Billys Beach is small but very picturesque and a quiet spot even during summer. The water is a glorious indigo in colour and would no doubt be lovely for a dip, though I only had eyes for the rockpools!
There are many little tidal pools teeming with life, but our favourite was sheltered from view of the main beach.
Here you’ll find a crystal clear blue pool just the right size for one! And when I say crystal clear, I mean it, the water was deep but the clarity was unbelievable.
Here’s how to find it.
The walk to Billys Beach
The stats
Distance: 500m return
Elevation gain: 20m
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Far North of Mystery Bay Campground
Summary: The walk to Billys Beach is all on an easy well maintained National Parks Service track. There are a few steps to descend to the beach, but the majority of the walk is flat.
There’s a little rock hopping required to reach our favourite rockpool.
Safety info: tide & swell
The beach can be visited at any time, but for the rockpool it’s best to visit a couple of hours either side of low tide and when the swell is marked as slight.
Though rogue waves can enter the pool or rock platform at any time, the risk is much lower in these conditions.
You can see the 5 day tide and swell forecast here (the forecast is for nearby Mystery Bay as Billys Beach doesn’t have its own but it should be very similar).
The walk
The walk begins from the northern end of the Mystery Bay Campground, beside the national park signpost. You’ll follow the signposted track through the bush and if you’re lucky you might spot a little wallaby or two.
It’s flat and easy for 150m and then you’ll reach a few wide wooden steps leading down to the beach.
From here head left and cross the beach to the rock platform at the northern end. You’ll pass a couple of tiny little sea caves, (kiddy sized) before you come to the rocks.
Before crossing the rocks, you’ll also see a window in the cliff wall which if you climb a couple of steps up you can look into. It looks like it leads all the way through to the other side of the cliff.
There’s also a cute tidal pool here, tiny, but gorgeous in colour.
To find our favourite rockpool, which is 50m away, follow the rocks to the right (the southern end of the rock platform).
It’s easy enough when the tide is out and generally quite grippy, but take care wherever the rocks are wet.
You’ll pass a shallow but picturesque rockpool, great for kids, before coming to a narrower section. The narrow section is above a small inlet which would be nice for a dip if the water is calm.
The ledges are very good and the rock grippy, so though narrow, it’s not hard to cross this short section.
You then have a few metres more walking across the rock platform before coming to the blue rockpool. You won’t see it until you’re standing beside it.
Swimming in the rockpool
This iridescent blue rockpool is a true beauty. The clarity cannot be beaten and it’s a perfect oval shape, in fact it almost doesn’t look real! If it were bigger it would be one of my favourite rockpools.
Alas, it’s on the smaller side, but more than big enough for a dip for one. Don’t be deceived by the clarity, the pool is actually very deep; way above my head in all but one small spot.
The views out to the vivid blue ocean and back over the beach are stunning and I love the fact it’s completely hidden from view so you feel like you’re in your own private plunge pool.
Though waves were breaking around the rocks at other parts of the rock platform this particular pool experienced no waves, none even came close, so in the conditions mentioned above you would be unlikely to encounter any significant waves inside the pool.
It’s not the easiest pool to get out of unless you know where to look. For getting in I just flopped off the side, but for getting out, you need to look for the ledge which is hidden by kelp.
All other points of the pool but this one spot are steep and lacking in footholds.
The ledge is on the southern side of the pool. Part the kelp and you’ll see it. It’s easy to step onto the ledge (minus the kelp which likes to wrap around your leg!) and then you can step up onto the rock platform.
Without this ledge, it would be a case of trying to stick your foot onto the side and get a helping hand out (or it would for me anyway!).
When you’re ready to leave the pool you simply retrace your steps to the beach.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Please remember to wear reef safe sunscreen to protect the marine life inside the pool.
Parking for Billys Beach
The parking for Billys Beach is located at the northern end of Mystery Bay Campground. Make sure you park at the trailhead and not in any of the camp site spots!
There isn’t room for many cars, but it’s a quiet beach so you shouldn’t have trouble parking. If you’re lucky enough to stay at the Mystery Bay Cabins, they have their own private access to Billys Beach (via a 150m track).
Billys Beach is a 10 minute drive from Narooma town centre. There are no facilities at all at the beach so please plan accordingly.
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How to find one of Batemans Bay’s least well known rockpools, as well as the required tide and swell for a safe visit.