Diamond Head Beach is no secret, with it’s stunning arc of golden sand and adorable resident kangaroo population. However, the size of the beach means that despite its proximity to the popular onsite campground, you can definitely still feel like you’re all alone simply by walking a little further up the beach. And you don’t have to go too far to find an incredible rockpool.
As luck would have it, new rockpools form according to whether you’re visiting at high or low tide, so whenever you choose to go there’ll be a stunning rockpool there waiting for you.
Added to that, the rockpools are right next to some dramatic rock formations, which would be a worthy destination in their own right.
The Diamond Head Rockpool Walk
The stats
Distance: 200m each way
Elevation gain: Flat
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Diamond Head Campground
A note on tides and swell
The most important thing to consider when visiting any rockpool is the tide and swell. Happily it’s much less restrictive at Diamond Head, as there are rockpools at both low and high tide.
We visited at low tide which was great for a rockpool which would disappear entirely at high tide, but it meant there was no water along the channel which creates a big rockpool at high tide. If you’re camping you can come a few times and you’ll get to experience both.
When it comes to the swell you ideally want it to be slight. It may be that the larger rockpool that forms at high tide is ok with a moderate swell, but as we haven’t seen it with our own eyes, if you’re making a special trip out here, you want to go for a slight swell.
During our visit on a slight swell, despite being partially open to the ocean on two sides, only very small waves came into the pool.
You can check the tide and swell here.
The walk to the rockpool and rock formations
From the Diamond Head Campground you walk down the concrete road and onto the beach. You’ll be able to see the huge rock formation to your right. Head right along the sand for 200m.
If you’re visiting at high tide the water will fill the channel in front of the huge rock gap, which forms a long rockpool.
If you’re coming at low tide this will be empty and instead you need to bear left, over a few small rocks and stones to the pool.
The Diamond Head Rockpool
The Diamond Head Rockpool is stunning. The water is a lovely shade of blue and the clarity was really good unless a wave churned up the sand underneath. And on that note it’s a breeze to get into.
It has a sandy bottom and you can step straight off the gently sloped sand bank into the water, so there’s no slippery rocks, moss, or coral to worry about here. It’s not fully enclosed, there are two channels of water that enter the pool, but as mentioned, during slight swell, any waves that came into the pool were gentle.
The incredible rock wall can be seen behind the pool which is what makes this spot so special. It’s rugged and dramatic, with formations that almost look like a set of organ pipes.
The pool becomes deep almost immediately and it’s big enough to swim if you’re so inclined. The area just beyond the rocks which semi enclose the pool attracted a few snorkellers, so if you have some gear with you, which sadly we didn’t, it would be worth giving it a look.
We visited Diamond Head on a Saturday in February, the campground was very busy, but surprisingly no one came to the rockpool or rock formations and we visited a few times across a number of hours!
So I would say that this is a spot you can probably visit anytime and unless you get unlucky, you should get it all to yourself!
The Diamond Head rock formations
Just to the right and slightly back from the rockpool, you’ll see the first of the incredible rock formations. There is a huge gap inbetween the sheer rock walls. It’s very striking and you’ll see it the moment you set foot on the beach.
It’s easy to climb up into the gap and at low tide there is no water whatsoever between you and it. At high tide I believe the water would creep up, but it’s probably still accessible if you don’t mind getting wet - don’t quote me on it though as we haven’t seen it at high tide!
Climbing up into the gap is via a series of small rocks and only takes a few minutes. The rocks are grippy when dry and it’s easy to climb up, though more comfortable with shoes than barefoot, speaking from experience!
Once you’re in the gap you can walk through to some more cool rock walls and formations in the water.
There were some small rockpools, but they were very exposed to the waves and on our visit at least, not suitable for a dip.
We visited the rock formations in the daytime, but if you’re camping or flexible on timings, sunrise or sunset should provide some lovely light for photos - that was our original intention, but it didn’t quite pan out.
The Diamond Head kangaroos
Diamond Head is well known for its resident kangaroo population and they’re definitely not shy. We were hoping to catch them on the beach, but I think that would be more likely when they are more active at sunrise and sunset. You will definitely see them at the campground no matter what time of day you visit.
They are more than happy to pose for some photos and as they are constantly around campers they are completely unfazed by people.
The Diamond Head Campgrounds
As mentioned, the campground at Diamond Head does get very busy in the summer and though it’s idyllic to be surrounded by roos and so close to the beach, it did feel like people were camped on top of each other.
If that’s not your vibe, you might want to drive a little further to Kylies Beach Campground, which is also just a short walk to the beach.
There were only a handful of people camping here on our visit and they were spread out, so it was very peaceful. Indian Head Campground is also nearby though we didn’t see this one personally.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the national park, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
When swimming in rockpools, if you need to use sunscreen, reef safe sunscreen is best to protect the marine environment.
Getting to Diamond Head
Diamond Head Beach is located in Crowdy Bay National Park, around an hour’s drive from Forster and 45 minutes from Port Macquarie. Roughly 16km of the road to the campground where you access the beach from is unsealed, but well graded and suitable for any vehicle at time of writing.
Unsealed roads can deteriorate overtime and after big rain events so if you are worried about the road it’s best to contact the National Parks Service before setting out.
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