Ocean Pools NSW

16/07/2024

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/drawingroom/ocean-pools-/104080606

23/07/2021

Slightly cheating here as this post is about an ocean pool in Victoria not NSW, but if you're interested in swimming and history, or just like people's recollections of childhood, this interview on my new podcast is worth listening to. Helen Kieran was brought up right at the Middle Brighton Sea Baths in the 1940s and 50s; she recalls storms and skinny-dipping, and her parents' lives as managers of the baths.

Helen Kieran (nee Jones) talks about her early days living above the Middle Brighton Sea Baths in the 1940s and 50s, when her parents managed the baths. Tales of swimming, storms and youthful mischief Music: Gold Rush - Kevin MacLeod - //filmmusic.io/stand...

26/12/2017

Last of the ocean pools for now is the netted swimming enclosure in Bermagui named after a guy called Bruce Steer, though he seemed more into his fishing than swimming. Lovely spot to finish our tour of NSW ocean pools, though. http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/bruce-steer-pool-bermagui-nsw-2546/

06/12/2017

Not sure the little pool in East Ballina counts as an 'ocean pool', really. Designed for kids certainly but we enjoyed ourselves having a symbolic dip under grey clouds in the most northerly pool in NSW, making it to the end of this quest (though there are still a few other swimming spots along the coast to mark on the map, so this is NOT the end...) http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/ballina-wading-pool-ballina-nsw/

30/11/2017

Yamba, in northern NSW, had one of my favourite pools in the state. Getting near the end of this quest and it's always good to keep the best to last. So glad we managed two dips in this great rock pool http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/yamba-rock-pool-yamba-nsw/

28/11/2017

Weather a bit overcast for our visit to Sawtell Rock Pool near Coffs Harbour in northern NSW. My pics don't do justice to the place but it's hard to make water exciting with cloudy skies. Lovely swim though we didn't see the 'big fish'... http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/sawtell-memorial-pool-sawtell-nsw/

26/11/2017

I'll be doing a few ABC radio interviews tomorrow to promote my oceanpoolsnsw website and talk about finishing my quest to swim in all of the state's ocean baths and netted enclosures. Timings should be 6.45am ABC Illawarra, 10.30am ABC Newcastle & 2.30pm ABC Sydney. Might be opportunity to phone in if you have stories to share...

19/11/2017

Finally made it to Figure of Eight Pool in the Royal National Park. Most gruelling walk I have done in a while - or am I just getting older? But what a fantastic spot for a dip. Low tide only, though. http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/figure-eight-pool-royal-national-park-nsw-2232/

06/11/2017

It was the 80+ sea gulls blocking the way into the water that put me off actually having a dip in the Cockatoo Island swimming enclosure, though the No Swimming sign didn't exactly encourage it either. If you've ever been swooped by nest-protecting gulls, you'll sympathise. Love to hear from anyone who has been in the water here http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/causeway-baths-cockatoo-island-nsw/

02/11/2017

Almost 200 years ago the Newcastle Bogey Hole was built by convict labourers. They did a good job, I say. What a great spot, if you can get in that is. Don't know how they managed to build it... http://oceanpoolsnsw.net.au/newcastle-bogey-hole-newcastle-nsw/ Pics in the gallery in the link.

Newcastle Bogey Hole is a fantastic spot for a swim, provided you can get into the water safely. Best on calm day at low tide. Thanks to the convict workers

28/10/2017

The beautiful Coomba Park Tidal Pool is latest entry on the website. Such a calm place for a dip, unless you count the cackling kookaburras, the swooping swallows, the purring pelicans, or the juicy jellyfish.

Coomba Park Tidal Pool is up on Wallis Lake just across the water from Forster NSW. Possibly the most isolated pool yet with great bird life all round

25/10/2017

Well at least I didn't see a shark in Parsley Bay baths (others have...). Beautiful spot on Sydney Harbour but not my most relaxing dip so far

Parsley Bay swimming enclosure is best-known for its vintage footbridge offering great views back to the beach & on to the shark net. Sydney Harbour secret.