Currumbin Rock Pools and the valley
On a hot afternoon the valley is where Tugun goes. Thirty minutes up Currumbin Creek Road the water turns fresh and cold, and there are two very different swimming holes at the end of it.
The drive
From Sandbox, join the M1 at Currumbin and take Currumbin Creek Road inland. The rock pools are about 30 minutes away and the road is the scenic part of the day: cane, cattle, the valley narrowing into rainforest. There is no public transport into the valley, so it is a car or a rideshare. On hot weekends the pools fill by late morning, so leave by 8.30am or go after 3pm.
Currumbin Rock Pools
A natural pool around 40 metres long and 20 wide with a small cascade bursting in at the top end, right beside the road. A short path leads down to a lawn and a pebbly beach where you can walk in; the water gets deep quickly beyond that, so stay close to young swimmers. It is cold by Queensland standards, which is the point. There are barbecues, sheltered picnic tables, toilets with a baby change table, bins and a lawn, with the Currumbin Valley Rock Pool Café across the road. Dogs are permitted. Parking is limited and the entrance is easy to miss, so arrive early.
One rule we ask every guest to respect: do not jump or dive from the rocks. Serious injuries and deaths have happened here and it is signposted. Swim, float, and leave the cliffs alone.
Cougal Cascades
Eight kilometres further on, at the very end of Currumbin Creek Road, the Mount Cougal section of Springbrook National Park has a sealed path that follows the creek past a run of small waterfalls and pools to a historic bush sawmill, with viewing platforms along the way. The sealed car park has toilets with a baby change table and a couple of picnic tables, and it fills early. The pools are for experienced swimmers; the park authority warns that jumping, sliding down the cascades and walking on wet rocks can cause serious injury. It is a national park: no dogs, no bins (take everything out), and do not leave valuables in the car.
What to bring
- Water shoes or old sneakers for the rocks
- Towels and a change of clothes; the water is cold
- A picnic, or cash for the café
- Sunscreen, water, and a bag for your rubbish
Make a day of it
Pools first while it is quiet, Cougal Cascades for the walk, then back down the valley for a late lunch. If you time the return for 4pm, the free lorikeet feeding at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is on the way home, and on Fridays the Sanctuary Markets open at the same hour. A swim in the surf at the flags finishes the salt-and-fresh day properly.
Good to know
Is there a charge to visit the Currumbin Rock Pools?
No. The pools and Cougal Cascades are free and open all day, every day. There is no gate and no car park fee.
Can you jump from the rocks?
No. Jumping and diving are signposted as dangerous after serious incidents, and the rocks are slippery. Swim from the pebbly beach instead.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes at the Currumbin Rock Pools. Not at Cougal Cascades, which is a national park.
How far are the rock pools from Sandbox Apartments?
About 30 minutes by car. There is no bus service into the valley.
Keep reading
Things to do in Tugun and Currumbin with kids
Most of what children want from a beach holiday is within a ten-minute walk of our front door: a patrolled beach, still creek water, a wildlife sanctuary and a bakery.
Best cafés and restaurants in Tugun
More than 20 places to eat sit within a two to five minute walk of the apartments, strung along Golden Four Drive behind the beach.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: a visitor guide from Tugun
The Sanctuary is the reason many of our guests choose Tugun over the rest of the coast.