Pool Reviews

Wollondilly Leisure Centre – Picton, NSW 2571

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My experience in the pool Picton's Olympic Pool has had a few names over the years, it seems. It's now known as Wollondilly Leisure Centre, which is probably appropriate as the pool complex (indoor and outdoor pools) sits about half way between Picton itself and the next village of Tahmoor. But hanging on the wall of the centre are photos of earlier versions of the pool, which looks as if it was basically built in the middle of a field, and seemed to be called Picton Baths or Picton Read more [...]

Greenwell Point Village Pool – Greenwell Point, NSW 2540

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My experience in the pool Greenwell Point Village Pool is a fantastic spot for a swim...provided you pick the right time and the right weather. Yes, I came here twice on cloudy days and obviously fell foul of the closed in 'inclement weather' rule. The opening hours are a bit idiosyncratic, but at least they are clear to all. Defining if the weather is good enough to open makes Greenwell Point pool opening times a bit dependent on the subjective view of the manager or lifeguard on Read more [...]

Camden War Memorial Pool – Camden, NSW 2570

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Camden was named after a former Minister for War (!) rather than the north London suburb. My experience in the pool Camden War Memorial Pool was a great replacement for a planned trip to Figure of Eight pool in the Royal National Park. Figure of Eight needs good weather and the right tide. Camden Pool would have been fine in the pouring rain, but the steady downpour we had as we left home had passed over by the time we reached Camden an hour or so's drive away. The ducks in Camden Read more [...]

Causeway Baths – Cockatoo Island, NSW 2039

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My experience in the pool I was really unimpressed by Cockatoo Island. For a start the Causeway Baths, which are still on the tourist maps they hand out in the Visitor Info Centre have been deleted from the big wall map that stands on the outside of the same Centre, and when you get to the area where the shark net still hangs, presumably still protecting anyone who wants to get into the water here, there is a big, permanent-looking sign saying No Swimming. I would also rename the place Read more [...]

Pittwater Life Magazine – Feature February 2018

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Thanks to website reader Kathryn Butler for alerting me to the February 2018 edition of Pittwater Life magazine, which had a fantastic feature article on all the northern beaches rock pools and the people who swim in them. The article covers an amazing 10 pages, with some wonderful shots of all the ocean pools and some great stories on the people who swim there. Here's a link to the online digital version of Pittwater Life. Read more [...]

Newcastle Bogey Hole – Newcastle, NSW 2300

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My experience in the pool It took me five attempts to actually get into the water at Newcastle Bogey Hole. But wow, it was worth it in the end. I really don't know how those convicts built this bathing area almost 200 years ago, because there seem to be so few days when it is reasonably safe to get into the water here, let alone build the walls and fencing that keep the place 'safe' and made sure that the old convict colony commander could cool off when he needed. I couldn't help thinking Read more [...]

Coomba Park Tidal Pool – Coomba Park, NSW 2428

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My experience in the pool Coomba Park Tidal Pool must be one of the most isolated swimming enclosures I've been to since I began this quest to swim the NSW ocean pools, harbour baths and other outdoor pools across the state. The peace on this part of Wallis Lake is extraordinary. Apart from the varying sounds of kookaburras laughing, whip birds catapulting and the occasional other exotic bird making itself known to locals, there was barely a sound at Coomba Park, once the group of five swimmers Read more [...]

Parsley Bay Swimming Enclosure – Parsley Bay, NSW 2030

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My experience in the pool I did finally get into the water at Parsley Bay swimming enclosure, with its wonderful footbridge taking pedestrians across the bay high up over the baths, and its views of passing ferries to Manly and Watson Bay. It was a close-run thing, mind you, and even though two blokes were swimming right up against the shark net, a good 80m from the shore, I stayed pretty close to the shallows, not venturing further out than the footbridge. The thing is when I came to Parsley Read more [...]

Carss Point Baths – Carss Park, NSW 2221

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Carss was the name of the family who lived here in the 19th century. My experience in the pool Carss Bush Park near Kogarah is a relaxed place at the weekend, full of families at the public barbies, couples strolling along the shore and kids mucking about on the sands. I've popped by here a few times, looking for the best time to get a swim in the shark-netted enclosure, and never ever seen anyone swimming. This warm and busy day was no different. There were a couple of small kids splashing Read more [...]

Forbes Olympic Pool – Forbes, NSW 2871

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Forbes was named after a former Chief Justice of NSW My experience in the pool We didn't expect to get a swim at Forbes Olympic Pool. We just dropped by to take a photo of the fabulous Art Deco pool entrance and noticed the shutters were up. I thought pools in country NSW had a very limited season, with swimming only possible in heatwaves between November and February. But that's not the case with Forbes outdoor pool. 'Come back tomorrow', said the cheery manager. 'It's our Read more [...]