Mahon Pool is the rock pool Sydney swimmers cross town for: a 1930s pool cut into the platform north of Maroubra Beach, where the sea spills over the wall on any decent swell. It's free, open all year and suits strong swimmers and anyone happy to sit on the rocks and watch the show.
Key facts
- Type
- Rock pool
- Facilities and access
- Amenities block rebuilt and reopened in 2019
- Managed by
- Randwick City Council
- Cost
- Free
- Public transport
- Buses to Maroubra Beach
- Best time to go
- Early morning, low to mid tide, small swell
- Water quality
- GoodMaroubra Beach, 0.9 km away. Sampled 28 Oct. Data: NSW Beachwatch, CC BY 4.0.
- Cleaning
- Cleaned weekly, mostly Wednesdays
- Town
- Maroubra, NSW
What it's like
From the stairs at Jack Vanny Reserve, the pool looks less built than found. It was shaped over a natural rock pool, so its edges sit almost flush with the platform and the ocean feels like it's in the water with you. On a flat morning you can swim honest laps; when the swell lifts, waves pour over the eastern wall and the whole pool turns into a churning, bubbling ride. It's named after Alderman Patrick Mahon, who lobbied for it and died in 1935 before it was finished. The Maroubra Seals winter swimmers call it home, and the Sydney Swans have trained here too.
When to go
Go early. A sunrise over the sea, the regular lap swimmers and a calm pool at low to mid tide make the alarm worth it. The pool is cleaned about once a week, usually on a Wednesday, so pick another weekday if you can. On summer weekends towels cover every flat bit of rock.
Getting there and facilities
Steps lead down from Jack Vanny Reserve on Marine Parade, at the north end of Maroubra Beach. The amenities block above the pool was rebuilt in 2019, with accessible toilets, change rooms and showers. Buses run to Maroubra Beach, and the cafes and bakeries near the beach take care of the post-swim coffee.
Good to know
Waves can wash across the platform without warning, so keep an eye on the sea and on small children. The rocks are slippery when wet.