The Blue Pool in Briagolong is only a few hours from Melbourne in Central Gippsland and it’s perfect for a cheeky day trip or a full weekend adventure.
We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Kurnai Nation, the traditional land of the Brayakaulung people who have occupied and cared for this land for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
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Quick Overview
Blue Pool is a swimming spot featuring a water hole and a gorge located in Briagolong in Victoria. The drive from Melbourne to Blue Pool takes about 3 hours to complete.
Briagalong Blue Pool Highlights
- Swimmin’, jumpin’ and swingin’ into the waterhole
- A balmy water temp all year round
- Walks galore for when you’re all watered out
- A free campground to keep the good times goin’
With rope swings, cliff jumping, wild swimming, day walks, and creeks to explore, there’s no chance you’ll find yourself twiddling your thumbs. Now take a knee children, and let us tell you all about the Briagalong Blue Pool…
Cowabunga dude!
Magic
About Briagolong Blue Pool
The Blue Pool is a waterhole and gorge near Briagolong, just half an hour north of Sale. It’s a swimming spot well-known by locals, but has somehow managed to stay off the radar until recently.
The pool stays nice and balmy all year round thanks to the way the sunlight hits the water, or something sciency like that… in fact, if we’re being honest with you, we have no idea why. All we know is that if you fancy a dip in Central Gippsland, Blue Pool is the spot.
The pool is just a few minutes’ walk from a car park and the Blue Pool Campground, but make sure you’ve got some sandals with you ’cause the path is hella rocky. And there ain’t a lot of shade down by the water, so make sure to slip, slop, slap.
How to Get to Briagalong Blue Pool
The Blue Pool is only a two-minute walk from the Blue Pool Campground.
From Melbourne, the Blue Pool Campground is about a three-hour drive. Head down the A1 past Sale until you get to Stratford, and then go north along the C494 (which continues straight to become Freestone Creek Rd) for about 20 minutes. The campsite will be on your left.
If you’re only visiting for the day, you can make use of the day visitor car park.
Where to Stay at Briagalong Blue Pool
Blue Pool isn’t too far from Melbourne for a day trip, but if you want to really make the most of your weekend and soak up East Gippsland, you’re in luck because the campsite is less than 500m from the pools. It’s pretty basic, with no running water and no creeks nearby that are safe to fill up from, so you’ll need to bring all your supplies yourself.
There are drop toilets at Blue Pool Campground, but the toilet paper is inconsistently refilled so be sure to bring your own. The campsite’s dusty and uneven, but luckily there are fire pits to make up for it.
There are some 4WD tracks nearby that you can collect some wood from if you need, however, it’s best to bring your own. Just don’t forget the marshmallows!
Read more: Remember to leave no trace
Blue Pool is a pretty incredible place and feels like it’d fit in more with the waterholes and gorges of Kakadu than good ol’ Central Gippsland in Victoria.
And you want to know the most exciting part of all about it for us? We’ve managed to go 22 years without ever knowing about the Blue Pool, so how many other epic spots must there be just waiting to be jumped off, walked through, and explored!
Blue Pool Campground Quick Facts
Number of sites: 30
Toilets: Yes – not flushing
Cost: Free!
Bookings required: No!
Dogs allowed: Yes!
Skill Level
Beginner
Distance / Duration
250km by car to the campsite (500m to Blue Pool) / 3 hours 15 mins driving
Essential Gear For Briagalong Blue Pool
- A flotilla of donuts, lilos, and other inflatables
- Sandals or water shoes for walking to the pools and mucking around the rocks
- Camera gear for that Kodak moment
- Beach chair (poolside lounging y’all)
- Swimmers
- Towel
- Firewood
- WATER (there’s no water at the campground so you need to bring everything for the weekend/day)
- Toilet paper
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Warm clothes (for night time)
What It’s Like at Briagalong Blue Pool
Swimming in The Blue Pool
The pool consists of a large waterhole that starts off shallow but quickly gets deep. Off to the left there’s an epic rope swing that’s just beggin’ for some gnarly flips. The gorge is at the far end of the waterhole, and cliff jumping spots range from a few metres to a sweet six metre plunge.
The water’s nice and deep, but there are a few spots with rocks just under the surface so be sure to check it out before you take that leap.
Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes
Hiking Around Briagalong Blue Pool
If you’re all cliff-jumped and rope-swinged out, there are plenty of walks nearby and some exploring to be done. The Bluff is a nice and steep five-minute climb with some groovy views over the Blue Pool.
If you fancy a bit more of a stroll, there’s the Peregrine Lookout Trail, which takes about an hour return. Between September and December you may even be lucky enough to see some of the Peregrine falcons which nest there flying overhead.
If you want to escape the crowds at Blue Pool a bit more, head on down to the Froam Picnic Area. About 600m from the pools, it has a BBQ and you can even camp there if that’s what you’re vibin’.
If you ask us however, the best option is to swim to the end of the Blue Pool gorge, and then walk, rock-hop, and explore your way up the creek.
FAQs Briagalong Blue Pool
Can you camp at Briagalong Blue Pool?
You sure can! The free Blue Pool campground is a popular summer spot for enjoying the narrow basalt gorge that surrounds the Blue Pool. The campground has drop toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. It’s only suitable for tents.
Is Briagalong Blue Pool open all year?
Yep! You can visit Briagalong Blue Pool every month if you’d like. In hotter months you should check the Vic Emergency website or app to confirm that the area is safe to visit.
Can I take my dog to Briagalong Blue Pool?
The Blue Pool is located in Briagalong State Forest and this means that dogs are allowed. Yay! They can chill with you by the campfire at night and take a dip in the Blue Pool in the morning – doggo heaven!
Does Briagalong Blue Pool get busy?
While this spot used to be a secret of Gippsland locals…the secret is well and truly out now! Blue Pool gets very busy in summer and for peak enjoyment (if crowds are not your jam) you might want to try a mid-week visit during school terms, or a shoulder season like spring or autumn. If you aim to visit Blue Pool in summer, be sure to check for bushfire warnings affecting the area before you head out.
How long should I spend at Briagalong Blue Pool?
Most people enjoy coming here for an afternoon to cool off in summer, but staying overnight allows to enjoy this place when everyone else has gone home. Plus, nothing beats a swim first thing in the morning!
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