Swimming Hole Heaven
← Back stroke Next swim →

Angourie Green Pool
Angourie, New South Wales

This 80 metre long extended lap pool in a former quarry sits beneath a towering bluestone wall, with water that is surprisingly fresh and surprisingly not green. There is only one entry point into the pool, but it has a stone step that makes getting in and out of the water relatively easy. Swimming at Angourie Green Pool Above: Angourie Green Pool (Order this image)

The sheer wall on the opposite side of the pool is imposing when you are in the water, with an intricate pattern of vertical and horizontal cracks and staining. There are some handy bluestone boulders on the side of the pool near the entry point, where you can leave your gear or take a seat in the shade in between swims, noting however that the paved poolside area is quite small, with only a tiny lawn area beside it.
Given the immediately deep water, inflatables are recommended if you are spending a lot of time in the water. The pool can suffer from blue-green algae at times, but there will be warning signs at the car park prohibiting entry into the water when this is the case. Swimming at Angourie Green Pool Above: Angourie Green Pool (Order this image)

According to information boards on site, the bluestone quarry operated from 1890 to 1899 for the training wall that runs along the centre of the Clarence River at its mouth. This 2km long curved wall can still be seen today running out from the tip of Freeburn Island. On the sandy track to the Green Pool, half-submerged in the sand, I could see some of the rusted railway tracks that were used to cart the stone.
In 1899 the quarry was abandoned when the underground spring at the Green Pool flooded the pits, making the quarry unworkable but creating a fantastic swimming hole in the process.

Here is a video that I took when visiting both the blue and green pools, including entry into the water.

Other Information Before You Go:

Location: The Crescent, Angourie, 670 km (approx. 7 hr drive) north of Sydney and 280 km (approx. 3 hr drive) south of Brisbane.
Latitude:-29.479212 Longitude:153.363602
Getting there: Turn off the Pacific Hwy at Yamba Rd to Yamba, then head south along Angourie Road. When you reach Angourie, turn left down The Crescent and follow it to the car park at the end. Take the 100 metre walk along a paved path from the car park to the Angourie Blue Pool, then follow the sandy path to the right for a further 100 metres until you reach the opening to the Green Pool.

Facilities: None at the Green Pool, apart from a small paved area and a few well placed boulders to sit on. At the car park there are sheltered picnic tables, rubbish bins, and public toilets
Entrance fee: None
Water temperature: Mild
Water clarity: Clear
Under foot: Rock
Maximum water depth: Greater than 2 metres
Minimum swimming proficiency required: Experienced as the pool is immediately deep away from the shore
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No staying overnight in the car park, no littering, no motorcycles, no horseriding, no dogs, no fires, no camping, no glass, no motor vehicles along the track to the Green Pool.
Sun shade: Shade available out of the water, limited to no shade in the water
Opening times: Always open, but there is no parking in the car park from midnight to 5.30 am.
Wheelchair access: Wheelchair accessible path down to the Angourie Blue Pool, but not to the Green Pool. I did not check if the toilets were wheelchair accessible.
Accommodation: See accommodation options close to Angourie Green Pool. There is no camping at the Angourie Green Pool.
Managing authority: Clarence Valley Council
Nearby attractions: Angourie Blue Pool 100 metres to the north, and Yamba Ocean Pool 7 km to the north..
Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, the managing authority advises large waves, strong currents, shallow water, sharks, steep walking track, slippery rocks, cliff edge/drop off, and deep water. This advice is for both the pools and the ocean, so I would not expect sharks or large waves, for example, in the Green Pool. The managing authority also advises that blue green algae may be present at some times, but they will usually display a sign on site if that is the case. One person reportedly died in early 2024 (see ABC news article) after jumping off a rock ledge at the Angourie Green Pool.

Locality Map:

The marker indicates the approximate location of the car park at the start of the walk to the Angourie Green Pool. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
View Larger Map

Comments:

If you would like to leave a comment about this swimming spot, please fill in the comment box below. I am particularly interested in your experiences after visiting, and any changes in conditions, etc. All fields are required if you would like your comments published on this website.

Your name:

Your email:

From (city, country):

Your zipcode:

Your comment:

I consent to having these comments published on this website (note: your email address is not published).



← Back stroke Next swim →
NSW / ACT NSW Nth Coast
Water Safety Map
Links Your Support
List of Lists Suggest a Swim
Community, Media, Research

Share this swim:

Follow my updates on new swimming, waterfall and splash park experiences:
© Brad Neal 2026. All rights reserved. Swimming Hole Heaven is a registered trademark. Here is my affiliate links and cookies policy and opportunities to provide support to Swimming Hole Heaven.