Swimming Holes · New South Wales
Rainforest plunge pools, sandstone waterfalls and rock-edged rivers within two hours of the city.
Sydney has genuinely impressive natural swimming holes within easy day-trip distance of the CBD. The sandstone plateau of the Blue Mountains and the Royal National Park to the south are riddled with rock pools, plunge pools and river bends that locals have been swimming in for generations. All of these are accessible by public transport or a short drive, and most are free.
Eucalypt Haze and Sandstone Cliffs
The Blue Mountains have dozens of swimming options. Jellybean Pool at the base of the Glenbrook Gorge is the most accessible. Lincoln's Rock at Wentworth Falls has a natural swimming ledge. The Grand Canyon track near Blackheath passes multiple rock pools deep in the gorge.
The Second Oldest National Park in the World
The Royal has Wattamolla Lagoon (the closest natural lagoon to Sydney), the Karloo Pool on the Karloo Walking Track, and Blue Pool at Bundeena. All three are reached by short to moderate walks from the road.
A Hidden Valley in the Southern Highlands
Kangaroo Valley's river pools are a two-hour drive south of Sydney and are where many locals go in peak summer. The Kangaroo River through Bendeela Picnic Area and Hampden Bridge has multiple calm swimming sections with rope swings and grassy riverbanks.
The Whitest Sand in New South Wales
Not strictly a swimming hole, but Jervis Bay's Hyams Beach and Greenfield Beach have some of the calmest, clearest saltwater swimming on the east coast, and the combination of white silica sand and turquoise water makes them feel more like a tropical lagoon than a Pacific beach.
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