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Casuarina Sands is an 800 metre long section of the Murrumbidgee River with a deep pool formed by a weir. There are several sandy beaches for
wading at the western end of the weir pool, near the picnic area, or deeper water for swimming in the weir pool itself…
Popular with both swimmers and canoers, Kambah Pool has a long, uninterrupted sandy beach. Immediately downstream of the pool in a rockier
and more heavily vegetated area of the river is a government sanctioned nude bathing area for skinny dipping…
Pine Island Beach is a sandy inlet formed by a small island in the Murrumbidgee River that creates
a calmer and slightly warmer bay of water for shallow water play, or venture out into the stronger main current for a
deeper water swim…
When Pine Island Beach is too crowded, head further upstream to Pine Island South, where you will find
deeper water, swifter currents and some gnarly rapids, but still plenty of sand at the water's edge and a
wide grassy floodplain for ball games…
Point Hut Recreation Area spans two sides of the Murrumbidgee River. The best swimming is at the dog-friendly
beach on the western side, where you'll find a shallow rock pool close
to the shore and deeper water for swimming further out…
This was a historical crossing point for wading across the Murrumbidgee River, well before the bridge existed. The
river spreads out wide at Tharwa Bridge, creating a sheet of shallow water to
plonk yourself down in on either side of the concrete pylons…
Tharwa Sandwash is a towering mound of sand banked up behind a rock in the middle of the Murrumbidgee River.
Swim at the partly sheltered, sandy beach or use it as a launch pad to float or swim back to the steps at the car park
150 metres downstream…
The Murrumbidgee River at Uriarra Crossing has several riverside picnic areas with direct access to the shallow
water, which has a mix of sandy beaches and rocky outcrops for swimming. This swim is dog-friendly, so be your dog's best friend and take it
for a swim here…
Coming straight out of Cotter Dam, the Cotter River here is clean and clear, but also shallow
and playful in the summertime. Fly over the little concrete weir or wade upstream to the more
tranquil, shallow pool behind a balancing stone wall…
Cotter Bend is a little hideaway at the junction of the Cotter River and Paddys River that offers
shade over the river, a mix of shallow and deeper water for swimming, and oodles of open parkland
on the floodplain nearby. It is a nice spot with shade on a hot day…
At Cotter Campground you can roll out of your tent, roll down the hill, roll across the grassy
floodplain and then roll into the water - what a great camping spot so close to Canberra.
A little weir backs up the water for swimming or shallow water play…
The view from this little pool at the edge of a cliff at the top of Gibraltar Falls is spectacular, but what's
it really like for swimming? Find out here when I road test a dip in the chilly, clear water of Gibraltar Creek and
peer out over the edge…
Murrays Corner is a ford across the Paddys River, with a flat, sandy river bed upstream and
downstream for splashing around in. It's not really deep enough for a swim, but the
clear water and golden sand are inviting for water play or to cool off your feet…
Swim out to the two pontoons tethered offshore in this bay at Weston Park for a different
view of the nation's capital. This swimming area in Lake Burley Griffin also includes a fenced swimming
enclosure for toddlers and a sandy beach…
For the best views of Black Mountain from the peninsula, head out into the water towards the little island in this
protected bay in Lake Burley Griffin, which has a coarse sandy beach, a boundary rope, and a fenced off area for
younger swimmers…
This little beach on the western shore was acting as a litter trap when I visited, but once past the plastic bottles on the shore, the water
is fairly clear and calm, with no other swimmers to bother you. The designated swimming beach is a dog-free area…
Too cold to swim outside? Looking for the warmest indoor pool near you? Here is a list of the water temperature
in the warmest pool and the warmest lap pool in every public swimming pool in Canberra. Especially handy in winter…
Here are some swimming holes in southern New South Wales outside of the ACT, many of which you could reach in a day trip
from Canberra.
My companion website Waterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide lists
all of the waterfalls that I have visited during my search for swimming holes. You can swim at some of them, but most are
just for viewing and admiring. Great for a day trip when it's too chilly to get into the water.
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