Broulee Cove is a stunning blue inlet hidden around the corner from the ever popular Broulee lagoon. The lagoon is wonderful, with baby blue water perfect for all the family, but if you’re looking to swim in perfect seclusion you should head for the cove.
The water here is electric blue and the surrounding rocks and cliff wall protect it from most of the waves. Though the inlet can be swum on any tide, access to it is easiest on a low to mid tide.
Here’s what to expect when visiting.
Safety info: tide & swell
You could swim here on any tide, but when it comes to the swell, you want it to read ‘slight’ on this website.
Even on a slight swell the odd wave may enter the inlet and there is a current, but it’s still quite protected and nothing like swimming in the open ocean. Most of the time it was lovely and calm on both our visits, but I wouldn’t come here to swim on anything other than a slight swell or it could get very choppy.
The walk to Broulee Cove
The stats
Distance: 250m each way
Elevation gain: 15m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate on the low to mid tide route
Trailhead: Candlagan Creek Car Park
Summary: There are two possible routes to Broulee Cove. The first can only be done on a low to mid tide, but it’s the easier and safer route. It involves some rock hopping and a little bit of climbing on a rock slope, but the rock is grippy and it’s not challenging.
The second route is via a steep slope that leads from the cliff down to the cove, and though Joe used this route both ways and I used it on the way back, I wouldn’t really recommend it.
It’s steep and has some loose soil which looks prone to instability. Having done both routes I highly recommend using the rock hop option there and back again.
The coastal route: low - mid tide only
I have to apologise for the lack of photos and distance markers for this route as I did it on my own with no phone or camera, but honestly you couldn’t get lost!
From the Candlagan Creek parking area beside Broulee lagoon, you head east, alongside the water (going away from the bridge) until you come to the rocky section you can see in the photo below (the one and only photo I have!).
From here you need to walk up and over the rocks and down onto the next little cove. Cross the cove and then climb over the next set of rocks.
The final section involves climbing up a bit of sloped rock wall with tiered ledges making it pretty easy. This will bring you to the rocky edge of the inlet.
The whole walk from the car park to the inlet takes 5 - 10 minutes (most likely 5).
We did check this route two hours before high tide and you couldn’t get past the second little cove without getting quite wet which is why we recommend low to mid tide.
The cliff route: high tide
This is the route I don’t recommend due to the potential instability of the terrain and a very steep final few metres to the water’s edge. It’s worth having a look at the view from the top though as it’s stunning and the walk to the top of the cliff is easy, it’s only the final climb down which can be sketchy.
From the car park head east along the grass, passing the playground and walk towards the trees.
After the play area, you’ll see a trail going uphill and into the trees.
Follow the tree rooty path uphill until you reach some open green space beside the houses.
Cross the grass and look to your right after 30m (hugging the cliff edge). You’ll see a gap in the trees and the inlet below.
You’re now only around 20m from the water, but the path is steep and though it’s hugely difficult, it is loose.
There are a couple of rocks to help you get down and some good handholds at various places, but the crumbly nature of the soil means that spending a couple of minutes extra using the other route is the safer bet.
Swimming at Broulee Cove
The inlet has some of the bluest water I’ve seen in NSW. It’s electric blue and very shimmery in the sunshine. The rock and cliff walls enclose the inlet on three sides offering some shelter and a rockpool type feel to the far left side. It is fully open to the ocean on one side which is why you should always be mindful of the swell and currents.
At low to mid tide the water is still deep, well above head height and you can lower yourself in off the rock shelf, though there is a lot of seaweed around the edge, so if you do flop in like I do, you will have to flop through it. But after that, the main channel of water is clear.
Whichever route you take to reach the inlet you will still have to cross a few jagged rocks so wear shoes right up until the last moment as it’s quite uncomfortable barefoot.
When it comes to getting out the water, you need to look for the lower jutting out rocks which are not along the full length of the inlet. It’s much easier to get out with the extra ledge to climb onto. Again at high tide it may be you could exit at any point along the shelf, but I personally didn’t swim at high tide.
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.
Parking info for Broulee Cove
There is a decent amount of parking right beside Broulee lagoon at the Candlagan Creek car park which you can see here on Google maps. At time of writing it’s free and has no time limit.
It’s a 20 minute drive from Batemans Bay and 45 minutes from Narooma.
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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.