Goburra Pool Swimming Hole

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Today I found my way to the amazing in the Heathcote National Park. I took the M1/A1 North from Wollongong and turned left onto Oliver Street at Heathcote. I was parked at the very end and from my car, I could see the tall sign for the Goburra Trail.



From this sign facing downhill there are three paths. The one closest to the creek on the left of the creek, which goes over some wooden planks, is the Goburra Trail. This is the one I headed down.

The Goburra trail is steep and there are lots of stone steps to go down. I passed lots of pretty wildflowers on the way and was delighted to spot a Copper Tailed skink. It's a quick walk of about ten minutes down to the bottom of this trail. At the bottom, I crossed over a metal set of stairs and onto the Pipeline Trail.

I turned right (North) onto the Pipeline Trail and walked the slight incline downhill looking for promising looking trails on the left hand side, which would lead me down to Heathcote Creek.

After a few minutes, I came to a metal bridge over a small creek. I walked on a minute then stopped to look at the Pipeline. This particular section had a concrete wall separating the Pipeline from the path and it had rectangular buttresses sticking out from it. On the third buttress along there was graffiti in the shape of a circle crossed with lines that caught my eye. And as I turned away from it I spotted a gap in the bush directly opposite. I walked closer and peered down. I was surprised to see brick edged steps, clearly this track needed investigating.



I started down the steep but well-marked steps and within five minutes, I stepped out at the bottom to a stunning view.



There was no signage but a quick online check confirmed that this was the Goburra Pool. I was at the bottom of a bowl like formation where the land on either side of the pool rose steeply all around. The slopes were covered in gum trees looking parched with light green and brown leaves, which occasionally fluttered down gently onto the glassy surface of the water. I was standing on the East side of the pool and this side was flat bedrock perfect for picnicking. On the far side, the bush leaned over the very edge of the pool. The pool itself was about 100 metres long and 20 metres wide. I had passed a young couple on the path coming up as I went down but now there was not another soul in sight. I made my way to a tree near the edge, which was the only shade available.



Peering into the pool I could see that there were overhangs of rock under the water. At the edge of these the water turned dark and looked deep. I hadn't really planned on a second swim and my swimmers were still wet from the morning but I absolutely couldn't resist. I did a quick recon looking for a good slope to walk into the pool, preferably somewhere without slippy rocks. I couldn't really spot one so this was going to require a plunge rather than a walk in.

I picked my spot, and plunged in. The water was refreshing but not cold. I was a little disconcerted by the depth of it. What might be in there with me? But I resolved to swim to a rock sticking out of the water at the South end and by the time I got there I realised I'd completely overcome any inhibition and was having a fantastic time swimming around in this quite amazingly beautiful place.



After a swim and a sunbake I got changed and was thinking about heading back. I was looking for the way I had come in when I noticed a patch of sand with a lot of different rocks in it. While I was absorbed in making a little collection of these, a fellow bushwalker came in from the path. Even with the benefit of seeing where he had popped out I still had to really look hard to spot the path back out. Make sure you take note of where you came in. I headed back out the way I had come in.

This was really the best swimming hole for adults I've been to yet. The size and depth of it made it a lot of fun to swim around in and I'll be back to re-explore this one before I go looking for my next adventure.



#day_trips
#free
#national_parks
#near_wollongong
#picnic_spots
#walks
%wnwollongong