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Go face-to-fin with a world of sea life with this guide to Mettams Pool!
Southern and humpback whales, endangered sea lions, channels of limestone reefs—yup, Western Australia’s OG marine park, Marmion Marine Park, just might be the poster child of salty escapes.
If you ask us what our fave bit is, though, we’ll say Mettams Pool quickly, no question. Why? Well, for something so calm and kid-friendly, it offers a sea’s worth of marine life even to those without a thousand-dollar scuba set.
And, mate, that’s just the start. Carving waves, indulging, and reeling in a catch are also part of the Mettams Pool experience too, and this rundown will let you know all about them.
Things to Know
Map
Drive from the Perth CBD: 28 min (16.4 km)
How to Get There
By Train and Bus: Take the Yanchep Line toward Stirling Station to reach Mettams Pool via train/bus.
At the station, wait for and board bus line 423, which will get you to Kitchener St before Lynn St. From there, it’s a 9-minute walk to Mettams Pool.
By Car: There’s a dedicated car park north of Saunders St. It’s a 7-minute stroll away from Mettams Pool.
By Taxi: You can refer to our breakdown below to calculate taxi fees. The details are updated as of February 2025.
| Tariff 1 – 6 am to 5:59 pm | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $5.10 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Tariff 2 – 6 pm to 5:59 am (including all day Saturday and Sunday) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
| Ultra Peak (12 am to 02:59 am on Friday and Saturday only) | |||
| Flagfall | Distance Rate | Booking Fee | Waiting Time |
| $7.30 + $4.30 | 2.04/km | $1.80 | $58/hr |
Things to Do
Swim and snorkel
From misslowe13
Odds are, if we’re at Mettams Pool, we’re either floating about or snorkelling—including the sprogs. After all, the rock pool’s depth rarely goes beyond 2 metres, especially if you stick to the sheltered zones.
Spring to autumn is when we usually dip and dive in, as the period doesn’t bring feral winds and murky waters. No matter the season, though, you’ll likely swim with herring, bream, or morwong, with some cushion stars and abalone chilling on the reef.
The sea life and attractions become more abundant if you head toward the open area, with flora-packed depths of about 5–7 metres. There are numerous swim-throughs to explore, and critters like the sought-after western blue devil fish pop up fairly often.
Surf
From sinzer737
Technically, you can’t surf in Mettams Pool, but the beach strips next to it, particularly between Lynn Street and the car park, are surf-worthy. If you’re gunning for a wild rush, though, better rock by another spot; this one is for cruisy sessions.
On the upside, it’s not a snoozefest; the waves crash in both left and right directions, so you can test out various surfing styles. Just make sure to study the break, as the bottom, while sandy, has rocks.
In terms of rides, they’re short and sweet, courtesy of the waves regularly not running for over 50 metres. They also typically break over a medium tide, meaning rookies can hone their sea legs here.
Have a beachside picnic
From drifter_d4n
Mettams Pool may not have loads of picnic tables and sheltered areas, but it certainly doesn’t lack in space to set up a rug or down a sandwich.
You’re also not fighting for elbow room here. Most beach bums prefer to energise at the nearby Trigg Beach, so you’ll only compete with a few snorkelers or surfers.
The view, of course, is undoubtedly made for picnics, usually the case for anything facing the Indian Ocean. Come autumn or winter, the vistas liven up, and you have surfers to thank for that—windsurfers, kite surfers, and good old ride-the-wave surfers.
Complete the Marmion Marine Path
From komoceanphoto
Length: 36.4 km
Estimated Time: 7 hrs and 30 mins
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 320 m
Type: Out and back
Don’t worry; even a brief wander on the Marmion Marine Path gets you to the good stuff, like Mettams Pool.
If you have steel for legs, however, more swimming and snorkeling sites could be covered, including Boyinaboat Reef and Hillarys Boat Harbour. The weather is hardly a deal-breaker too since the trail is open year-round.
Where to start or end is also your call; in our case, we just park at Trigg Beach before trekking north to Mettams Pool. That’s a breezy 22 mins or a 1.6-km amble with coastal views and seabirds galore.
Catch fish
From _jamie_cameron_
Mettams Pool is a Sanctuary Zone, so angling in it is prohibited. That said, you can always cast a line in the surrounding reef where the restrictions don’t apply. Use the Marine Parks WA app to learn the full deets.
What you’ll catch isn’t always a done deal, though you’ll likely snag crabs, rock lobsters, tailor, skippy, and herring (we have). Based on our trips, the bites come thickest after dark or early in the morning.
Where to Eat
Tom’s Italian
Address: 1 N Beach Rd, North Beach
Contact Details: +61 8 9203 7788
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 11 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
For us, Tom’s Italian will always represent group meals by the sea. Their handcrafted plates are meant for sharing, and we won’t break the tradition.
We love the lamb potato gnocchi. The gaminess and pillowy character click with the sauce’s earthy whispers, and the generous portions are chef’s kiss.
96 On The Beach – North Beach
From 96onthebeach
Address: North Beach Shopping Centre, 1 N Beach Rd, North Beach
Contact Details: +61 437 387 983
Operating Hours: Daily – 6 am to 8 pm
Pricing: $
Website
96 On The Beach is the definition of comfort—both in food and scenery. The low-key grub zeroes in on staple flavours, while the sights stay true to North Beach’s coastal soul.
Last time, we cleaned up their fish and chips. The Spanish mackerel was pronouncedly umami without being too fishy, and the exterior crackled while still being moist inside.
Bennies by the Beach
From bennies_bythebeach
Address: 329/341 W Coast Dr, Trigg
Operating Hours:
- Thu to Fri – 6 am to 12 pm
- Sat to Sun – 6 am to 1 pm
Pricing: $
A cuppa and an acai bowl at the dog-friendly Bennies by the Beach is a top way to end your Mettams Pool escape.
For one, the bowls won’t cost a fortune, starting at $16.5. That includes the usual healthy trimmings of frozen acai berries, granola, and nuts—though you can break a few rules by adding Nutella to the mix.
If you need some go-fuel, the avo toast made hotter with chilli jam is more spot-on. A glass of freshly squeezed juice will lighten the grub’s umami and firepower, so don’t hold back.
Little Bay Bar & Eatery
From thelittlebay_
Address: 33 W Coast Dr, Watermans Bay
Contact Details: +61 408 927 974
Operating Hours: Daily – 6 am to 3 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Fresh food, fresh atmosphere—that’s Little Bay Bar & Eatery for you.
We don’t pass up their Turkish poached eggs. The contrast between the garlic yoghurt and runny yolk makes all the difference, further jazzed up by the Aleppo pepper’s hints of heat.
Now, for the drinks: if the swim or surf leaves us knackered, we’ll sip on mimosas and pina coladas.
Spinifex North Beach
From spinifexnorthbeach
Address: 251 W Coast Dr, North Beach
Contact Details: +61 8 6385 6808
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 8 am to 2 pm
- Tue to Thu – 6 am to 3 pm
- Fri to Sun – 6 am to 8 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Spinifiex plated us brunch with a side of pristine seascape.
We gobbled the joint’s signature chicken burger. The mild chicken worked well with the smoked bacon, the supercharged aioli brought a welcomed creaminess, and the pineapple added a pop of natural sweetness!
