While not the largest rockpools in the area, the Honeysuckle Rockpools are a gorgeous shade of blue and still big enough for a dip. Despite being exceptionally easy to get to, they’re the kind of pools you can visit on a sunny weekend in summer and still get them to yourself.
Maybe its because the beach is not as popular as others in the park due to its grey sand. Whatever the reason, if it’s a rockpool plunge without the crowds you’re seeking you won’t be disappointed.
The walk to the Honeysuckle Rockpools
The stats
Distance: 300m each way
Elevation gain: 10m
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Honeysuckle Day Use Area, Murramarang NP
Summary: Provided you don’t attempt the walk barefoot, it’s very easy. After walking a few minutes down to the beach, there is a minor amount of walking along the rock platform involved, which has sharp rock, but is no problem at all in shoes.
Safety info: tide & swell
The Honeysuckle Rockpools are best visited between low and mid tide and when the swell is slight.
If coming with younger children, I would stick close to the actual low tide time to minimise the chance of rogue waves entering the pool, though this is always a possibility.
The best rockpool is rather exposed to the waves, so having a slight swell is very important as any larger waves will almost certainly enter the pool. You can see the 5 day tide and swell forecast here.
The walk
From the Honeysuckle Beach car park. follow the sandy track down to the beach, which you will reach after just 50m.
From here head right and you will see one of the rockpools just 100m later.
This one is good for kids as it’s quite shallow (still waist deep in parts though) and you can access it directly from the beach, no rock platform walking required.
It’s also pretty sheltered so you are unlikely to experience any waves here on a slight swell.
However, our favourite pool is another 100m further on. After another 50m on the sand (from rockpool one) you will reach the rock platform.
Continue along the platform for 100m and on your left you will see the main pool. The rock platform is wide and far from any incoming waves a couple of hours either side of low tide.
As mentioned, the rocks are sharp so wear shoes or you will regret it later!
You can continue for another 300m along the rock shelf to a small beach, but you will pass one minor narrow section which is close to a set of rocks with more turbulent waves.
The waves didn’t come anywhere near us on a slight swell, but don’t walk this way if the swell is marked moderate or higher. There are some small rockpools here, but none that are swimmable.
Swimming at the Honeysuckle Rockpool
The colour of the water at our favourite rockpool is just stunning. Normally to get that really gorgeous blue colour coming through you need to visit close-ish to midday, but Honeysuckle Rockpool was a vivid blue in the morning too.
Just make sure you pick a sunny day if you want to see that blue shimmer.
The pool is not huge but it is big enough to swim a few strokes, and though not overly deep, it’s much deeper than the first rockpool.
Entering the water is easy as you can step off the rocks into shallow water. It is rocky underfoot inside the pool but it’s not slippery.
The rockpool sits right on the edge of the rock shelf which is great for water clarity as it’s flushed so regularly, but means even on a slight swell you are likely to get the odd wave entering the pool. For us, any that did were small and not problematic, but it’s something to be mindful of.
Otherwise all that’s left to do is enjoy the pool and all the little fish in perfect serenity.
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 inside the water to protect the marine life.
Parking for the Honeysuckle Rockpools
The closest parking area to the rockpools is the Honeysuckle Beach car park located in Murramarang National Park, you can see it here on Google maps. The car park isn’t very big but it never seems to get busy, even when we visited on a hot weekend in November. There are no facilities here, the closest toilets are located at the North Head Campground (just a few minutes drive away).
The last 7km of the road to the car park is unsealed, but suitable for any vehicle at time of writing.
The Honeysuckle Beach car park is just under a 20 minute drive from Batemans Bay and 50 minutes from Ulladulla.
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