Blog

  • Palm Beach to Manly

    Palm Beach Rockpool

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    At the far north end of the Northern Beaches peninsular is Palm Beach.  At the southern end is the tidal pool.  A good 30m length for some laps and shallow enough to walk the length.

    There is a lot more to do at “Palmy”.

    Walk to the lighthouse at the northern end of the beach via the Pittwater side of the carpark.

    Walk across to Whale Beach from the southern end.

    How to get to Palm Beach via Public Transport

    If you are hungry Google: “Cafes Palm Beach NSW” for the latest offerings.

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    Whale Beach Rockpool

    The next beach heading south from Palm Beach is Whale Beach. You will find this fabulous (shallow) pool at the southern end of the beach.

    Access is via Malo Reserve at the end of Male Road Whale Beach. Or you may have walked over the headland from Palm Beach from the northern end of Whale Beach.

    How to get to Whale Beach via Public Transport

    Avalon Rockpool

    Here we are at Avalon Rockpool, which is situated at the southern end of Avalon Beach.

    Access is via Avalon Parade or you can access the pool heading south from the Avalon Surf Life Saving Club off Barrenjoey Road.

    Bilgola Rockpool

    Access to Bilgola Pool is via The Serpentine. The rockpool is at the southern end of the beach just past the Surf Life Saving Club.

    Newport Beach Rockpool

    South from Bilgola is Newport Beach which is quite a bit longer than Bilgola. The rockpool is at the southern end of the beach.

    There is a large carpark at Newport Beach. Park here and head south where you will find the pool under the cliffs at the southern end of the beach. Or you can access from Calvert Parade.

    There is a shower and a toilet block near the pool.

    Mona Vale Beach Rockpool

    Next beach is Mona Vale, which is just as long as Newport. The pool is actually sort of in the middle of the beach. The northern section is called Basin Beach.

    I love Mona Vale pool it has a great aspect and also has interesting rocks surrounding the pool for lots of discoveries when the tide is low. If it is a really high tide you might not be able to get across the sand spit. The pool has a nice sandy bottom as well.

    The surf club has recently been upgraded and there is a fine dining restaurant called The Basin Dining Room with a fabulous outlook to the beach and beyond.

    There is a large carpark off Surfview Road and the pool is directly in front of the carpark.

    North Narrabeen Beach Rockpool

    Here we are at North Narrabeen Beach and the rockpool this time is at the northern end of the beach within the Narrabeen Head Aquatic Reserve. Narrabeen Beach is very very long!

    I ignored the Closed sign as did most people on the day. Not sure why as it was glorious in!

    You can park in the carpark off Narrabeen Park Parade and walk to the beach passed the Nourish Narrabeen Cafe & Lounge which is pretty good.

    The other thing about North Narrabeen is the NRMA Lakeside Holiday Park is across Narrabeen Park Parade from the Cafe.

    There is also an amenities block near the pool and the accessibility is very good to the pool and into the water.

    Fabulous in!
    Dreadful video recording…..

    Collaroy Beach Rockpool

    The choice we have is extraordinary. Here we are at the southern end of Collaroy Beach where you will find these 2 great rockpools.

    Accessibility is also very good here both to the pool and into the water.

    Enter via Stanley and Florence Twight Reserve which is off Beach Road. There is parking and an easy access here.

    Another great aspect while you are having a dip or swimming some laps.

    Dee Why Pool

    North Curl Curl Pool

    South Curl Curl Pool

    Freshwater Pool

    Queenscliff Pool (North Steyne)

    Fairy Bower Pool

  • Parsley Bay

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    This may just be my favourite swimming spot in the harbour!  Big call!  Only locals really know about this place and it is glorious with a high tide.  You can swim off the rocks or from the beach.

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    We swam from these rocks, excellent.  Don’t forget your goggles.

  • Nielson Park

    Unfortunately Nielson Park is closed for renovations. Completion unknown.

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    This is a great spot for a swim.  You are literally in the harbour and you can get a unique view of the city if you swim out to the net.  There is a great park with heaps of trees for shade, it’s pretty much a kids swimming place in the morning!

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  • Inside the Heads (Sydney Harbour)

    Little Manly Baths
    Manly Cove Baths
    Fairlight Baths
    Balgowlah Baths
    Clontarf Baths
    Seaforth Baths
    Northbridge Baths
    Edwards Beach Rock Pool
    Balmoral Baths
    Chowder Bay Baths
    McCallum Pool Cremorne Point
    Manns Point Baths
    Griffith Park Baths (Woodford Bay)
    Woolwich Baths
    Dawn Fraser Swimming Pool
    Elizabeth Bay Baths
    Blackburn Cove Baths
    Nielson Park
    Erika’s Crystal Baths
    Parsley Bay
    Watsons Bay Baths

  • Gymea Bay Baths

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    Gymea Baths (Ellesmere Road, Gymea) are heritage listed.  This is a fab spot and a bit hard to find, which is a good thing as not to many people will know this is here.  I missed the entrance the first time.  You can drive down the drive way to the right of this sign post.  However, there are only a few car spots so if its a hot day you will probably need ‘to walk down the short (steep) drive way. Once you get to the bottom this is what you discover.  You can get to Gymea by train and then take the 974 bus (Veolia Transport) directly to the top of the drive way to the Baths.

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    A fab little private bay.

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    I visited in the middle of July so the only ones swimming were these two dogs. If you are keen they run swimming races every Saturday morning between March and October.

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    Great spot.

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    A bit of a walk up hill back to your car or the bus! 

  • Gymea to Bondi

    Gymea Bay Baths

    Gunamatta Bay Bathes

     

    Oak Park Rock Pool

    Shelley Beach Rock Pool

    Cronulla Tidal Pool

    Cronulla Rock Pool

    Malabar Pool

    South Maroubra Rock Pool

    Mahon Pool North Maroubra

    Whylie Baths Coogee

    Coogie Women & Children Only Rock Pool

    Bronte Pool

    Wally Weekes Pool North Bondi

  • Gunamatta Bay Bathes

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    Entry is at Gunamatta Park via Nicholson Parade, Cronulla.  These baths were originally built in 1915 and were then demolished and rebuilt to the current form in 1939.  The Park is directly behind Cronulla Station so very easy to access.  A bit exposed to the wind, the day I visited it was very windy and not that pleasant.

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