Injidup Natural Spa Rock Pool Drone Photo

Injidup Natural Spa, Wyadup Rocks, Yallingup – Western Australia, Australia

HOW TO FIND INJIDUP NATURAL SPA & TIPS BEFORE YOU GO

Crystal clear waters. Wild, thick waves. A make-shift waterfall. A hidden rock pool treasure. The beauty that is, Injidup Natural Spa at Wyadup Rocks, Yallingup.

Injidup Natural Spa Rock Pool Drone Photo

While not technically a waterfall, there is a place where the ocean meets the land. Where wild rocks have moulded into a water-fall like formation. The water from the ocean crashes over the top of these rocks, and gushes down into the crystal clear pools near the beach. A beach water-fall, if you like. This is Injidup Natural Spa.

Getting there

Injidup Natural Spa is a highly sort after spot for West Australian’s delving into the beautiful South-West region. A must-visit if you’re ever close by. And if you know where you are going, it’s not too hard to find (you have to be pretty good at manoeuvring over rocks, though).

Driving down Caves Road, away from Yallingup you need to turn (right) onto Wyadup Road. Now this is where it gets confusing, if you refer to the map below it shows Injidup Beach as being further down, along Cape Clairault Road. Ignore this. Follow Wyadup Road until the very end, which will curve around to the right. Here, you’ll find a relatively small and not-very-well-structured carpark. (I’ve marked it on the map with a red circle). You may have to pull up on the edge of the gravel if it’s a busy day.

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Road Map. Wyadup Road. Google Maps (2016).

Once at the carpark, there is no real or clear path down to what is known as “Injidup Natural Spa”, but a few thin, windy dirt tracks. These begin off to the left and allow you to pick and choose your preferred route. After the initial descent, it is a lot of people’s first instinct to head to the left, towards where you can see visible, white sand. However, if you continue down to the right (which will turn into precarious rocks) you will find the sanctuary. 

Below you can see the ‘falls’, where huge waves from the ocean on the other side collide with the rocks, sending a wash of white water and spray over to this pool. Water trickles (or violently washes, depending on the size of the wave) down the grooves in the rock. And voila, waterfall! Or close enough.

What to bring

I’d suggest bringing along some good-grip sand shoes as opposed to thongs or sandals. However, I find the easiest way is actually with bare feet, using my toes to curl and grip and dance along the rocks, aiding my balance on the rocky terrain. Up to you, though.

It’s also imperative you bring along some sunscreen, a water bottle, towel, and of course, don’t forget your bathers. You’ll want to swim in the crystal clear waters, no matter how cold they are. Trust me.

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As you can see, Injidup Natural Spa has become quite a popular spot, so there’s not a lot of privacy or opportunity for a people-less picture. At least not in the summer months, anyway. I mean, you can try your best and wait very patiently. Either that, or get up at 4am and venture for sunrise for a quiet shot.

Leave no trace

Another sad thing I noticed on a recent trip is the amount of rubbish left behind. Clothes, beer bottles, you name it, lie in the sand and in rock crevices. This sanctury will only last if we look after it. So please – LEAVE NO TRACE. Take your rubbish with you and help preserve this beautiful place so we can all enjoy it for years to come. 

Injidup Rock Pool with no waves, calm and clear water

But wait, there's more!

After doing my own exploring with friends, I found a quiet, peaceful rock pool tucked away in the endless mountains of rock. Now I won’t give away exactly where you need to go to find this one, because there needs to be some element of mystery, but if you (carefully) go exploring among the rock-mountains, I promise you will not be disappointed. Read more about my opinion on secret versus share phenomenon here. 

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Mermaid in a rock pool taken from drone above
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Magical, right? I have no other words.

Quick Facts

Last visitSeptember 2019
Best TimeSeptember – March
Start / FinishWyadup Road Carpark, Injidup Beach
Unsealed RoadsNo
Walking distanceless than 100m from carpark
Time3hr drive from Perth
DifficultyEasy
FacilitiesNone
Lat & Longn/a
NearbyBoranup Forest
WatercourseIndian Ocean
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Kathmandu
An image of a girl in a kimono and hat looking out to azure blue waters of Black Diamond Lake

Black Diamond Lake, Collie – Western Australia

HOW TO FIND BLACK DIAMOND LAKE & TIPS BEFORE YOU GO

Ever since I saw a photograph of the pristine, bright crystal-blue water of Black Diamond Lake, I wanted to go there.

I mean, look at it.

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Friends and I talked about going to Black Diamond Lake, throwing around ideas about road trips and camping trips and the works, but of course, they never actually got put into motion.

While holidaying in Australia’s South West, I decided to change that. I sent my friend Morgan the message – something along the lines of “WE STILL HAVE TO GO TO BLACK DIAMOND LAKE – BEFORE I GO!!!” And Morgz, being the enthusiastic person that she is, said ‘Yep, what about Thursday?’ And that was that.

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Black Diamond Lake is located in Allanson, a community only 5km or so from the town known as Collie, roughly 190km from Perth.

Morgan drove down from Perth, and I drove up from Busselton. My trip was an hour and a half, while hers 2 hours or so. Either way, the lake isn’t too difficult to get to – Ferguson Road, the road the lake resides by, comes directly off Coalfields Highway, so there’s not a lot of fluffing about in small country-town roads.

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Road Map. Black Diamond Lake, Allanson. Google Maps (2017).

I actually visited Black Diamond on the same day I did Barrabup Pool, so I won’t go into the details of the way I went. But if you’re traveling from Perth, take Kwinana Freeway South until it turns into Forrest Highway and eventually continue onto Old Coast Road. Then turn left onto Raymond Road, which you follow until you hit South Western Highway, at which point turn left and then a quick right into Coalfields – and then you’re on your way to Ferguson!

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Road Map. Raymond Road to Coalfields Highway. Google Maps (2017).

Once you’ve turned into Ferguson (a right turn onto an unsealed road), keep following for about 600m and you’ll see the first glimpse of the lake. Continue until you come to the first carpark on the right (it will be very obvious). There is lots of parking space there and easy access into the lake.

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For those that don’t know, Black Diamond was formerly an open cut mine site that ceased operation in the 1950s and has since been filled with water.

Now it is probably at this point that I should mention the danger of the presence of amoeba in the water. There have been a few warnings issued about the water quality at Black Diamond – all the information you need can be found on the council’s report and also an article by WA today. (FYI, I put my head under the water and I’m still here kicking).
However, it is best to have all the info and make your own educated decision before you go.

I would recommend going on a really sunny, cloudless day, because this is when the water will look its best, shining the beautiful azure blue colour.

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On the opposite side of the lake to the carpark, there’s a rope swing tied to a big tree. We couldn’t help ourselves – we had to have a turn. Though I would advise to jump directly straight and land on your feet, as it is very shallow on either side of this bank (and only if you’re willing to put your head under).

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In terms of picnicking, the best idea I’ve seen was those who took tarps to use as shades between two cars (generally utes, but you could make do), or small tents, picnic rugs and tables and chairs. There’s not a lot of shade space at the lake, so get creative with your choice of gear and remember to Slip, Slop, Slap!

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We made a full day-trip out of being at the lake. Eskies, rugs, you name it. It was such a beautiful setting, even just to sit and observe.

We found a limestone rock to set up our stuff on, rather than being down on the bank with everyone else around us. The rock gave us a higher view of the lake, but not so high that we couldn’t easily enter the water. It was the perfect setting.

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It was a scorching 37 degrees (probably more in direct sunlight) on the day that we went, so we escaped into the cool water, lounging around on blow-up mattresses, watermelons, pineapples and various birds for most of the time.

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Would you believe me if  I said that photos don’t even do this place justice?

It is another one of this world’s wonders that is worth seeing – especially when we don’t know how long we will be able to continue to visit, swim and enjoy the lake for.

I’m glad we made the trip.

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Quick Facts

Last visitDecember 2018
Best TimeSeptember – March
Start / FinishFerguson Road
Unsealed RoadsYes, good condition can be managed in 2WD.
Walking distanceless than 100m from carpark
Time3hr drive from Perth
DifficultyEasy
FacilitiesNone
Lat & Longn/a
NearbyBarrabup Pool, Collie town
Watercoursen/a
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Kathmandu

BARRABUP POOL, NANNUP – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

My obsession with waterholes and pools had me try and cram as much as I could into my recent trip in WA’s South West.

I was staying in Siesta Park Holiday Resort – half way between Busselton and Dunsborough – when I came across an article on SoPerth“Perth’s Top Unique Swimming Spots: Beaches, Swimming Holes, Lakes and Rivers.” (which is ultimately misleading because most of them are not actually in Perth at all). But anyway. I did find a few places I’d never heard of, Barrabup Pool being one of them.

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Located in Nannup, a small country town located inland, though still in the shire of the South West region (and according to Google, about 280km from Perth), Barrabup pool was a mere hour away from where I was staying.

So I thought, what the hell.

I visited the pool with my sister and her boyfriend, and we set out along Caves Road heading towards Busselton, avoiding the town centre by turning right into Bussell Highway instead of going straight ahead, and then left onto the Busselton Bypass. We followed that until Vasse Highway came up on the right.

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Road Map. Bussell Highway to Vasse Highway. Google Maps (2017).

From Vasse Highway we turned right onto Sues Road and then left into Mowen Road when it came up (which used to be gravel, but has now been transformed into smooth bitumen).

Brook Road is the road you’re after to find the pool – which comes off to the left of Mowen Road (or right if you continued to follow Vasse Highway instead). Brook Road is a gravel road, though we managed perfectly fine in a Honda Accord.

If you’re coming from Perth (straight down the Kwinana Freeway which then turns into Forest Highway), it’s virtually the same route – though you’ll turn left into Vasse Highway from Busselton Bypass instead of right. Simple!

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Road Map. Barrabup Pool. Google Maps (2017).

You’ll also notice some signs on your way down Brook Road that point out “Workmans Pool” off to the left. This is because the area was used for saw-milling in the nineteenth century as part of The Old Timberline Trail.

For some reason, the workers weren’t allowed to swim in the Barrabup Pool and so Workman’s Pool was given its name.  Make sure to read all the signs and info when you’re there to gain some knowledge of the history!

Barrabup pool itself is naturally formed, with surrounding trees and shrub making it a very secluded and peaceful spot. We only basked in the pool for a short time, though if you did want to stay longer there is a camping spot nearby with minimalistic facilities (tables, fire pits and drop toilets). If you want more info on camping, visit Park Stay.

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The wooden platform (pictured in the cover photo) has steps on either side allowing you to enter the pool, which at the time that we visited (January), was a bit chilly but not too cold. In fact, it was probably the perfect temperature in hindsight, even at 10am in the morning.

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There are also a few other entry points around the pool, though they are slimy so be careful.

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Once submerged, you can glide through the pool with ease and a very strong sense of being within nature – there is nothing but the sound of the trees, birds, cicadas and the buzz of dragonflies whizzing past (or, you know, landing on your hand while you’re sitting on a log).

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The water may look a tad dirty, but it is actually quite fresh and pristine. We giggled because our arms and legs looked bright orange when under the water – much like Georgia’s botched fake tan in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (which is still a classic film and I must remind myself to watch it again soon).

And here’s me laying in the fresh water!

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I would highly recommend making the trip to this pool, though if you’re travelling from Perth perhaps try to fit in a few others along the way to make the trip worthwhile.