Greens Pool

Greens Pool sits inside the William Bay National Park, about 15 kilometres west of the town of Denmark on the south coast of Western Australia. The beach is a crescent of fine white sand sheltered behind a natural breakwater of enormous granite boulders that have been smoothed into rounded shapes by millennia of wave action. The boulders block the heavy Southern Ocean swell that pounds the outer coastline, and the result is a calm, shallow bay with water clarity that rivals anything in the tropics.

The colour of the water changes through the day depending on the light and the sky. On a clear morning it ranges from pale turquoise near the sand to a deep teal further out. The granite boulders themselves are a pale grey flecked with orange lichen, and the contrast between the rock, the white sand and the water is what makes Greens Pool one of the most photographed beaches in Western Australia.

Swimming is safe for families in all but the roughest conditions. The sheltered lagoon has a sand bottom and a gentle slope, and on a calm day the water barely moves. The boulders also create a series of small channels and rock pools that children love to explore at low tide. There is no surf inside the pool, which makes it a welcome alternative to the exposed beaches further east.

The national park entrance is a short sealed road from the South Coast Highway. A small car park sits above the beach and a staircase leads down to the sand. Elephant Rocks, another photogenic granite formation, is a five minute walk further along the coastal track and is worth the short detour. Both sites are free to visit with a standard WA national parks vehicle pass.

Greens Pool is a year-round destination but the water is warmest from December to March. Winter visits are often dramatic, with stormy light and crashing waves on the outer boulders while the inner pool remains calm. The beach is busiest on summer weekends and quieter midweek.