North Curl Curl Rock Pool.

 “Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer

The Splosh were in their entirety as they headed out to an adventure at North Curly Pool. North Curly Pool is reached by walking along over the rocks at the Northern point of the beach, or alternatively across the top of the rocks from the car park. This day was a warm 24c that was windy and overcast. The crystal water still a fresh 20c, but boy was the water rejuvenating. I swear Ghandi lost 3lbs, Obi's hip improved and Cousteau said she felt like a 25 year old. Don't we all!!! If Nicole Kidman had been there she would have said it had fertility rites!

I digress..... This little oasis of pleasure is a medium sized wadi presenting west and south towards the ocean. This natural rock pool embraces a little rock island which is a delight to navigate. Obi and Cousteau report a plethora of sea life including medium sized shell crabs. I don't know if it was the isolation or the soothing effect of mother nature but the Splosh were very reticent to vacate the pool. This pool is a highly rated tonic for the soul:) Measuring 50m at its longest point, lapping is possible for the enthusiastic swimmer, while a good wallow is highly recommended.

There is public transport and a large ticketed parking area in front of the surf club. The surf club runs a very extensive kiosk, however for the more gastronomic at heart, there are several popular cafes in curl curl about 400m away or the Dee Why Restaurant strip is just over the hill.

Splosh Rating 4**** Stars.

Whale Beach Rock Pool

“Every time we walk along a beach some ancient urge disturbs us so that we find ourselves shedding shoes and garments or scavenging among seaweed and whitened timbers like the homesick refugees of a long war.” – Loren Eiseley

On an overcast but warm (25c) day, Obi-Wan and Cousteau travelled to Whale Beach. Upon arrival they were a little disturbed to find that the high tide had completely covered a now submerged rock pool. Obi familiar with the logistics of the pool steered Cousteau to the southern end, through breaking waves and located the pool. Although the conditions are quite difficult at high tide the Splosh reported a fantastic day of surfing in tidal waves. The pool is a small 25m boutique pool carved from the rock shelf and in authentic condition. It gets a good tidal wash so the water is clear with a glorious sandy bottom.

The outdoor shower and nearby amenities are all in good order. The surf beach is particularly beautiful cove, which is patrolled and is serviced by two small kiosk/cafes doing a very brisk breakfast trade. A beautiful spot for a picnic with the atypical Norfolk Pines shading the grass and beach edge. Ticketed parking is available but this beach is not serviced by public transport, which accounts for the exclusivity of the environment.

Whale beach is a beautiful area only marred by a little incident some time back, with a council truck and Obi's vehicle, which shall we say left Obi's insurance company a tad miffed!

Splosh Rating 3***1/2 stars

Freshwater Rock Pool

"We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds." - Aristotle Onassis

Heatwave conditions sent Cousteau into a frenzy so she headed off with husband in tow to Freshwater Beach. It turned into the most glorious surprise as there was a celebration of surfing carnival in progress. Longboards and paddlers were out in full force, in particular the acrobatic pairs showcased their technical balance skills with extreme grace as they danced across the waves.

The large parking facilities full to the brim with multi coloured VW combi vans reminiscent of Willy Wonka's lolly shop, fuelled the visual carnivale atmosphere, while the aromatic senses were quelled with the delicious eau de bacon and egg roll  permeating from the Surf Club BBQ!

That said, the pool is accessible from a pathway running the north end of the beach or from a stairway running from the headland car park. The pool itself has just been renovated and freshly painted. It is more of a traditional concrete 8 lane lapping pool which is quite deep. On this day the water temp was 20c and clear. Because of the depth it is perhaps less suited to young toddlers and there is limited space to relax around the pool edge. The change facilities and amenities were in good order but are located at the upper car park.

A magnificent view can be enjoyed across Freshy Beach and down to Manly.

Splosh Rating 3***1/2 stars.

Palm Beach Rock Pool

"I was like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me" - Isaac Newton 

 

Splosh Christmas Tale

Like many other families before them, the splosh had settled in for Christmas surrounded by their loved ones, but something was missing. The call of the ocean was too great for them to ignore and so the splosh decided that they needed a trip to Palm Beach Rock Pool. Now, it had came to pass that the beloved respective spouses of the splosh had been enticed by their meddling offspring to take a sneaky peak at the 3bathingbelles blog, and had become intrigued by the recorded activities. Thus it was decided, collectively, to put down the xmas cake, ascend from their comfy chairs and go out into the world to witness the splosh adventures for themselves.

This action, Ghandi thought, was an umpires decision and as Chapelli would have said,  "a ridiculously unnecessary intervention, because everyone knows when your out your out and if you go to the video too many times...doubt creeps into the minds of everyone". Obviously she was being over dramatic and had spent too much time in front of the summer season of cricket!

Anywho, Ghandi approached this excursion with mixed emotions, both trepidation and excitement supported by a cut lunch for the looooong 15 min journey to Palm Beach (just in case you understand). As it turned out she was correct to have such emotions because it resulted in the most peculiar day of challenges for the splosh.

They set out early in the now renowned convoy of cars, ever mindful that they had a small window of opportunity before Ghandi turned feral from lack of breakfast. Upon arrival, it was a beautiful 24c with a water temp of 21c and apparently the Dow Jones average had gone up and down and up and down and up and down, the Aus dollar was strong, 'climate change or no climate change that is the question" ecetera, ecetera....the boys had already brought an interesting dimension to our trip.

Feeling a little distracted the Splosh hit the pool with gay abandon, while the boys lined up, backs to the wall, intently watching like the French knitters of the guillotine. The 50m pool was well maintained and had the extra excitement of two handsome life guards, who at first thought seemed totally superfluous but who, in fact, were to come in handy. The pool water was quite murky in contrast to the crystal clear water of the adjacent ocean and while the Splosh laughed off suggestions from the locals that there may have been a small Sting Ray or possibly Wobegone in the pool, Cousteau and Obi-Wan thought this an excellent opportunity to dive into the ocean for a bit of exercise.

Cousteau powered from buoy to buoy in training for her much anticipated Manly to Shelley beach ocean swim in 2013, while Obi-Wan was resplendent in her new found freedom. She rolled around from front to back, joyously waving her arms, while the ever vigilant life guards monitored their progress and a faint clicking from the knitters quickened pace ever so slightly with excitement.

Side bar -To whom she was joyously waving we will never know, that is something that will remain privy to Obi, but her husband stood proud as a peacock...if he had been one....which he is not of course:)

Anyway as Ghandi marvelled at the curious movements of her fellow sploshees and worried for their safety, she soaked in the glorious view of, what has become known in television land as "summer bay". Lost in her own thoughts, which were drowned out by the now infernal clicking from the knitters of the guillotine, she thought she heard the lifeguard say "there is a baby shark in your lane."

It was in this brief moment of derision, that she appreciated the absurdity of the statement and replied inadequately, "tell him to change lane, then!' The knitters became agitated, "there may be bloodshed yet this morning", they thought between knit one, pearl one, which was a major achievement in itself, for their species were not known for their multitasking capabilities!!

The excursion had obviously become a whole lot more exciting as the clicking needles got a whole lot louder at the promise of a scene from Gladiator. As the penny dropped Ghandi swam like never before, Lorraine Crapp comes to mind or possible Jesus walking on water, whatever, the pool was cleared in record time. 

Strangely, the lifeguards were full of praise for Cousteau and Obi-Wan's achievements that day, while there was barely a mention of the horrendous shark debacle. "Is Obi-Wan blushing?" thought Gandhi... "nah.. lets get a full big breakfast!" Everyone agreed as Cousteau and Obi asked, "And how was your swim Gandhi?"

"There was a shark in my pool," she muttered. "O... ok" they replied.


The facilities are located  pool side and much larger facilities at the surf club, which is located an easy 300m up the beach. There is ticketed car parking along the beach front, which can get busy at weekends. There is an easy walk all along the beachfront and to the pool, encased by premium " New England"real estate. The beauty is all around and the ocean swimming is glorious. There is a calm section at the pool end called "kiddies corner" which is perfect for the family beach day. There are coffee shops and popular restaurants both along the strip and in the park at the northern end of the beach. On this day we ate at Dunes restaurant for a full breakfast but they also have the option of a coffee shop style section, which serves fruit and bacon and egg rolls, very quaint. Or The boathouse is located on the Pittwater side. A bus service runs up the coast to Palm beach and a sea plane goes to the city.

Star Rating *** more for the overall ambiance of the environment than for the pool and a !/2 for the shark appearance!! ***1/2

 

Newport

“The cure for anything is salt water—-sweat, tears, or the ocean” - unknown.

Obi-Wan took a walk on the wild side for her solo report on Newport Rock Pool, but was not happy with what she discovered:( The Rock pool is situated at the southern end of Newport and is a fair hike over the sand and quite a distance from the surf club and its amenities. However on the bright side there is some rather spectacular real estate to preoccupy the mind on the journey (the sploshes second love).

The water was fairly clean but presented with a lot of seaweed, an time old enemy of the splosh!

While, the pool itself is in need of a refurbish, as it is looking tired and neglected. It is probably best reached by parking in a small residential street, Calvert parade, however there is plenty of parking at the surf club. Public transport is to Newport by bus where there are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops...some distance from the pool itself. Newport is probably best visited for the surf not the pool as there are good bbq and children's play facilities back at the surf club.
There were no bird sightings!

Star Rating ** 1/2 :(

Mona Vale Rock Pool

“hark, now hear the sailors cry,
smell the sea, and feel the sky
let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic...”
― Van Morrison

Cousteau and Obi-Wan waxed lyrical about their beautiful swim in Mona vale Rock Pool on the 23/12/12. The water was crystal clear although a chilly 19c for December, the cold currents seem to have run a little longer this year! However as it was a humid 26c outside temp, all was forgiven as the pair tripped the light fantastic across the sand to their destination. Mona Vale is a sweet little 25m pool in authentic condition, carved out of the existing rock shelf and retaining the natural rock bottom.

It is a popular rock pool with locals as the water is constantly refreshed by the tides which tends to keep it clearer than most.

Over the silly season, Obi-Wan had been on a mission most fowl and can now inform us with some authority that the evil gannets, who have territory supremacy over the pelicans in Narrabeen Pool are, in fact Cormorants! That issue now faithfully cleared up, she can report that despite the Cormorant coup d'etat at Narrabeen, the Cormorants, Pelicans and Ducks, with the aid of the United Aviary forces, reached a successful peace treaty over Mona Vale Rock Pool territory and are coexisting quite peacefully! At this point Obi-Wan would like to formally retract her defamatory statement about the "evil" Gannets and has expressed her deepest sympathies to squadron leader Geoffrey about the dastardly Cormorants, instead. Phew glad that drama is resolved!'

Anyway that aside, the splosh had a fabulous day. The amenities at the surf club are in good condition and there is plenty of shade and picnic/bbq facilities under the Norfolk pines, standing along the edge of the sand. A new coffee shop has blossomed operating out of the surf club and the coffee was excellent! However, the 200m walk over the sand to the pool is a hazard to disabled and very young children. There is a very large ticketed car park and public transport is a 10-15 min walk from the bus stop.

Mona vale has been another local pool to the splosh for some years and one spiritual year they announced that the pool had healing qualities. Feel free to give it a try :) Must ask Obi-Wan if her hips better!!!

Star Rating a magnificient ****