Honeymoon Pool

HONEYMOON POOL in the Wellington National Park is one of the best known swimming and camping spots in WA, having repeatedly been voted amongst Australia’s finest.

Situated a couple of hours south of Perth, Honeymoon Pool makes a great weekend or midweek getaway. Twenty shady campsites are nestled amongst the weeping peppermint trees on the banks of the Collie River below Wellington Dam.  A large deck extending out over the river offers good views, with steps providing easy access to the water. Swimming and canoeing are popular.

Bookings are essential…

Honeymoon Pool is extremely popular and gets quite busy during school holidays and long week ends. In the past it was common for people to drive all the way down from Perth only to find the entire campground full, but all that has changed with the new online booking system. You can now book and pay for your site before you even leave home.

To make a booking go to Explore Parks WA  and enter the name of the site you want to book. You can download a map to assist with site selection. Site fees are charged per person, per day. $15 per adult, $9 concession and $3 per child daily.

The campground is accessible via a new sealed road. Take Wellington Dam Road off the Coalfields Hwy and watch out for the Honeymoon Pool turnoff.

Local tip:- Visit midweek or in the cooler weather and you may have the campground all to yourself!

About the campground…

Honeymoon Pool is thought to be named by WWII soldiers (it was a base camp for army training), who found several couples camped on their honeymoons.

The campsites are all shaded by graceful, weeping peppermint trees and many of them are directly on the edge of the river. They are suitable for tents and small campers only. (If you like the luxury of a bigger van you will love the nearby Potters Gorge or Stockton Lake 10 kms east of Collie town site).

Most sites have their own picnic tables and wood fire places (bring your own wood).  It is a good idea to bring a portable gas cooker as fire restrictions apply at certain times of the year. Communal gas fired BBQs  are available as well but if a fire ban applies the barbecues may be crowded and it may mean a lengthy wait.

Campfires are allowed between the hours of 6pm and 10am in the cooler months and are to be contained in the designated fire pits only – not on open ground. Please clear the area around the pit to prevent a bushfire. To check when there is a fire ban please visit DFES website and to check current campfire conditions click here.

The use of generators are permitted between 8am-9pm unless there is a total fire-ban in place. Please remember to respect others and take into account how the noise could affect other campers.

Flushing toilets are provided but no showers or drinking water (Untreated water is provided from taps around the campsite but it is not suitable for drinking), because it is a National Park, no pets are allowed.

Kids will enjoy spotlighting at night with a torch – they’re bound to spot a possum, owl or frog.

What to do once you’re there…

Swim in the pool! The water temperature can be quite cold but that doesn’t seem to stop most people from enjoying a good refreshing swim.

Put the kayak in! The stretch of river flowing past the campsite is perfect for kayaking and if you want a bit more of a thrill there are several sections of rapids further upstream.

Go hiking! Or perhaps check out some of the walking trails that begin in the camp ground? Choose from the Jabitj Trail that follows the river all the way to the Kiosk at the Dam, The Kurliiny Tjenangitj that climbs high above the valley to a lookout or the Sika Trail that loops around past the Kiosk and Potters Gorge camp site.

Go exploring! along Lennard Drive and find your own special swimming spot. Choose from The Rapids, Big Rock, Little Rock or Long Pool.

Local tip:- At the Rapids, follow the trail past the toilets to a lovely secluded pool.

And at the end of the day you can just sit back and relax with your favourite cold beverage and watch the colours of the pool change from blues to golden browns and greens.

Location

Wellington National Park