We’re all familiar with Sydney’s famous opera house and bridge, but the city may have another secret claim to fame: its big collection of ocean pools. According to Marie-Louise McDermott, an expert who has written about them, Sydney boasts more of these tidal pools than any other city in the world. Serene at low tide, choppy at high, they’re a place to spend the day soaking up the sun and taking in the vast seascape before you.
“People are really into this,” says McDermott, who has seen kids in floaties and adults in wetsuits crammed into pools that look like they’re carved out of the rocks. “It’s a very unique thing about Sydney.” The pools, known as rock pools because they’re built into rocky coasts, are open all summer and are a popular swimming spot for both locals and visitors. “It’s a great way for people to swim and get out of the water, and it’s also a good place for kids to learn how to swim.”
A visit to one of these pools, which are mostly run by local councils, is as much about a day out with friends or family as it is about getting some exercise. Most feature changing rooms, showers and some are heated. Some have snack bars and are close to shops. There’s no admission, but many have toilets and there’s often a lifeguard on duty.
The most famous pool, and perhaps the most photographed, is Bondi Icebergs in the heart of Sydney’s surf zone. It’s a place to lounge in the sun or take a dip, but be sure to check the tides and the weather before you go — it can be dangerous when the waves crash over the walls.
If you’re looking for a pool closer to home, try the Prince Alfred Park pool in the inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. It’s a slice of summer, with buttercup yellow umbrellas lining the beach and lawns, and a 50-meter pool that’s always at that jump-right-in temperature. It’s also a great place to bring the kids, with designated areas for them and a 295-foot spiral slide and speed slide.
A visit to any of these pools can be a great way for locals to escape the hordes of tourists, but some of these pools have been beset by controversy. The North Sydney Council pool, which is being built by a consortium led by the local builder Fredom Pools, has been beset by accusations of pork-barrelling, council infighting and a lack of transparency. The project is over budget and the opening has been delayed to 2025. Meanwhile, North Sydney’s mayor Zoe Baker acknowledges there’s anger in the community over the project. She says her council has to have a “real conversation as a community about the financial impacts of this”.