Nestled in a gorgeous patch of gum trees with a small waterfall and craggy rocks, Kingfisher Pool is a little bush oasis. It’s big enough to swim lengths and the lack of rocks inside the water makes a dip here so relaxing.
The walk to reach the pool is short and very pretty. If you find yourself taken with the area you can even book into the nearby campground and fall asleep to the sound of the rushing cascades. Just watch out for the cheeky water dragons which are prolific in this area!
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Kingfisher Pool.
The walk to Kingfisher Pool
The stats
Distance: 4km return
Elevation gain: 120m
Difficulty: Easy, but not flat
Summary: Kingfisher Pool is located early on along the Bullawarring Track, which if you have time is a pretty bushwalk which passes more swimming holes along the way. To reach Kingfisher Pool the track is a mix of flat and downhill on the way and then you’ll have a bit of a climb back to your car after your swim.
It’s not overly steep, but it’s rocky and uneven underfoot. You could also reach the pool via the 108 fire trail (accessed from the Warabin Street trail), though we’ve personally never done it this way as the bushwalk is so lovely.
Starting the trail: through the bush
The walk to Kingfisher Pool begins on Warabin Street and heads around the side of the gate and onto the fire trail. After 50m you’ll reach a junction and head left, Kingfisher Pool is signposted.
There are a couple of stairs and then you’ll head along a flat sandy dirt track for 100m. Despite living in Sydney for over a decade it still never gets old how beautiful and exotic the bush feels here - with knobbly trees and giant Gymea lilies, not to mention the constant buzz of cicadas.
After this you’ll begin to encounter intermittent rocky sections, it’s never difficult, but it is uneven for much of the descent.
There’s one section which requires you to use two footholds carved into the rock. It’s not a particularly high rock though, so I think the footholds are more to help you back up than to go down.
You’ll soon reach another signposted junction and follow it left.
At the 400m mark the track will bend left, but you’ll take an (almost) immediate right, down the obvious worn path (this turn is not signposted).
After 50m you’ll hit a really muddy patch of track, but social trails have navigated a path that avoids it. Roughly 50m later (500m into the walk) take the dry path on the right, which is now flat.
Reaching Kingfisher Pool
At the 750m mark the trail heads left and then right, and it’s signposted.
You’ll need to cross the creek here and it’s easiest to do so by heading slightly right, off the main trail and then crossing where there are rocks to use as stepping stones, which will avoid getting wet boots (you’ll see where to cross because it’s well beaten down).
The path then continues right and it’s mainly flat with the odd gentle bit of descending.
The path is generally good, with small sections of rocks and tree roots, but nothing difficult or slippery (when dry).
Around 850m after crossing the creek you’ll come to the junction with the top and bottom of Kingfisher Pool.
You need to keep heading straight, into the bush to reach the pool. After 100m you will see a path leading right and this will take you down to the pool. It’s a bit rocky, but when dry, the rock is not slippery.
You will first arrive at an overhang just above the pool and it’s worth noting any wet rock here is very slippery, so take care. You are then just a few steps away from the pool and the overhang makes for a nice shady to spot to sit inbetween swims.
Swimming at Kingfisher Pool
I love swimming at Kingfisher Pool because it’s a great size and largely free from rocks or any debris, so you can really relax and enjoy it without having to worry about bumping into things. It’s so big you could swim laps if you wanted to!
Entry to the water is very easy as you can step off the bank and into shallow water on a rock shelf. After the rock shelf there are a couple of rocks in the water to climb over before it’s deep enough to swim off. The rocks and rock shelf do have a thin layer of mud on them which can be slippery, but it’s still straightforward.
The setting for the pool is stunning, with the small waterfall and gorgeous rock walls, it really does have a wonderful tranquil feel to it.
The water is not the prettiest colour when compared to other pools in the area, which have very green clear water. The water here is more of a dark green and can run brown after a lot of rain (more so than other nearby pools).
It’s not unattractive, but it’s far from the best, but what makes it is the setting and the fact the pool is perfect for swimming. The water is cool but not freezing in summer, though during cooler times there is plenty of room to swim to warm up.
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.
The Kingfisher Pool campground
Just 100m away from the pool, along the main bush track, you’ll come to the campground. This is a lovely little spot right next to a set of cascades. I love the idea of falling asleep to the sound of running water. There’s a long drop toilet here, though it’s BYO toilet paper.
There are also picnic benches with signs warning you of the over friendly water dragons, one of which climbed into my shoe by the pool!
Camping is currently charged at $12.30 per night and can be booked via the national parks website.
Getting to Kingfisher Pool
The walk to Kingfisher Pool begins at the end of Warabin Street in Waterfall. There is no car park for the walk, but plenty of room for cars to park on the street. It is a residential road, so please park respectfully. You could also walk from Waterfall station, which would add on approximately 700m each way.
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