Don’t be put off by the huge crowds that can gather here on a hot afternoon: Jellybean Pool, near Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains National Park, is a real gem of a swimming hole.

So-called for its shape, Jellybean Pool is a series of deep swimming holes alongside a lazy bend in Glenbrook Creek. With a gorgeous sandy beach, it’s a real delight for children and pretty easy to get to – only a couple of hundred metres from the main car park and 1km from the park entrance above (easy access for children, albeit with a few steep descents/ascents).

No Jumping: Taking the somewhat silly route into the water at Jellybean Pool

My partner, Jane, was initially dismissive (she hates crowds): we were lucky to get a spot in the overflow carpark on a hot afternoon in late December (i.e. right in the middle of school holidays). But once we found a place in the shade of a small tree, she warmed to the undeniably beautiful nature of the place.

Kids and parents were splashing around in the shallows while testosterone-fuelled boys (and young men) jumped from a rock platform maybe five metres above the water (next to a sign saying ‘No Jumping’). If that sounds a bit too frenetic, a short swim downstream takes you to some large boulders protruding from the creek where you can have relative peace. Our daughter Marilla had a ball, as did her friends when they joined us on our return to Jellybean Pool a couple of months later.

To be honest, I never saw the jellybean shape for which it is named but that didn’t matter too much. If you’re camping at Euroka or just need to cool down on a hot day in the Mountains, this is the place to be.

Handy Hints

• Get there before lunch: the second time we went, we got there a bit before midday and there were still plenty of spaces in the car park; by the time we left, the place was packed (the same applies to Blue Pool a bit further upstream)
• Access is from the lower car park (200-300m walk) or from the main park entrance via the Jellybean Track.
• Be careful with children: there are some sudden drop offs in the pool so always keep an eye on them. Try and work out the deep spots first.
• Make a weekend of it by camping at Euroka Campground: a truly magnificent bush camping experience a few kilometres up road
• Blue Pool is another great swimming hole nearby but it also gets crowded and is not as child friendly – it gets deep very quickly and there is no beach, only rock platforms along the banks
• Dogs (and indeed any other pets) are not allowed in National Parks
• There are no bins down at the pool so please make sure you take your rubbish out with you.
• Please be respectful of this wonderful place and abide by Leave No Trace principles (basically leave the place exactly as you found it – even better, feel free to carry a bit of extra rubbish out with you)

The bush along the banks of Glenbrook Creek at Jellybean Pool is also a great spot for small adventures

Looking upstream to the (slightly) more secluded reaches of Jellybean Pool, Blue Mountains National Park