It’s almost too good to be true that you can reach such pretty rockpools with just a couple of minute’s easy walking, but that seems to be a consistent theme with rockpools in Port Stephens! At Iris Moore you’ll find the pools come in an array of shapes and sizes, with some better for sitting in, while a couple are just big enough for a little swim.
The views out to the bay are lovely and if you’re very lucky you might even spot a dolphin or two as we did on our most recent visit.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Iris Moore Rockpools.
Visiting the Iris Moore Rockpools
A note on tides and swell
Unlike many rockpools which are safest to visit at low tide, the rockpools of the Iris Moore Reserve are best visited on a mid tide, with some even accessible at high tide. Many become very shallow at low tide.
The exception to this is the larger rockpool (pool two) which you’ll see in the notes below and this one can be visited at low tide.
All pools are most safely visited when the swell is slight, though you can generally get away with a moderate swell in the ones set back from the ocean as they are quite sheltered.
Don’t attempt to access the pools on a rough swell when there’s a chance of getting knocked around or swept out to the bay.
Even during a slight swell, as with all rockpools, there is always the chance a rogue wave will enter the pool, but generally speaking these particular pools are calm.
The rockpools
As mentioned, there are a variety of rockpools at Iris Moore, but two are larger and you can have a bit of a swim. These are the two we’ll describe in detail below.
Inbetween these pools are a series of small rockpools which you can access via some easy rock hopping. Most are quite shallow even on a mid tide, but are still nice enough if you just want to have a quick dip.
Some are more exposed to the waves than others.
Pool number one
Walk length: 30m
To reach the first pool, from the car park bear left along the grassy picnic area. Then head down towards the rocks and you’ll see the turquoise rock channel.
You can walk into the pool via the sand, so it’s very easy to access. This particular pool does have a current, but on a slight swell it’s not especially strong.
The water colour is the prettiest at this one, almost turquoise and the rock walls add to the charm. It’s probably more of a rock channel than an actual rockpool as one side is quite exposed to the ocean.
This keeps it flushed clean at all times, as opposed to some of the pools which are set further back from the water that are only flushed at high tide.
At mid tide there is enough water to swim, but high tide may be even better, provided the swell is slight. When we visited at low tide, it was extremely shallow.
Pool two
Walk length: 200m
There’s actually a car park closer to this pool than the main Iris Moore picnic area car park, but as it’s just a 200m walk, it’s worth parking at the picnic area so you can see all the other pools along the way.
This is the biggest and most enclosed rockpool at the reserve and it’s as still as a millpond unless the swell is up. To find it, head right from the car park and take the dirt track inbetween the rocky shore and the houses. Follow it until you see a left fork. The left path will take you to the pool which is only one minute away.
The rockpool is a gorgeous little spot with higher walls than any other pool at the reserve, offering more protection from the ocean. It’s easy to get into and out of the pool and the water is deep enough to swim. I could stand up at all times, though only just.
The channel of water feeding the pool is quite small, so if there are a series of tides which are not particularly high I can imagine it might get stagnant. The water was pretty clear, but not as clear and blue as the more famous rockpool at Boat Harbour.
It’s my favourite of the two main rockpools at Iris Moore, despite the water colour being more beautiful at the first one. There is a smaller very clear rockpool behind it, though it is much more exposed. It’s not big enough to swim, but it’s well worth checking out as it was full of starfish on our visit.
A note on crowds
Whilst the Iris Moore rockpools are not as widely known as some in Port Stephens, they can still get busy on hot weekends and in the school holidays.
We visited in the Easter holidays and got it to ourselves for a while, but there were people there just before and after us. Going early would probably see you get it to yourself, but if you do arrive to find it busy, you might want to try the lesser known Fingal Bay Rockpool, which is also only a five minute walk from the nearest car park.
The Fingal Bay Rockpool
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 reserve, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Parking for the Iris Moore Rockpools
The Iris Moore Rockpools are located in Iris Moore Reserve in Anna Bay, just under a 15 minute drive from Nelson Bay. There are a couple of covered picnic benches at the reserve and a lookout offering a good chance to see whales in season (May to October).
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