SYDNEY AQUA

Bondi Beach
The most famous beach in Australia and also one of the most spectacular looking. No matter the weather, Bondi Beach never fails to impress. If you want to avoid most of the tourists stick to the north and south ends.

Bilgola Beach
Hidden away in a luscious jungle-like setting, Bilgola’s natural surroundings makes it the most magical spot on the Northern Beaches. The north end is ideal for swimming and surfing, and if you want total privacy, stay at this end under the dramatic sandstone rock-face.

Wylies Baths, Coogee
Built into the rocks just south of Coogee Beach, this ocean pool lies directly below the Maroubra to Bondi coastal walk. A beautiful spot for a casual swim and they also have onsite massages and yoga classes. www.wylies.com.au

Dee Why Rock Baths
Located at Dee Why beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, these rock baths consist of a large wading pool and a 50 meter lap pool, so its great for everyone from little to large.

Shelly Beach
You can reach this secluded cove by walking south along Manly’s promenade. Take a picnic and stay for the whole afternoon, then have dinner at the Manly Pavilion before catching the ferry back to Circular Quay if you’re coming from the city. A perfect day out in Sydney.

Redleaf Pool, Seven Shillings Beach
This fenced off area of Seven Shillings beach in Double Bay is known as Redleaf; a harbour pool with a small strip of clean white sand and vast views of Sydney Harbour.  There is a boardwalk around the edge of the pool, great for lounging on, except on weekends when you might get trampled by the kiddies.

Bondi Icebergs Pool, Bondi Beach
An amazing pool in an amazing location. Have a swim and then a sauna, or dry off by sitting on the famous white steps overlooking one of the best views in Sydney. Check out the website www.icebergs.com.au for more information including daily pool temperatures.

Andrew “Boy” Charlton Pool
Located at The Domain, this heated salt-water pool is popular among city workers – at seven o’clock on a Monday morning you’ll be lucky to find a spot in any lane. The Poolside Café upstairs is good for breakfast and lunch, with fantastic views over Sydney Harbour. www.abcpool.org

Little Congwong Beach
This one is tricky to find unless you know about it. Congwong bay can only be reached by walking through Botany Bay national park. Little Congwong is a secluded unofficial nudist beach, but judging by the recent police raids, we wouldn’t advise taking your clothes off.

Parsley Bay
A very well kept secret in Sydney. This peaceful enclosed swimming area is tucked away in Vaucluse. Go on your own in the middle of the week, and you’ll have all the thinking and swimming space you need.

Milk Beach
The most beautiful of the harbour beaches with spectacular full-frontal views of the city. You can reach it by walking down to Strickland House in Vaucluse – another of Sydney’s hidden gems.

Camp Cove
Another Sydney harbour beach, popular for snorkelling and diving. It can get very crowded on the weekends but is the perfect mid-week spot.

Bronte Beach Pool Nothing better could lie at the end of the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk than this pool. The perfect way to cool off before turning around to walk back.

Gordons Bay
Situated between Clovelly and Coogee, this bay is a ‘sit-on-the-rocks’ kind of place. A great hang-out/picnic spot, and yes, the water really is this clear.