McBrides Beach is wild and rugged, with dark rock and steep headlands that have real Hawaii vibes. We were impressed by the beach, but little did we know that a bit of exploring along the rocky headland would see us discover some of the best rockpools in NSW; clear turquoise pools hidden from sight and brimming with life.
Some are small and best viewed as little aquariums, but one is big enough for a proper swim and the location is simply magical. Here’s how to find them.
How to visit safely
As with all rockpools, you need to consider the tide and swell before setting out. For the Mcbrides rockpools you need to visit a coupe of hours either side of low tide and when the swell is slight.
The rockpool that is suitable for swimming sits very close to the ocean, where large waves form around the rocks. It is important you go when the swell is slight to minimise the chance of big waves entering the pool (though rogue waves are always a possibility, even when the swell is slight).
You can check the tide and swell here.
The walk to McBrides Beach
The stats
Distance: 685m each way to the beach, 1.3km each to the rockpools
Elevation gain: 120m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Trailhead: McBrides Beach Car Park
Summary: The walk to McBrides Beach is all on a well maintained track, but it does go downhill for the majority of the way to the beach - a debt you’ll have to repay on the way back up. It is steep in places, but it wasn’t slippery in dry conditions.
Accessing the rockpools involves a fair stretch of rock hopping, which should be done a couple of hours either side of low tide.
The rocks are easy to walk across and grippy when dry, but as always, take care and watch out for any damp slippery bits. It’s best to wear shoes for the rock hopping as it’s going to be pretty uncomfortable barefoot.
The trail to the beach
From the Mcbrides Beach car park you head along the signposted track. It takes you straight into the bush and it’s fairly well shaded all the way to the beach.
It’s a dirt track and you’ll begin descending almost immediately, there’s a bench seat after 150m, but I am sure that’s more for the way up!
At the 250m mark there are a few stairs mixed in with the dirt track and though you will mainly be heading downhill, there is also some flat ground.
At the 475m mark there’s a minor creek crossing, but there are rocks to use as stepping stones. Following a negligible amount of uphill track the path will then all but flatten for the remainder of the walk to the beach.
You’ll arrive at the beach 685m after leaving the car park.
McBrides Beach
McBrides Beach was such a surprise, it felt different to any of the other beaches we’ve visited in the area with its distinct black rock.
It immediately took me back to some of the beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii and I was taken with it from the moment I saw it.
You can cross to the far left of the beach and you’ll see a tiny cave in the rock. Well it’s more of an alcove, but I think kids would love it!
The water was a bit wavy and I wouldn’t have gone for a swim here, but it’s a great beach to relax on, listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.
I know some people lament the loss of the 4WD track down to the beach, but for hikers, it’s now a quieter more isolated spot.
Though the walk is very short, it seems to be far less visited (maybe because other beaches in the area are drive ups) and we only saw one couple there all afternoon.
The walk to the rockpools
To get to the furthest rockpools you have roughly the same distance to walk again. You’ll need to head along the rocks at the southern end of the beach (turning right at the end of the walking track).
There’s a little bit of a trail at first and then you’ll be walking along sand and rocks, with some little pools and channels which can be easily avoided.
After a couple of hundred metres the terrain becomes pebbly and just beyond this is a tiny hidden beach. And by beach I mean a little patch of sand beside some beautiful turquoise water.
At low tide and swell this in itself is a cute spot to relax a while.
Roughly 50m beyond the beach is when you need to walk across some jagged rocks. This is easy and perfectly grippy when dry.
As you progress there are a few rocks to walk up onto (most notably 450m from when you left McBrides Beach), but none of it involves climbing up rock walls or anything remotely difficult, as long as the rock is nice and dry and the tide low.
Roughly 520m into the walk from the beach you’ll reach a little sandy section, which offers a break from the rocks for the next 50m.
And 30m from here you’ll reach the first sizeable rockpool, you will have passed several smaller ones at this point, including one in the shape of Australia.
The Aquarium
This first larger rockpool is The Aquarium. You’ll understand its name the second you see it.
The water clarity is second to none and it’s full of marine life, including some bigger fish that you wouldn’t expect in a small pool. It’s glorious and fun just to sit and watch for a while.
If you do want to take a dip, please don’t wear standard suncream. Due to the abundant life, it’s best to wear reef safe sunscreen to protect the fish and coral.
The Rainbow Pool
Just 50m beyond The Aquarium, accessed via some more easy rock shelf walking, you’ll come to the best rockpool for swimming. And what a pool.
It’s large, deep and located on the edge of the rock shelf with views out to the ocean and headland. It’s spectacular. The water is turquoise and the clarity is almost as good as at The Aquarium.
It’s very easy to get into the water as it’s just a step down from the low rock shelf and into a shallow part of the pool. You can touch the bottom in many places, but it’s still deep enough for a swim.
Waves do come into the pool from time to time, even during a slight swell and low tide. A few did create waterfalls over the rocks, but none were the kind that push you around too much, though you should be mindful of the waves just incase.
For the vast majority of our long visit, no waves came in at all and it was as peaceful and serene as it gets. It’s a real treasure and we honestly couldn’t believe that we’d never seen or heard of it before.
As always please look after the pools and keep them pristine for marine life and future generations to come.
When you’re ready to leave the pools, you retrace your steps back to the beach and up the McBrides Beach walking track to the car park.
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.
Getting to McBrides Beach
McBrides Beach is located in the Booti Booti National Park, less than a 10 minute drive from Forster. There is a dedicated car park for the walking track and always plenty of space when we’ve passed by. There are no facilities at the car park or beach, so please plan accordingly.
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