All posts by Simon Duffin

Born in Yorkshire, now living on the beautiful south coast of NSW. Have lived and worked in eight different countries over the years and swum in nearly all of them. Now in Australia, I want this website to reflect a new life, where swimming takes centre stage and there's a pool in nearly every small community.

Victoria Park Pool – Sydney, NSW 2050

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A pool in the park, with the beautiful old buildings of the University of Sydney just up the hill My experience in the pool It’s a beautiful pool, with palm trees on the park looking down on you as you swim. This is a very organised pool, too, with three wide, but speed-labelled lanes, and to help guide you into the right lane for your ability, they have a board with average lap times for ‘fast’, ‘medium’ or ‘slow’. I was nursing my tight shoulder so opted for slow, Read more [...]

North Sydney Olympic Pool – NSW 2000

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Surely the best views in the world for a swim: Sydney Harbour Bridge & Luna Park entrance My experience in the pool My first visit here was after work time on a hot, summer’s day in January. The pool was heaving with bodies ploughing up and down the lanes, though they always a keep one wider lane free for fun swims, so the kids tend to go in there. Don’t forget, this is a salt water pool (I overheard one child complain to his Mum: “It’s too salty”), though it has all the Read more [...]

Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool – Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

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Named after Australia’s 1924 Paris Olympics gold medal winner, who famously beat a world record-holding Swede as a teenage in pools at this site My experience in the pool I visited here with swimming buddy and fellow writer Therese on the pool’s penultimate day of opening before they closed for the 2015 winter. What makes this pool so special is its setting and its history. You’re right on Woolloomooloo Bay, with naval dockyards opposite and the old Navy shipping sheds in sight Read more [...]

The Entrance Ocean Baths – NSW 2261

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The 'Pelican Capital of Australia', where Natalie Imbruglia went to school! My experience in the rock pool At least there was already one guy swimming in this pool when I got there on a cool July afternoon, so I knew it was possible. But he was wearing a wet suit and all I had were my brief bathers, having left at home my wet suit and my goggles. But the warm(ish) afternoon sun made the pool look irresistible, and I couldn’t help thinking: if he can do it, so can I. And there’s always Read more [...]

Huskisson Sea Pool – NSW 2540

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Named after the British MP who was the first ever victim of a fatal rail crash (knocked down by Stephenson’s Rocket), though probably named here for his role as Colonial Secretary in the 1820s. My experience in the rock pool It’s a slightly strange experience to swim in a pool closely guarded by high metal fences on all sides, though this is apparently the result of the insurance industry (or local authority fears of such). I’m not sure why Huskisson has been victim of this rather Read more [...]

Wally Weekes Pool – North Bondi, NSW 2026

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Named after a local boxer who was also a member of the North Bondi surf life savers My experience in the rock pool It took me three attempts to get into this pool, so it needs a bit of forward planning if you are going to North Bondi especially for a swim here… The first time I tried the tide was high, the swell was big and the waves were crashing into the pool. I’d just been starting to have problems with my shoulder and decided it was safer not to take any risks by going in at Read more [...]

Bronte Rock Pool – NSW 2024

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Bronte named after Lord Nelson, who was Duke of Bronte (Sicily) My experience in the rock pool This must be one of the most photogenic and irresistible pools along the NSW coast. It’s a 30m pool, but who needs Olympic size when it’s as exquisite as this. I was there on a bright, sunny day in May, with air temperature around 20C but a chilly breeze making it feel cooler, and water temperature at about 19C. It’s in a fantastic spot, carved into the cliff face. There’s a coastal Read more [...]

Fairy Bower Pool – Manly, NSW 2095

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Two fishermen from Fairy Bower were the first lifesavers to patrol Sydney beaches in 1903 My experience in the rock pool This was always my preferred pool on previous holiday visits to Manly. It’s a great spot for practising your languages as well as your swimming strokes, since there always seem to be visitors from overseas in here. It’s a safe and picturesque option if you don’t fancy Manly’s crashing surf. This is not a pool where you can expect to do your 20 laps, though. Read more [...]

Queenscliff Rock Pool – NSW 2096

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It is claimed that the first big wave surfing was at Queenscliff My experience in the rock pool Unlike the pool at the southern end of Manly Beach – Fairy Bower – Queenscliff rock pool is a 50m pool designed for serious lap swimmers. That’s not to say the fun-seekers can’t come into the water here. In fact when I last swam here I had the pool to myself, though it was a June morning, so the air temperature was about on a par with the water at about 16C. Some say they like this Read more [...]

Cronulla North Rock Pool – NSW 2230

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'Place of the pink sea shells' My experience in the rock pool This was another pool it took me three goes to get into. First time in Cronulla, there was a cold wind blowing on a grey day and I was still nursing a sore shoulder so just went for coffee instead; second time here, there was repair work on the promenade so no access to this pool. On a warm winter’s day in June, though, it was irresistible. Even the paddle through the sand to reach a depth I could swim in was a pleasure, Read more [...]