Newport

Newport Rock Pool

Visitor info

Highlight: A 50 metre pool with a natural rock platform as the floor. A humpback whale washed in during 2012.
Entry: Free
Open: Open at all times
Cleaning: Closed for cleaning Wednesday evening, reopens Thursday. Weekly September to April, fortnightly May to August. Unavailable roughly three hours before and twelve hours after.
Where: Calvert Parade, Newport NSW 2106 (southern end of Newport Beach).
Council page →

History

After three attempts to build rock pools at Newport failed when the pools fell apart, Warringah Council stepped things up in 1925 and had the pool we see today built at the southern end of the beach. Since it was officially opened with a carnival in 1926, countless visitors have enjoyed swimming in the pool, which made headlines in 2012 when a humpback whale was found inside. It’s believed the 11-metre, 30-tonne male died days before he was swept into the pool and his unexpected arrival temporarily closed both the pool and the beach to avoid potential problems with sharks.

Water temperature by month

Much the same right along this stretch of the Sydney coast. Approximate — the water runs about a season behind the air.

Jan 22–23°C

Feb 23–24°C

Mar 23–24°C

Apr 22°C

May 20°C

Jun 19°C

Jul 18°C

Aug 18°C

Sep 18–19°C

Oct 19°C

Nov 20–21°C

Dec 21–22°C

Approximate. Sources disagree by a degree or two. The water lags the air by about a season, so autumn stays warm after the crowds leave and spring stays cold after summer seems to have started.