Figure Eight Pools

Figure Eight Pools is a group of natural tidal pools on a broad rock shelf about a kilometre south of Burning Palms Beach. The best-known basin has two round lobes joined at a narrow waist, which gives it the name. This is a long coastal outing for a close look at an unusual rock formation, not a quick stop on the beach.

Start at Garawarra Farm car park off Garie Road. A steep track drops to The Coast Track; follow it to Burning Palms, then continue south along the shore and across uneven rock to the pools. The route is about 6 km return. Walking-time estimates range from about three to four hours, before a stop at the shelf, and the return includes the long climb back up. The last approach is exposed and can be slippery.

The pools sit on a low shelf that can be covered by the tide. Avoid mid or high tide and stormy weather, and check the current wave-risk forecast before setting out. Sudden large waves can sweep across the rock even after a calm spell; low tide by itself is no guarantee of safe conditions. Turn back if waves are washing over the shelf.

The named pool is part of a larger platform dotted with other pools and water channels. For a photo, include both rounded lobes and the surrounding rock so the joined shape reads clearly; the open ocean behind it shows how exposed the shelf is. The main attraction is the pattern carved into the rock, with the coast as its setting.

Parking and toilets are at Garawarra Farm, not at the pools. There are no services on the route or at the shelf, and drinking water was not found at the trailhead, so bring what you need for the walk. The steep, uneven route is unsuitable for prams and young children, and mobile coverage is limited.