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Swimming Hole Heaven in SydneyYour guide to the best swimming holes
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Here is my guide to swimming holes around greater Sydney, including videos of me getting into the water to test out the conditions.
The guide currently focusses on swims on the southern side of town, including
the Heathcote and Royal National Parks, and a few ocean pools.
Above: Discover swimming holes such as Mirang Pool on swimmingholeheaven.com
(Order this image)
The best swimming spot at Lake Eckersley and one of my favourites in the Heathcote National Park. Forge along the overgrown track to the campground, which features
sand entry, clear water, a diving rock and an echo wall, all right outside your tent…
This spot that I've dubbed the foreshore, to distinguish it from the campground, provides panoramic views of
Lake Eckersley, but there are several hazards that make it less appealing unless you are committed to a longer
swim in deep water…
The most picturesque swimming hole in the Heathcote National Park, water lilies float on the surface
near the opposite bank, with sandstone steps creating a low wall on three sides of this large pool, which
is reasonably well protected from the wind too…
At the junction of the Pipeline Trail and Bullawarring Track, a constructed ford has created one of the few
sandy beaches along Heathcote Creek, as the sand backs up behind the bridge. It's much shallower than other pools,
but easier to get into the water…
A long, deep, curved pool with rock shelves just above and below the water level on which you can relax or use as
a launch pad into the water. There is also a small campground beside the water's edge, with plenty of bush all around…
The upper pool at Eddies/Eddles Pool has a low rock wall on one side that drops off into deep water. This spot is only
recommended during extended dry spells due to poor access and fuzzy pool delineation under average flow conditions…
A short scramble upstream of Goburra Pool, but with a completely different personality to its downstream neighbour. It can
be somewhat gloomy, creating a more pensive atmosphere for your swim, but on a busy day at Goburra Pool it's a nice
place to escape…
A large, deep, clear pool on Kangaroo Creek, with sandstone rock shelves on three sides and plenty of open
space on the main rock shelf in between swims that can gather quite an audience on summer weekends.
It is accessible via a walk from Heathcote Train Station…
You are not allowed to jump off the top of the falls anymore, but you can set yourself up on the sand peninsula
in the middle of the lagoon and swim from the base of the falls to the sea. Look out for the water dragons at the
top of the falls before heading down to the water…
The Jellybean Pool on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains, not far from Penrith, has a large sand bank that forms
a jellybean shaped pool in Glenbrook Creek. The pool is nestled in a sandstone gorge in bush surrounds…
This is the most famous ocean pool in Australia, located next to Sydney's most famous surf beach. A
pilgramage for some swimmers, and a social club for dedicated long-term members. The views are fantastic,
but is it really Sydney's best ocean pool? …
This ocean rock pool is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and sandstone cliffs that hover over
the pool on the other. Less well known than the more popular ocean pool immediately to the north (Bondi), this
pool is more picturesque and less crowded…
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 Sydney. Perfect for both the
squibs and for the dedicated winter swimmer…
Each swimming spot includes a link to swimming safety information. Please make sure you read that information before you head out, particularly if you are an inexperienced swimmer.
I'm always interested in hearing about and visiting new swimming holes, so feel free to share them with me and suggest a swim.
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.
Above: Discover swimming holes such as Mirang Pool on swimmingholeheaven.com
(Order this image)
Select Your Swim:
Click on the heading of each location to find your next swimming day trip or holiday destination or
alternatively search by map.
Swim safe, have fun and remember that no matter how cold the water is, it's alright once you're in!
Heathcote National Park:
All of these swims are in the northern end of the park, accessible from the town of Heathcote.
Lake Eckersley Campground
The best swimming spot at Lake Eckersley and one of my favourites in the Heathcote National Park. Forge along the overgrown track to the campground, which features
sand entry, clear water, a diving rock and an echo wall, all right outside your tent…
Lake Eckersley Foreshore
This spot that I've dubbed the foreshore, to distinguish it from the campground, provides panoramic views of
Lake Eckersley, but there are several hazards that make it less appealing unless you are committed to a longer
swim in deep water…
Goburra Pool
The most picturesque swimming hole in the Heathcote National Park, water lilies float on the surface
near the opposite bank, with sandstone steps creating a low wall on three sides of this large pool, which
is reasonably well protected from the wind too…
Heathcote Creek Crossing
At the junction of the Pipeline Trail and Bullawarring Track, a constructed ford has created one of the few
sandy beaches along Heathcote Creek, as the sand backs up behind the bridge. It's much shallower than other pools,
but easier to get into the water…
Mirang Pool
A long, deep, curved pool with rock shelves just above and below the water level on which you can relax or use as
a launch pad into the water. There is also a small campground beside the water's edge, with plenty of bush all around…
Eddies Pool
The upper pool at Eddies/Eddles Pool has a low rock wall on one side that drops off into deep water. This spot is only
recommended during extended dry spells due to poor access and fuzzy pool delineation under average flow conditions…
Yabba Pool
A short scramble upstream of Goburra Pool, but with a completely different personality to its downstream neighbour. It can
be somewhat gloomy, creating a more pensive atmosphere for your swim, but on a busy day at Goburra Pool it's a nice
place to escape…
Royal National Park:
Karloo Pools
A large, deep, clear pool on Kangaroo Creek, with sandstone rock shelves on three sides and plenty of open
space on the main rock shelf in between swims that can gather quite an audience on summer weekends.
It is accessible via a walk from Heathcote Train Station…
Wattamolla Falls
You are not allowed to jump off the top of the falls anymore, but you can set yourself up on the sand peninsula
in the middle of the lagoon and swim from the base of the falls to the sea. Look out for the water dragons at the
top of the falls before heading down to the water…
Blue Mountains:
Jellybean Pool near Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains
The Jellybean Pool on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains, not far from Penrith, has a large sand bank that forms
a jellybean shaped pool in Glenbrook Creek. The pool is nestled in a sandstone gorge in bush surrounds…
Ocean, Harbour and Bay Pools:
Bondi Baths Ocean Pool
This is the most famous ocean pool in Australia, located next to Sydney's most famous surf beach. A
pilgramage for some swimmers, and a social club for dedicated long-term members. The views are fantastic,
but is it really Sydney's best ocean pool? …
Bronte Baths Ocean Pool
This ocean rock pool is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and sandstone cliffs that hover over
the pool on the other. Less well known than the more popular ocean pool immediately to the north (Bondi), this
pool is more picturesque and less crowded…
Sydney's Warmest Pools
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 Sydney. Perfect for both the
squibs and for the dedicated winter swimmer…
Each swimming spot includes a link to swimming safety information. Please make sure you read that information before you head out, particularly if you are an inexperienced swimmer.
I'm always interested in hearing about and visiting new swimming holes, so feel free to share them with me and suggest a swim.
Too cold for a swim? Visit a waterfall
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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