Discover Minerva Pool in Dharawal National Park

Last updated: November 18, 2021

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 located towards the end of the walk offers scenic views of the pool and the surrounding scenery.

In this article, we’ll explain how best to get there and share other walks and sights you can explore nearby.

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 below map gives you a bit of an idea where the Minerva Pool walking track is located. The parking area is very close to the actual start of the walking track, which is of course super convenient.

The walking track to Minerva Pool is relatively easy and is suitable for all fitness levels. There are a few steep sections however, and the surface is quite rough at times, so it’s recommended to wear 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 to the pool.

The official starting point is a few hundred metres away 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 very 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 that rather interestingly shaped object in the middle of the pool, a large stone island, which looks a bit out of place but adds to the uniqueness of the area.

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

Minerva Pool

There is a bit of rock scrambling involved to get closer to the pool, but it is certainly do-able. 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 for 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 actually 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 basically the only option. Please try and find a spot where you don’t have to jump from a high point and watch out for any large rocks under water.
• Don’t leave rubbish:
  As always, please don’t leave rubbish behind in the bush.

The track to Minerva Pool is rather short, but luckily there are some more great hikes and sights nearby to explore.

1. Jingga Track

The Jingga Track is very 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 very pretty.

You can 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 surroundings.