The water colour of the Point Plomer rock channel is spectacular, a dazzling azure that instantly makes you want to jump in. It’s the kind of water you dream about when booking an island retreat, yet it’s right here in Crescent Head and very few people know about it. It’s big enough for a proper swim and relatively easy to access.
Both times we visited the rockpools the nearby campground was really busy. To our surprise everyone was at the beach, leaving the rockpools completely empty!
Here’s how to find the pools and what to expect when you do.
Safety info: tide & swell
There are two rockpools at Point Plomer and both can be visited on a low to mid tide when the swell is marked as slight. We have visited on a moderate swell and you will definitely get some large waves crashing into the pools making them completely unsuitable for swimming.
During a slight swell the smaller rockpool, which is not great for swimming, is very well protected and no waves entered the pool on our visit (though rogue waves are always a possibility with any rockpool).
The rock channel had small waves enter the pool consistently, not enough to be problematic, but if you’re looking for the millpond experience this probably won’t be it. You can see the tide and swell forecast here.
The walk to the Point Plomer Rockpools
The stats
Distance: 270m each way
Elevation gain: 50m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Trailhead: Point Plomer Campground (Day Use Area)
Summary: The route to the rockpool and channel begins on a smooth maintained pathway. However, reaching either pool requires leaving the maintained track and using somewhat overgrown social trails.
There are a couple of different routes, we will describe both in this guide. The track down to the pools is quite steep and requires negotiating some rocks, which are grippy when dry.
The rock channel, which is larger and better for swimming, is also the easiest to reach.
The walk
The walk begins at the far end of the Point Plomer Campground and is signposted as the Point Plomer Walking Track.
The path is made up of smooth gravel and heads gently uphill before flattening as you head along the cliff tops.
The first possible route down to the small rockpool will be the second path on your left, which you’ll reach after 180m (the first path on the left is beside a bench).
There is a short but steep 15m descent on a worn path before a 35m steeper section on rock. I found it easiest to keep one foot on the grippy rock and one on the grass.
You will then reach the bottom of the gully and from here you traverse right, along the slanted rock shelf.
After 30m you need to climb carefully down the rocks and you will see the pool 5m later, 265m from the campground.
A second route leads to the same pool and this is via the third left turn from the main Point Plomer Walking Track (40m beyond the route described above).
This is also the easiest path down to the rock channel so it probably makes sense to use it for both. There’s a brief 5m section in overgrown bush before you reach an open path.
It’s grassy and steep, but ok when dry and walked with care.
There’s a worn trail that leads downhill before you reach the rocks.
At this point you go right towards the rock channel, or left to the small rockpool.
The route to the small rockpool still requires care, but is a lot shallower and therefore easier than approaching from the other side.
The small rockpool
The small rockpool has glorious blue water and excellent clarity. It’s little, but it would still be a lovely place for a dip were there no rocks inside it.
As it is, there are some sandy areas, but also a lot of rocks, which means you can’t swim and have to take care even when floating as the rocks are sharp.
I can’t say I’d recommend it for swimming for this reason, but it’s still a beautiful pool to look at and you may disagree with me on the swimming element!
Getting into the pool isn’t too difficult, but requires a slight leg stretch and the sides of the pool are barnacle encrusted. In fact, the barnacles are pretty nasty so you really do need to watch yourself getting in.
It’s easier to enter and exit on the far side of the pool where there is a more gentle tier and less barnacles, although reaching that side of the pool requires traversing more rocks.
Again, I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but I also wouldn’t say it’s worth the effort when there’s a much better rockpool for swimming nearby.
Reaching the rock channel
The rock channel is most easily reached by taking the third path on the left from the main Point Plomer Walking Track, 220m from the campground.
The pool is 65m from the main path. The first few metres are bushy and overgrown but otherwise fine.
You’ll then reach a gravelly grass track (with a couple of rocks interspersed) and this section is a bit steep. When dry and with care, it’s fine and you make your way downhill before reaching the final part of the descent which is on a rock slope.
The rock slope is steep, but very grippy, and there is a rock wall to use if you want extra stability.
The very last metre or so that leads down into the water is the steepest, but you could go down on your bum if preferred!
Swimming in the rock channel
The azure rock channel is an absolute stunner and it’s a really good size, making it an excellent place for a swim. The water colour and clarity blew me away, especially as we had no idea it was there and found it quite by chance.
The water is very deep from the moment you enter the pool and there are no submerged rocks which was a real treat after the very rocky first pool.
There is current in the channel though, as it’s almost, but not entirely enclosed, so you do get waves entering the pool frequently.
If you’re looking for that completely calm rockpool experience, it is unlikely you’ll find it here, but if you’re happy with some minor waves and a bit of current, it’s a superb swimming spot.
I wouldn’t swim here on anything other than a slight swell though or it’s going to be really choppy.
In terms of entering the pool, I sat down and flopped in, which does require flopping through a little bit of kelp, but it’s not difficult.
When exiting I headed for the rock wall and used that for stability which made the steep climb with wet feet and wet rock surprisingly easy.
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 the Point Plomer Rockpools
The best place to park for the Point Plomer Rockpools is at the day use area at the Point Plomer Campground, beside the trailhead for the Point Plomer Walking Track, you can see the exact spot on Google maps here.
It’s located in the Limeburners Creek National Park, around a 17km and a 20 minute drive from Crescent Head and 80km and a one hour 10 minute drive from Port Macquarie.
The final 5.4km of the road is gravel, but in excellent condition and suitable for any car at time of writing.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
Everything you need to know about hiring a boat and exploring the epic beaches and sea caves of Himare without a guide. We’re sharing exactly what we paid and what to expect as well as all the stops you can make and tips for avoiding the crowds.