An easy half-hour walk south from Coogee Beach will take you past some interesting rock pools and memorials.
How to Get to Coogee
A small car park at Coogee Beach is often full, so finding a spot to park in one of the surrounding streets might be needed. On a busy weekend, or school holidays, you might end up with a walk, but don’t worry, it’s worth it.
Public transport is a great option, as there’s a bus stop outside the surf club on Arden Street.
What to Do There
Apart from spending time on the beautiful beach, Coogee is the start of the Coogee to Bondi Walk. A coastal walkway also heads south, along well-formed trails, providing excellent coastal views. The trail passes rock pools and swimming baths, which are all worth stopping to see.
Having walked the track to Bondi before, we chose the Coastal Walk to the south, which took 30 minutes each way (going as far as the Ivor Rowe Rock Pool).
Ross Jones Memorial Pool
Located next to the Coogee Surf House, the Ross Jones Memorial Pool was built in 1947. During high tide and rough seas, waves crash over the concrete walls of the pool.
Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial
Located on the foreshore, Goldstein Reserve is the Fallen Lifesavers National Memorial. Dedicated to Australian lifesavers killed during World War One the sculpture shows a digger alongside a surf lifesaver. Standing next to a flagpole, both look out across the ocean.
Wylie’s Baths
Established in 1907, by champion long distance and underwater swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie, Wylie’s Baths is a beautiful ocean tidal pool. Managed by an independent Trust The baths open 365 days a year and caters for everyone from young children to seniors. There is an entry cost to swim here.
Wylie’s daughter Wilhelmina, along with Fanny Durack, were Australia’s first two female Olympic swimming representatives. The first gold and silver swimming medals for a women’s event in the Olympics went to Durack and Wylie respectively.
A memorial to Mina stands near the baths.
Ivor Rowe Rockpool
A small, natural rock pool, the Ivor Rowe Rockpool is a great place for wading, or relaxing in the water. Rocks around the pool mat become slippery, so use care when climbing down.
Around 2 km from Coogee Beach, the walk there passes many other pools, along with beautiful coastal views.
What Did We Think?
We loved the views and the rock pools along the walk, as well as learning the history of Mina Wylie. A fun place to visit with swimming options away from the ocean, or relaxing on the beach.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
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