In a country so vast it takes days to get from one side to the other, it’s no surprise that Australia’s best swimming spots are as diverse and dazzling as the landscapes they adorn. With Olympic lidos, ocean baths, luxurious hotels and natural swimming holes all perfect for washing away the intense heat, beach bums and water babies will lap up this list of the most beautiful pools across Australia. Be respectful of the land’s traditional owners on your travels, especially when visiting areas of cultural significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The JW Marriott Gold Coast in the Gold Coast suburb of Surfers Paradise is a hotspot for travellers looking to combine indulgent relaxation with outdoorsy activities. But it’s not just surfers that love the vibe here – keen swimmers can wade into the hotel’s white-sand-rimmed saltwater lagoon (complete with fish frolicking along a living reef) or churn out lengths in the freshwater pool. Both are open seven days a week between 6am and 10pm. They have been known to admit non-guests during the off season, but it’s best to ring ahead to check capacity.
This iconic pool has been welcoming visitors for over a century. Thought to be one of the most photographed swimming destinations in the world, Icebergs is renowned for its ultra-turquoise waters, long history and location at the southern end of Bondi Beach, tied to Bondi's long-standing culture of winter swimming. Anyone can enter the club with a day ticket, granting them access to the main pool, children’s pool and sauna. Due to cleaning and competition schedules, admission may be restricted on Thursdays and Sundays.
Looking out onto the waterfront high-rises of Perth’s twinkling skyline, the outdoor rooftop pool at the Ritz-Carlton commands some of the most impressive views in the city. If you’ve got a head for heights, swim right up to the infinity edge for a glimpse of the Swan River and quayside below, or just enjoy a leisurely dip as the sun sinks. This area is reserved solely for hotel guests, so you’ll have to splash out on a room to sample it for yourself.
Set in the Blue Mountains National Park, Jellybean Pool is a natural swimming hole popular with walkers and adventurous families. To reach the pool, just follow the Jellybean Track from the car park at Glenbrook Information Centre a short way downhill. Though the dishwater-like hue of the pool may not initially seem the most inviting, it's the tranquil bush surroundings that make this a truly special place to swim – comprising sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus trees, beachy banks and amazing wildlife.
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Resembling something from a Wes Anderson movie, the recently-renovated Melbourne City Baths first opened to the public in 1860 to give residents a more sanitary alternative to washing in the nearby Yarra River. The distinctive heritage building, with its red and cream facade and old-fashioned changing cubicles, has been serving the community ever since as a much-loved pool, gym and wellness centre. Anyone is welcome to come along for a swim – there are lap lanes available for sporting types and lessons for those still learning.
Less than two hours’ drive from Sydney lies Pretty Beach House, offering romantic lodge accommodation in the seclusion of Bouddi National Park. Exclusively for those staying overnight, there is a small but spectacular unheated infinity pool – just sizeable enough for a quick back and forth – accompanied by the scent of bushland and snippets of Broken Bay coastline out in front. All but one of the four lodges also has their own private plunge pool, if your hydrophilia needed further satiating.
Most pools are enclosed by some sort of bank or wall, but Greens Pool is instead formed from a sheltered cove protected from the Southern Ocean by a sturdy guard of granite boulders. This natural barricade means open-water swimmers of all ages can bask in the jade lagoon without being pummelled by powerful waves. Teetering on the southernmost tip of William Bay National Park, Greens Pool tends to draw crowds in summer, so visit off-peak if you can.
Extraordinary vistas abound from this serene oasis at a Wolgan Valley eco-resort, which offers almost uninterrupted 360-degree views. The pool is intimate and open to the elements, so overnight guests can enjoy a gentle backstroke beneath the rugged Greater Blue Mountains, which rise beyond a stretch of golden outback that looks stunning on misty mornings. Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley has temporarily had to pause operations due to an emergency access road closure, but will resume as soon as possible.
Anyone who's ever watched the episodes of British TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! where campmates return to their normal lives will recognise the marble contours of Palazzo Versace, which provided accommodation for voted-off cast members for many years. While the hotel's prime might now have passed, its 'water salon' remains one of the most decadent pools in all Australia, with 207 feet (63m) of glacier-clear water and a collection of Champagne-coloured cabanas. Access is for in-house guests only, so it's probably one for the bucket list.
With the grey girders of Sydney Harbour Bridge looming above, the North Sydney Olympic Pool's location makes it impossible to forget where you are, while still providing welcome respite from the thrum of the city. Opened in 1936 to host the sporting tournament now known as the Commonwealth Games in 1938, the complex has seen 86 world records smashed here since. It is currently closed for redevelopment with completion estimated for May 2023, at which point visitor passes and memberships will become available again.
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Situated along the Limestone Coast, the Pool of Siloam is said to possess seven times the salinity of seawater. The salt makes the pool extremely buoyant, a little like the Dead Sea in the Middle East, so it’s perfect for tentative or less experienced wild swimmers. Locals come here to float away their troubles, as the mineral-rich water apparently has a therapeutic effect on achy joints. It’s free to enter, so bring a picnic and make a day of it.
The Bronte Baths were built in 1887 at the height of the sea-bathing boom, carved from coastal cliffs at the south end of Bronte Beach. Free to access, a small wooden barrier separates the shallower child-friendly end from a series of lanes designed for swimmers looking to do lengths. If you’re keen to visit multiple NSW ocean spots in one day, try the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, on which the Bronte Baths are a stop. The distance from Bondi to Bronte is around 1.5 miles (2.4km).
Touted as the natural world’s answer to a water park, Litchfield National Park is a network of creeks, waterfalls and swimming holes shaped over thousands of years. Florence Falls is among its most striking features – a double jet of cascades, at their strongest during monsoon season, plunging into a pool below that's often flush with swimmers. This area holds huge importance to the Koongurrukun, Mak Mak Marranunggu, Werat and Warray Aboriginal peoples, who have ancestral ties to the land.
Founded by champion swimmer Henry Alexander Wylie in 1907, Wylie’s Baths lies just off Coogee Beach and was one of the first recreational facilities of its kind in the area. What sets this historic ocean pool apart is its unique position below the high-water mark, meaning conditions can vary widely depending on the tides (there’s plenty of guidance on the website if you’re planning a swim). The pool has a natural rock bottom, and thanks to its tidal give and take you might might see fish, octopuses, sea urchins and more.
Perched on the 14th floor, the pool at W Melbourne – called WET – is a symphony of shiny surfaces, sculptures and pot plants that consistently delights guests at this sleek design hotel. And the great news is that you don’t have to be staying here to experience the perks. For $98 (around £56/US$67) Monday to Friday, non-guests can spend the day in the pool, gym and steam room, accompanied by a mocktail and fruit platter delivered to your sun lounger. WET is adults-only after 6pm.
Often overshadowed by its better-known siblings, Sydney's Malabar Ocean Pool is typically quieter than the likes of Icebergs, Bronte Baths and Wylie’s. Beginning life as a natural rock pool, it became popular with local bathers at the turn of the 20th century before falling into disrepair thanks mostly to problems with sewage. By 1997, Malabar was safe to swim in again and the facilities were upgraded to the standard you see today. People come for the calm waters and stay for the Long Bay scenery.
Over in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Karijini National Park is known for dramatic gorges and gorgeous swimming holes. Perhaps its most sought-after is Fern Pool, which is named after the surrounding trees and is a sacred Aboriginal site. It is respectful, therefore, to enjoy the water as peacefully as possible and embrace its spiritual heritage. A 30-minute bushwalk from Fern Pool brings you to Fortescue Falls, the national park’s only permanent waterfall which tumbles down into another invigorating pool.
Working in harmony with its coastal, wetland and rainforest setting, this tranquil resort aims to promote "barefoot luxury" and wellness. The utopian vision extends to the pool areas at Elements of Byron; guests can languish in private cabanas and hanging day-beds, or take an unhurried swim in one of two pools. The central lagoon is temperature-controlled throughout the year and comes with a heated spa, while the adults-only pool (once voted Australia’s best) boasts a swim-up bar. Both are reserved exclusively for resort guests.
Presiding over one of the most magical panoramas in northwest Australia, the views of rust-red rock and still reservoir water from the infinity pool at the Lake Argyle Resort and Holiday Park are hard to rival. Day passes for this dreamy venue are available for $10 (£6/US$7) on arrival, with one child going free for every paying adult. Otherwise, wristbands granting free day entry to the pool are currently included when you book a lake cruise on the Kimberley Durack boat.
Formerly known as 'the Commandant’s Baths', this pool was fashioned by convicts in 1819 from a wave-cut stone ledge on the orders of the Commandant of Newcastle for his personal pleasure. This makes Bogey Hole (‘bogey’ being derived from the Dharawal word meaning 'to bathe') potentially the earliest purpose-built ocean bath in the country. Shaped like a soft-edged hexagon and filled with pristine seawater, it may seem calm at first but the waves get pretty feisty, so it's best to visit at low tide.
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Ensconced in the Coral Sea near the Great Barrier Reef, the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort exemplifies the aquatic beauty of Australia's most famous stretch of ocean. And if all that water isn’t enough, this sumptuous hotel complex also has two guest-only outdoor pools with dedicated bars, deck chairs, cabanas and sun loungers. Swan about in the shallows of the infinity pool (where does the pool end and the sea begin?) or get lost lapping one of the largest swimming pools in Australia.
The biggest ocean baths in the Southern Hemisphere and arguably among the most beautiful, Merewether Ocean Baths have been a beloved addition to the Newcastle coastline since 1935. They are free to access and open 24 hours a day (though lifeguards don’t do night shifts). The main pool is enormous so serious swimmers can plough up and down unimpeded by sedate splashers. Whether you’re an early riser or not, it's worth being there to see the sun come up.
Located on the Mornington Peninsula, Bushrangers Bay is an incredibly scenic beach and wilderness area characterised by volcanic cliffs and boisterous swells. The Parks Victoria website explicitly warns against swimming in the sea here, but the rock pools are safe to access provided you go when the tide is out and keep watch for rogue waves. There are a number of pools scattered among the rocks; some are fit only for paddling, while others can comfortably fit in a swim.
Long gone are the days when bed-and-breakfasts were all pine furniture, velvet cushions and curtains, and Blackbird, nestled up in the Byron hinterland, gives the humble B&B a thoroughly modern makeover. Comprising just a few self-contained pavilions – each with artfully curated interiors, star-gazing guides and binoculars for bird-watching – this adults-only retreat is only made more exceptional by the pebble-fringed pool and its views of the Pacific.
Wander just 15 minutes from the centre of the Tasmanian city of Launceston and you’ll find yourself in the heart of the island’s best-kept secret. Cataract Gorge Reserve is a haven for wallabies, peacocks and urban escapists alike, where hiking, boat trips and rock-climbing are among the top activities. But if a dip is what you fancy, then the First Basin's seasonal swimming pool is where you need to be. From here, you can also survey the sublime panorama of basin waters, gorge walls and surrounding bushland.
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Utilising the existing foundation of a natural rock pool, Mahon Pool was constructed in the 1930s partly to keep up with an increasing trend for sea baths, but also to provide work for the people of Maroubra during the Great Depression. The idea came from local politician Alderman Mahon, who sadly passed away before he could see his dream become a reality. It’s free to swim here and pleasant to visit year-round, with the rocky outcrops above helping it feel sheltered and secluded.
Josephine Falls is a focal point for Wooroonooran National Park, the ancestral domain and spiritual heartland of the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon people. The falls are fed by rainwater collecting off Mount Bartle Frere, which then trickles down into two pools. Swimming is prohibited in the top pool, but visitors can enter the bottom pool on the understanding that they're mindful of the site’s heritage. To reach the swimming area from the closest car park, just follow the rainforest walk for around half a mile (700m).
We could easily construct a whole separate list for Australia’s most beautiful ocean pools, and the Bermagui Blue Pool would be right up there. A team of local lifesavers, councillors, philanthropists and volunteers had the pool expanded to its present state in 1937, meaning that the baths are still being enjoyed by Bermagui residents and tourists alike almost 90 years later. It’s one of the Sapphire Coast’s top attractions thanks to its marine-life-rich, colour-changing waters perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
Mindil Beach is not your average casino, and you don’t even have to lay eyes on a roulette table if you don’t want to. The poolside sees just as much action as the slot machines, with two pools and Darwin’s only swim-up bar. Resort guests have the tropical lagoon-style pool all to themselves, with the infinity pool opening up to the public from Fridays to Sundays as part of the INFINITY beach club. This adults-only, all-day social experience includes pool access, cocktails, alfresco eats, lo-fi beats and live DJs on weekends.
While the barrelling waves at Avalon Beach serve surfers particularly well, the conditions aren’t always ideal for those just looking to swim. Enter the Avalon Rock Pool, an ocean bath sitting at the south end of the biscuit-coloured sand, whose protective walls largely absorb most of the ocean's force (unless it’s a particularly stormy day). While its limited length might not appeal to lap swimmers, the clarity of the water and the pool’s views over the beach towards the headland are reason enough to come for a slosh.
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