The Ultimate Guide to Figure Eight Pools

Where are Figure Eight Pools?

Figure Eight Pools are located on a hard to get to rock shelf just south of Burning Palms Beach in The Royal National Park. The start of the walk is just one hour’s drive south of Sydney’s centre.

The “short walk” to the Figure Eight Pools is 3.5kms each way, including a reasonably steep walk on the way out. This pool is for fit, able bodied people only.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know before heading to Figure Eight Pools

The Figure eight Pools are located in a VERY DANGEROUS PLACE.

Before you set off to visit Figure Eight Pools, you need to check that it will be LOW TIDE when you get there and that the SWELL IS SMALL (waves are small).

If you go when the tide is high, you won’t be able to access the pools, and if the swell is big it is SUPER DANGEROUS!

How to know if conditions are safe to visit Figure Eight Pools?

The National Parks and Wildlife Service have a RISK FORECAST PICTOGRAPH. Check it before you plan your trip here

Only leave to visit Figure Eight Pools if you have checked the risk forecast, and I would only recommend going if the risk is LOW (blue) or VERY LOW (green).

This doesn’t mean no risk-you still have to be aware that waves may break onto the rock shelf.

What tide is best to go to Figure Eight Pools?

Low tide, or just either side of low tide is the only time to visit Figure eight Pools. Any other tide and the pools and the rock shelf will be under water.

Also remember that the morning is best so that you don’t lose daylight on the hike out and have to hike out that steep hill in the dark.

How big is the Figure Eight Pool?

Figure Eight pool, while appearing spectacular in photos, is quite small in reality. Measuring only about 5m long by just over 2m for the widest part of the biggest bulge. Surprisingly deep though…

What is the water temperature like?

On an April day in 2021 that was quite sunny and mild, it felt freezing.

How much does it cost to swim at Figure Eight Pools?

Free entry to the pools but you do have to pay to park your car in The Royal National Park. In 2024 it’s $12 per car per day.

When are The Figure Eight Pools open?

The Royal National Park is open daily from 7am to 8:30pm. If you want to get to the pools before 7, you’ll have to go from the Otford end.

What to pack when you go to Figure Eight Pools

Drinking water. It’s a long walk, all uphill on the way back, so make sure you pack enough water to drink.

Bring all your own food. This place is pretty remote, so there are no shops to grab a quick bite. (And take your rubbish home with you, there’s no bins, so be prepared to leave nothing behind).

Pack a camera. That’s what this is really about, so make sure you have a camera with plenty of battery life.

Good walking shoes. It’s a long way there and back and you’ve got to cover some unforgiving rocky parts.

Swimmers and a towel. I think this one is pretty self explanatory.

But, if you need new Budgy Smugglers, you can grab some here and get a 10% discount of you use the code OCEANROCKPOOLS at check out.

Your best friend. You’ve got to have someone to share your awe with! (Or take your photo in the pool!)

Are there lifeguards on duty at Figure Eight Pools?

There are no lifeguards at the pools. It is in a very remote area with very little mobile phone reception.

Is there car parking at Figure Eight rock pool?

The closest you can park your car is at Garawarra Farm carpark. The pools are a 2 HOUR WALK from the car park.

Alternatively you can park at Otford Lookout and head north along the coastal track. This is a 7km walk to the pools and is about a 6 hour return journey.

How to get to The Figure Eight Pools

Step One: Check the national Parks and Wildlife Service Risk Forecast here

“Short walk”: (7km round trip). Park at Garawarra Farm in The Royal National Park. Follow the track into the bush and when you emerge from the bush you will be overlooking Burning Palms Beach.

Follow the trail until you get to the beach and then walk south along the beach (the ocean will be on your left as you are walking). Walk around the rocks (some slippery and all very uneven), on the first headland and continue until you reach the second headland.

“Long walk”: (14km round trip) Park at Otford Lookout and head north along the coastal track (the ocean will be on your right). Continue along the coastal track past where you go down into a bit of a valley, then up the other side until you reach the point where the track has a right hand turn to Burning palms Beach. From there head south to the rocks at the southern end, carefully continue to make your way south to the second headland.

Once you reach the second headland, you’re almost there.

Our visit to Figure Eight Pools

The day we decided to do Figure Eight Pools for the first time, was in April of 2021. Sneelock and myself had checked the risk forecast and all looked good. Until we got to Garawarra Farm car park and found that the coastal track was closed due to a hazard reduction burn.

So, not to be defeated, we jumped in the car and headed back to Otford Lookout and started the longer route to the pools from there (and this meant our start time had also been a bit delayed). The track was pretty easy going and all downhill at this point so we were feeling pretty good.

When we got to a bit of a low point on the trail we tried to head east toward the ocean and the rock shelf. This involved trekking through some pretty tall grass or reeds, and then navigating a pretty steep descent down the rockface to the rock platform.

Once we were on the platform we couldn’t even find the famous pool! We were just about to give up when we noticed a few other people nearby. We had walked straight past it!

Full disclosure-it’s pretty small. There is no way it is as big as it looks in the photos. It is very cool, and looks amazing in a picture, but if it’s a swim you’re after, I don’t think this is the destination for you.

The best land mark to find it, was the life ring hanging up on the cliff above, it was almost directly between the life ring and the ocean.

There are lots of other very cool looking pools in the rock shelf near the famous Figure Eight. Only one in a figure 8 shape though.