North Curl Curl Rockpool is a 25 m pool near the tip of the headland at the northern end of Curl Curl Beach, cut off at high tide and never cleaned by council. It's free and properly wild, a swim for people who like their pools with sea spray and a bit of effort.
Key facts
- Type
- Rock pool
- Length
- 25 m
- Managed by
- Northern Beaches Council
- Cost
- Free
- Lifeguards
- No
- Parking
- North Curl Curl surf club car park
- Best time to go
- Low tide, calm day
- Water quality
- PoorNorth Curl Curl Beach, 0.3 km away. Sampled 26 Oct. Data: NSW Beachwatch, CC BY 4.0.
- Cleaning
- Not cleaned by council because of the difficult access
- Town
- North Curl Curl, NSW
What it's like
Out on the end of the headland, with open sea on most sides, this pool feels a long way from suburban Sydney. Waves are the only cleaning crew, so expect a bit of weed and sand, and expect to have it largely to yourself. It was built in 1937 with Depression relief funds by deepening a natural pool and adding a retaining wall. Heavy seas wrecked it in 1947, and it was rebuilt about ten years later.
When to go
Go at low tide on a calm day, when you can walk out along the rocks from the beach. At high tide the only way in is the cliff-top walk from the surf club car park. Big seas wash right across it.
Getting there and facilities
Start at the North Curl Curl surf club car park. At low tide, walk around the rocks; at high tide, take the coastal walk over the headland. There are no facilities at the pool.
Good to know
There's no lifeguard on duty. Wear proper shoes for the walk in.