is definitely a factor that makes it a popular place to visit.
Given its popularity, multiple parking areas have been added to ease congestion in the area. This extra infrastructure is certainly necessary. But, with several parking options available, it can be hard to know the best place to park, especially for a first-time visitor.
In this guide, we’ll spell out your options for visiting Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook, detailing the easiest way to visit.
Getting to Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook (Directions)
The easiest way to get there is to drive. Although, it’s possible to use public transport to get there. But, driving allows you to most conveniently get to the car parks from where you can walk to the pool. Below, we’ll look at the main parking options.
Car Hire
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Jellybean Pool Parking Options
In short, there are two main parking options for getting to Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook. If you want to do a longer bush walk, you’ll follow the entire Jellybean Track from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park. Otherwise, the easiest way to visit is to park at Jellybean Car Park, which is the nearest parking area to the pool. By parking at the Jellybean Car Park, you’ll only walk the short final section of the Jellybean Track to reach the pool.
Below, we’ll cover these options in slightly more detail.
Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park: The Long Way
After driving through the town of Glenbrook, you’ll eventually end up on Bruce Road, turning left into the Glenbrook National Park Entrance. This is where you’ll find a large car park. Often, people think they need to park at this car park, and then walk the entire Jellybean Track, to reach the pool.
But, if you’re not necessarily fussed with doing a bush walk to reach the pool, you can simply drive to the Jellybean Car Park, which is the closest car park to the pool. Otherwise, if you enjoy bushwalking, or the Jellybean Car Park is full, you’ll park at the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park. From there, you’ll follow Jellybean Track, which descends to the pool. The track crosses Jellybean Road several times, which is the road you’ll take to get to Jellybean Car Park.
Jellybean Car Park: The Short Way
Parking at Jellybean Car Park allows for the shortest walk and easiest way to access Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook. To get to Jellybean Car Park, you’ll continue to drive along Bruce Road, past the Glenbrook National Park Entrance booth and briefly join The Oaks Trail. You’ll then turn left onto Jellybean Road, which zig-zags its way down to the Jellybean Car Park.
From Jellybean Car Park, you’ll join the final section of the Jellybean Track to reach the pool. Certainly, if you want easy access to the pool, park at Jellybean Car Park.
Jellybean Track
Whether you park at the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park or Jellybean Car Park, you’ll walk a section of the Jellybean Track.
If you start the Jellybean Track from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park, it’s a 800 metre return walk. It only takes around 5–10 minutes to walk down from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park to the pool. The way back is uphill, so it may take closer to 10 minutes to get back to the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park.
If you start the Jellybean Track from Jellybean Car Park, it’s less than a 200 metre return walk. From the car park, it only takes 2–3 minutes to get down to the pool.
Personally, Beck and I enjoy bushwalking, so we did the entire Jellybean Track from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park. In reality, it’s a relatively short walk and not that inconvenient to reach the pool. Of course, if you’re with kids or a large group, it’s most convenient to do the super short walk from Jellybean Car Park to get to the pool.
Swimming at Jellybean Pool
Regardless of where you park, you probably have swimming in mind. For sure, on a warm day, the water of the Jellybean Pool in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains is enticing. Around the pool, there are many flat rock platforms where you can place your belongings. The surrounding rock formations also make entry into the pool quite straightforward. You’ll find the pool’s depth more than adequate to go for a decent dip.
Alongside Nellies Glen, Minerva Pool and Karloo Pools, it’s one of the most popular wild swimming spots near Sydney.
FYI – the name of the pool comes from the fact that it’s (sort of) shaped like a jellybean.
Best Alternative Wild Swimming Spots
Given the pool’s popularity, it can easily get overcrowded. This is especially true on the weekends and during school holidays, especially during the summer school holidays. For that reason, you may want to try an alternate swimming hole nearby. Beck and I guarantee that the other natural swimming holes near Jellybean Pool are just as nice. Best of all, they’re usually always quieter and more peaceful to visit.
Other than describing the alternate swimming holes, we’ll cover details about the walks you’ll need to do to reach them.
Blue Pool
Blue Pool is the most well-known swimming alternative to Jellybean Pool in the Glenbrook area. Also located on Glenbrook Creek, further upstream from Jellybean Pool, you’ll find the magnificent Blue Pool. From the name, you’d expect the water at Blue Pool to be, well, blue. But, when Beck and I visited, early in the morning, the sun was yet to shine over the entire body of water. So, we enjoyed visiting a more emerald-coloured pool.
Nevertheless, Blue Pool is a great place for wild swimming. In fact, Blue Pool is larger than Jellybean Pool. With a bigger natural pool and fewer people swimming, Blue Hole is perhaps an even superior wild swimming spot.
Blue Pool Car Park and Walking Track
To reach Blue Pool, there are a couple of options. By far, the easiest option is to drive straight to Blue Pool Car Park. To reach this car park, you’ll pass the Glenbrook National Park Entrance booth, continue along The Oaks Trail and eventually turn right onto the Blue Pool Car Park. On the opposite side of the road, there is also a similarly-sized overflow parking area.
If the Blue Pool Car Park is full, you can walk from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park. You’ll simply walk along The Oaks Trail until you reach the Blue Pool Car Park.
At the Blue Pool Car Park, you’ll find the trailhead for the Blue Pool Walking Track. From the Blue Pool Car Park, it’s a 600 metre return walk. Similar to the Jellybean Track, the Blue Pool Walking Track descends from its respective car park. So, the walk to the pool is slightly quicker than the return walk.
Also, similar to the Jellybean Track, the Blue Pool Walking Track is a quaint bush trail that’s just as much part of the fun as reaching and swimming at the pool.
Glenbrook Gorge
Compared with Blue Pool, Glenbrook Gorge is an even quieter wild swimming spot in the Blue Mountains near Jellybean Pool. Having a peaceful and untouched ambience, Glenbrook Gorge is an excellent place to explore. Best of all, the natural pool in Glenbrook Gorge makes for one of the most underrated wild swimming spots near Sydney. Below, we’ll look at how to get to this awesome swimming hole.
Glenbrook Gorge Walking Track
Accessing Glenbrook Gorge in the Blue Mountains is harder than getting to Jellybean Pool and Blue Pool. But, in reality, the walk isn’t too long or overly strenuous. From the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park, the Glenbrook Gorge Walking Track is a 1.4km return walk. Compared with the Jellybean Track and Blue Pool Walking Tracks, the Glenbrook Gorge Walking Track is not only longer, but it’s steeper and less defined.
Of course, if you’re in reasonable shape or are an experienced bushwalker, the Glenbrook Gorge Walking Track is more than doable. Beck and I enjoyed the walk and highly recommend it to access a more remote wild swimming spot.
Glenbrook Creek Sandbar
Undoubtedly, Glenbrook Creek Sandbar is the least-known nearby wild swimming spot. Admittedly, Beck and I didn’t get a chance to visit Glenbrook Creek Sandbar, so we can’t talk about it from personal experience. But, we’ve heard that it’s another quieter swimming spot near Jellybean Pool. Perhaps, it’s the least frequented as it’s not signposted or promoted by NSW National Parks.
Below, we’ll look at the main options for getting to Glenbrook Creek Sandbar.
Getting to Glenbrook Creek Sandbar
Located upstream from Blue Pool, it’s possible to walk around 1.3km to reach Glenbrook Creek Sandbar from Blue Pool. There isn’t a track to follow as such, but, we’ve heard it’s a fairly simple walk along the creek to reach the Glenbrook Creek Sandbar. Alternatively, you can use the Station Street Firetrail from the end of Station Street or Cox Street in Glenbrook. By doing this option, you’ll walk around 1.4km to reach the Glenbrook Creek Sandbar.
Please refer to this AllTrails map for more information.
Crayfish Pool (Grey Hat Falls)
Crayfish Pool is the furthest alternative wild swimming spot from Jellybean Pool mentioned in this guide. Unlike Blue Pool, Glenbrook Gorge and Glenbrook Creek Sandbar, Crayfish Pool is located further away from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance. But, as Crayfish Pool is located in the Glenbrook area, we thought it appropriate to also include it.
Crayfish Pool is an astonishing emerald-cloured swimming hole featuring a sublime waterfall called Grey Hat Falls. Sure, Grey Hat Falls isn’t a huge waterfall in the Blue Mountains like Wentworth Falls, Govetts Leap or Empress Falls. But, Grey Hat Falls is still worth chasing – it’s an extremely charming waterfall that majestically cascades into Crayfish Pool.
Kanuka Brook Gully Track
To reach Crayfish Pool and Grey Hat Falls, you’ll need to drive along a dirt track called the Red Hands Fire Trail. Beck and I managed to drive along it in a 2WD, but it’s always best to have a 4WD for unsealed roads. You’ll eventually reach a small trackside parking area, where you’ll find the trailhead for the Kanuka Brook Gully Track.
Overall, the 2km return walk is quite hard in terms of navigation, terrain and steepness. There is even a section with a rope, which requires some rock scrambling. For sure, it’s a fun and adventurous trail that Beck and I enjoyed. But, we think only experienced bushwalkers should give this one a go.
If you’re up for it, the mesmerising Crayfish Pool and Grey Hat Falls are waiting for you along Kanuka Brook.
Read about the best things to do in the Blue Mountains National Park
Other Useful Things to Know
Below, we’ll cover some other useful information about visiting Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook, Blue Mountains.
Using Public Transport
It’s possible to use public transport to get to Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook. You can simply jump on a train and alight at Glenbrook Station. From the station, it’s around a 2km walk to reach the Glenbrook National Park Entrance. We recommend using the Transport NSW Trip Planner or app to help plan your journey.
Best Time to Visit Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook
As mentioned, the main problem with the pool is that it can be very crowded. Particularly on the weekend in summer and during the summer school holidays, the pool can get unpleasantly overcrowded. Because Beck and I visited on a warm day on the weekend in early November, we visited straight away when it opened (check opening times here). That way, we got to enjoy the pool before the crowds of people arrived.
Essentially, if you visit on the weekend or during summer, we recommend going when it first opens or at the end of the day around when the park closes. That way, you can avoid the busiest time during the middle of the day. Otherwise, if you can visit during the week or outside of summer, the pool can actually be fairly quiet and peaceful.
Safety at Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook
Unfortunately, a death was reported at Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook in 2020. Sadly, a seven year old boy drowned in the pool. It’s a reminder of the dangers of open-water swimming, especially for young children. The pool is quite deep, so if you’re visiting with kids, ensure adequate supervision.
Facilities at Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook
You’ll find decent facilities at the Glenbrook National Park Entrance Car Park. There are toilets, drinking water and rubbish bins.
Glenbrook National Park Entrance Fees
A fee of $8 per vehicle applies when entering the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. But, if you have a NSW National Parks Annual Pass, entry is free. For sure, if you explore NSW National Parks often, we recommend buying an annual pass. That way, you don’t have to pay for parking when you visit NSW National Parks where parking fees apply.
Glenbrook National Park Opening Times
Much to our disappointment, you can’t go to Jellybean Pool super early or late in the day to beat the crowds because there are opening times. From the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April the park gates are open between 8:30am and 7pm. During the remainder of the year, the park gates are open between 8:30am and 6pm.
Other Nearby Places to Visit
Of course, the Blue Mountains is chockablock full of amazing attractions. Whether it’s popular tourist attractions such as Scenic World in Katoomba or hidden gems such as Hanging Rock in Blackheath, there is plenty to do and see. In this guide, we won’t exhaustively list all of the nearby attractions in the Blue Mountains. We’ll simply point out one nearby attraction in the Glenbrook area that’s also worth visiting.
Canyoning at Empress Falls
Have you thought about canyoning at Empress Falls? Learn more about the exhilarating experience below.
Read about the best tours in the Blue Mountains
Red Hands Cave
Red Hands Cave is one of the best examples of Aboriginal rock art in the Blue Mountains. If you’re visiting the Glenbrook area, you should factor in a visit to Red Hands Cave, which is around 500–1,600 years old.
To get to Red Hands Cave, you can do the 8km return Red Hands Cave Walking Track from the Glenbrook National Park Entrance. Alternatively, you can park at the Red Hands Cave Car Park at the end of the Red Hands Cave Trail. From there, it’s a short 500 metre walk to the cave.
When Beck and I visited the area, the Red Hands Cave Walking Track was closed. So, we accessed the cave by doing the short walk via the car park.
FYI – there is a similar-looking Red Hands Cave in the West Head area of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Read our Resolute Beach guide for more details about visiting this cave.
Jellybean Pool, Glenbrook: FAQs
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook, Blue Mountains.
Where Is Jellybean Pool?
Jellybean Pool is located in the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.
Jellybean Pool Address: Blue Mountains National Park, 2787, New South Wales, Australia
How Much Does it Cost to Go to Jellybean Pool?
It’s $8 per vehicle to enter the Glenbrook area of the Blue Mountains National Park. So, that’s how much it costs to go to the pool unless you have a NSW National Parks Annual Pass, in which case, entry is free.
Is Jellybean Pool Dog Friendly?
No, dogs aren’t allowed in NSW National Parks.
Is There Camping at Jellybean Pool in Glenbrook?
There is no campground or camping area at the pool. The nearest campground in the Glenbrook area is the Euroka Campground. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a place to stay in the area, read our guide about the best accommodation in the Blue Mountains.
Jellybean Pool or Blue Pool?
During busy periods, we recommend going to the Blue Pool instead as it’ll be much quieter. Even if you visit during a quieter period, when Jellybean Pool isn’t busy, it’s arguable that Blue Pool is still better as it’s a larger and more remote wild swimming spot. Of course, if you’re with kids, Jellybean Pool is much easier to access and perhaps safer too – the smaller swimming area makes it easier to keep an eye on the little ones.
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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.
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