Australia boasts an abundance of scenic ocean pools that attract swimmers in search of that Insta-worthy shot. While nine out of ten Australians reside within 20 minutes of a public pool, access isn’t always equal: “Many communities do not have access to aquatic centres at all,” notes Nicole Peden, executive officer for Royal Life Saving Society Australia.
Coastal pools provide an alternative to the beach for people who may feel intimidated by open water swimming or require more structure than is typically found at an unstructured beach day. They’re also an excellent option for children and people with limited mobility looking for year-round swims without facing hot temperatures or cold sea temperatures – Sydney boasts many of these pools; some are more popular than others.
Jingga and Minerva Pools are among the most picturesque of Australia’s aquatic attractions, boasting two deep rock pools located among cliffs amidst beautiful bushland. Though slightly hidden, once discovered on weekends they offer an ideal opportunity for an enjoyable swim session in warm waters that provide relief even as temperatures start to decline.
Cook Phillip Park Pool opened its doors for business in 2016. This contemporary pool offers an oasis of summer between Surry Hills and Redfern, complete with buttercup yellow umbrellas lining its edges and grassy spots to sit upon. Boasting 10 lanes of space suited to lap swimming (but not quite warm enough for diving!), Cook Phillip Park pool’s 10-lane layout is suitable for lap swimming activities while providing decent temperatures suitable for diving into.
While Bondi and Bronte may be better-known, Sydney boasts several fantastic ocean pools throughout. At Coogee’s Henry Alexander Wylie’s Baths was designed by an accomplished long-distance swimmer and built into the cliffs in 1907. Since then it has become a favorite tidal spot among swimmers looking for relief from heat as well as being home to tadpoles, dartfish and whiting swimming freely around in its waters.
Contrasting its more somber exterior, the interior of the pool is warm and welcoming with white tiles and clean lines, inviting white benches for seating, and water temperature at 26C – not quite swimmable for me but still suitable for children racing through its lanes.