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Yabba Pool
Heathcote National Park, New South Wales


 
Yabba Pool is only a short scramble upstream from Goburra Pool, but the contrast between the two locations couldn't be greater. Whereas Goburra Pool is bright, wide and colourful, Yabba Pool feels somewhat darker and more enclosed, creating a much more pensive atmosphere for your swim. This stems from the fact that it is narrower, with vegetation right up to the edge of the creek on both sides. On the plus side, the greater difficulty in reaching this spot means you are less likely to encounter other swimmers if you are looking for a pool in the Heathcote National Park to have to yourself. View of Yabba Pool on Heathcote Creek Above: View of Yabba Pool on Heathcote Creek (Order this image)

From Goburra Pool, I tried two routes to reach Yabba Pool. Firstly, I wandered through the scrub on the southern side of the creek, venturing up over the hill and then descending back down to the creek when I saw a small gully that wasn't too steep. The scrub was open and easy to negotiate, even without any defined tracks.
On the way back I headed down the river bed, which under dry conditions is probably the easier way to go, provided that you are comfortable climbing up, down and along the steep rock ledges at the upper end of Goburra Pool. With a dry rock surface and no gear in my hands, the climb was quite straightforward, but it could be riskier if the rocks are wet or if you don't have your hands free.

The deepest section of the pool is towards the upstream end, where there are fewer underwater obstacles. Head as far upstream as you can until you hit the upstream rock bar for the best swim here.
Other Information Before You Go:
Location: Accessible from the Pipeline Trail, Heathcote National Park, near Heathcote, 38 km (approx. 1 hr drive to the start of the walk) south-west of Sydney.
Latitude:-34.080720 Longitude:150.994944
Getting there: There are several access points for the Pipeline Trail. I started from the Goburra Track, at the end of Oliver Street in Heathcote, where you can park your car on the side of the road. This track takes you over the hill and down natural sandstone steps to the Pipeline Trail. Head north for about 200 metres, where you will see an unmarked track leading steeply down to the creek, shortly after crossing Goburra gully. Once you reach Goburra Pool, scramble your way upstream for 100-200 metres either along the river bed or on the southern bank. You can also catch the train to Heathcote, and then it's a 1 km walk across the Princes Hwy and down Oliver Street to the start of the walking track.
Facilities: None
Entrance fee: None
Water temperature: Mild

Water clarity: Clear
Under foot: Sandstone
Maximum water depth: Greater than 2 metres
Minimum swimming proficiency required: Experienced
Prohibitions including whether you can bring your dog: No pets other than certified assistance animals, no smoking, no campfires, no solid fuel burners, no gathering firewood, no generators, no amplified music.
Sun shade: No shade available in or out of the water
Opening times: Always open
Wheelchair access: None
Managing authority: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Nearby attractions: Goburra Pool, 100 m downstream.
Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions.
Locality Map:
The marker indicates the approximate location of the pool. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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