When a friend recommended Honeymoon Pool to us, we were a bit dubious about following it up. The last thing we wanted to do was to bring the kids to some secluded spot where couples snuggle. But a suddenly free weekend clinched it for us and we and two other families headed there one summer weekend to test the water. Little did we know, test the water we really did. But more of that later.
Jumping into Honeymoon Pool
Honeymoon Pool is a picnic and camping area located on the lower Collie River in Wellington National Park. At less than 200km away from Perth, we could actually visit it in a day trip. But camping is always attractive to kids, especially when they have friends with them, so we decided to stay overnight and it turned out to be the right decision.
Camping among tall trees
As a picnic and camping site, Honeymoon Pool is very picturesque and relaxing. Tall greeneries surrounded the riverside, so that the temperature seemed to be more acceptable even in the height of summer. Facilities such as gas barbecues and universal access flushing toilets make it a more comfortable option compared to lots of other bush campsites with waterless toilets.
Shady canopies surrounding the campsite
However, those are just the side dishes. The main attraction of the pool is the jumping platform. Kids of all ages (and some adults too) made use of the platform generously, creating the biggest water explosions they possibly could and having fun in the process. It's a pastime that I think we've already lost in the city, with public pools having no jumping/ diving policies (for safety reasons, fair enough). It's refreshing to see kids being able to do something a bit daring in the water without resorting to breaking rules or defying authorities.
Adults & kids alike trying out the jumping platform
Other activities available at the site include bushwalking, canoeing, wood-barbecuing (except on total fire ban days), and fishing/ marroning (in season, with license). And if you're unlucky enough to arrive to a full campsite, there are three other campsites within the same national park, namely Stones Brook, Gelcoat (both tents only, very near Honeymoon Pool), and Potters Gorge (caravan and tents).
Honeymoon Pool early in the morning
