Discover Minerva Pool in Dharawal National Park

Minerva Pool is a beautiful natural water hole in Dharawal National Park, accessible via a short and relatively easy bush walking track.

A fenced lookout platform towards the end of the walking trail offers scenic views of the pool and the surrounding scenery.

The walking track to Minerva Pool is located in Wedderburn, in the north-western section of Dharawal National Park, approximately 60 km south of the Sydney CBD.

To get there, follow Victoria Road in Wedderburn all the way to the entrance gate to the national park, where Victoria Road turns into a management trail (see map location).

There is a free, reasonably sized car park located right at the entrance, and an information board at the car park with maps tells you more about the area.

The map below gives you an idea of where the Minerva Pool walking track is located. The parking area is conveniently close to the start of the walking track.

The walking track to Minerva Pool is relatively easy and is suitable for all fitness levels. However, there are a few steep sections, and the surface is rough at times, so we recommend wearing proper hiking shoes.

The first section of the walk is on a dirt road, followed by a section through bushland, all the way to the lookout and the pool.

The official starting point is a few hundred metres from the car park and is well-signposted.

At that signpost (see above), turn right and stay on the fire trail until you arrive at an intersection with a Minerva Pool sign. At that intersection, turn left, heading into the bush.

This is where the walking track evolves into a pleasant bushwalk through beautiful scenery. The surface can be a bit challenging at times, but overall, the track is easy to follow.

Towards the end of the walk, you will see an intersection with a short detour to the Minerva Pool Lookout.

Minerva Pool Lookout

This purpose-built viewing platform is a fenced lookout that offers superb views of Minerva Pool in its entirety.

You will notice an interestingly shaped object in the middle of the pool, a large stone island that looks a bit out of place but adds to the area’s uniqueness.

Once you’ve finished admiring the views at the lookout, retrace your steps to the main track for the final stretch to Minerva Pool.

Minerva Pool

There is a bit of rock scrambling required to get closer to the pool, but it is certainly doable. The path ultimately ends up right above the little waterfall that drops into Minerva Pool.

The rocky areas surrounding the pool are perfect for a picnic or some lazy sunbathing in beautiful natural surroundings.

There is a lot of exploring to do in the area surrounding the pool, but the official walking track doesn’t continue beyond this spot.

To Swim or Not to Swim?

On a warm and sunny day, it is very tempting to go for a swim in Minerva Pool, but there are a few things to consider.

Minerva Pool is culturally significant to the Dharawal traditional owners. As such, this natural water hole is a place for only women and children to enter the waters.

Visitors are welcome to explore this beautiful spot in Dharawal National Park but are also expected to respect its cultural significance.

If you do decide to go for a swim in Minerva Pool, please keep the following in mind:

• It’s deep:
  The middle of the pool is quite deep, so if you’re not a good swimmer, it’s best not to go in.
• It’s slippery:
  It can be very slippery on the rocks surrounding the pool, so please be cautious at all times.
• Jumping in:
  There aren’t any spots where you can walk into Minerva Pool, so jumping is the only option. Please try to find a spot where you don’t have to jump from a high point and watch out for any large underwater rocks.
• Don’t leave rubbish:
  As always, please don’t leave rubbish behind in the bush.

The track to Minerva Pool is relatively short, but there are more great hikes and sights nearby to explore and make a day of it.

1. Jingga Track

The Jingga Track is similar to the walking track to Minerva Pool and also leads to a beautiful natural water hole. This slightly more challenging track starts at the Victoria Road fire trail, where the car park is.

Be mindful that this walk is very steep, which makes the return trip all the more challenging. It’s worth the effort though, because the pool is beautiful.

Read more about the walking track to Jingga Pool here.

2. O’Hares Creek Lookout

Also starting from the Victoria Road car park is the easy walking track to the scenic O’Hares Creek Lookout.

This is a family-friendly 2.5 km return walk through scenic bushland, leading to a large lookout platform that offers spectacular views over O’Hares Creek and its surroundings.

Read more about the O’Hares Creek Lookout here.

Last updated: May 12, 2024