Mummuga Lake Inlet at Dalmeny Beach

Dalmeny, New South Wales

This spot was recommended to me based on a snippet that a relative saw in a local paper, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of swimming experiences on offer. The swimming hole itself is just under two metres deep on a bend in the river (known as Lawlers Creek) that connects the ocean to the lake. Above: The steps down to the swimming hole at Dalmeny Beach/Mummuga Lake inlet (Order this image)

Depending on the tides, after launching yourself off the steps that lead down into the water, you float upstream to the lake, downstream to the river mouth, or swim straight across to a large sandbar. You can even mix your swim with a surf at nearby Dalmeny Beach, which is only 300 metres away, adjacent to the river mouth.

The currents at the swimming hole can be swift, and there is a noticeable change in temperature, with the outgoing tide several degrees warmer, after being heated up in the lake, than the tide coming in from the ocean. You can swim on either tide, but there will be more opportunities for shallow water play on the sandbars and the water is warmer just before low tide. On the flip side, the water is deeper for swimming at high tide. Above: A sandbar in the Dalmeny Beach/Mummuga Lake estuary (Order this image)

If the tides are running fast, stay out of the deeper water if you are not an experienced swimmer, and consider swimming in one direction only, by starting or finishing your swim on the sandbar on the other side of the bridge. If you want to do some training, the current is strong enough at times to swim against it in the pool without going anywhere.

The clarity of the water was very good for snorkelling, with many fingerlings in the warmer shallows, as well as a school of larger fish (they looked a bit like Tailor-fish to me) lining up under the bridge and in the deep hole on the bend of the river. There is a short run and jump from the elevated river bank into the water on this bend, but check conditions in the water first, as there were some submerged logs along this stretch of river as well. This swim has a high fun factor, particularly if you remember your snorkelling gear and inflatables as well.

Here is a video that I took over several visits, including when the mouth was both open and closed, and at both relatively high and low tides.

Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, the life guard service on-site indicated that there can be sharp rocks and stingrays under foot. I saw a medium-sized stingray heading gently upstream past the steps while I and several others were in the water on one of my visits here, but it flapped its way against the tide without bothering anyone. The sharp rocks are clearly visible in the water most of the time. If you are worried about either, a pair of sandals or swimming shoes might help. The marker indicates the approximate location of the entry steps to the water. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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