Sydney’s famous tessellated rock pools on the Royal National Park coast — a wild, tide-dependent hike to a natural wonder near Burning Palms Beach.
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The Figure Eight Pools are a cluster of naturally figure-eight-shaped rock pools carved into a wave-cut platform below Burning Palms in Royal National Park. Reaching them is a proper hike — a steep descent from Garawarra Farm car park, then a rock-hop along the coast — and they’re only safe and visible at low tide.
Timing is everything
Check the tide chart before you go: aim for a low tide below about 0.9 m and never visit on a high or rising swell — walkers have been swept off the platform. The round trip is roughly 6 km and 2.5–4 hours, with a solid climb on the way out.
Getting there
Drive to Garawarra Farm car park (arrive early — it fills), or walk in from Otford along the Coast Track. Wear grippy shoes and check the NPWS tide and safety warnings. More hidden places nearby.
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Photo Gallery
Facilities
Garawarra Farm car park; no facilities on the coast
Photography Tips
Shoot the pools from a low angle at low tide with the cliffs behind; overcast light cuts glare on the water.
Insider Tips
Only go at low tide with calm seas — the platform is dangerous in swell. Check the tide chart and NPWS alerts before setting out, and wear grippy footwear.
Getting There
Drive to Garawarra Farm car park then descend to the coast, or walk in via the Coast Track from Otford.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can you see the Figure Eight Pools?
Only at low tide — aim for a tide below about 0.9 m and calm swell. At high tide the pools are underwater and the platform is dangerous.
How hard is the walk to the Figure Eight Pools?
It is a moderate-to-hard 6 km return hike, 2.5 to 4 hours, with a steep climb back up from the coast to Garawarra Farm car park.
Are the Figure Eight Pools safe?
Only in the right conditions. People have been injured by waves on the platform, so check the tide and swell, and never go in rough seas.
How do you get to the Figure Eight Pools?
Drive to Garawarra Farm car park and descend to the coast, or walk in along the Coast Track from Otford. Arrive early as parking fills fast.
