Get under Sydney’s skin by taking to the water

Get under Sydney’s skin by taking to the water. Article first appeared in www.ozehols.com.au, http://www.ozehols.com.au/blog/new-south-wales/get-under-sydneys-skin-by-taking-to-the-water/

Most people visiting Sydney will be planning at least one visit to the city’s wonderful beaches. Bondi Beach is still one of the most amazing and iconic sights on a beautiful sunny day. However many visitors want to delve a little deeper under the skin of this great city and one great way to do this is to go swimming at its many ocean and harbour pools.

Swimming is part of Sydney’s beating heart
Swimming is taken very seriously in Sydney and it’s not hard to see why when there are so many unique and breathtaking pools. Bondi may have its long connection with surf lifesaving but Sydney’s pools have such an interesting history of swimming as a major sport with many famous names in swimming history remembered at pools across the city.
Swimming in ocean pools in Sydney is not just about exercising; it’s an institution with a very strong social side to it. All of the pools have swimming clubs with different and quirky rules and regulations. If you want to see a more intimate side to Sydney far removed from the tourist beaches you should definitely get yourself down to one of the ocean or harbour pools at 6.00 am, or if this is a little optimistic you could try the second rush hour at the pool during lunch. Sydney has so many pools but it is worth noting a handful that shouldn’t be missed for their amazing locations alone.

Tidal swimming in Coogee 
A few hundred metres south of the more famous Coogee Beach is the beautiful setting of Wylies Baths, a tidal ocean pool set into the cliff rock. If you don’t feel up to doing 50 metre long laps you can just bob near the edge of the pool where it meets the tide and gaze over at Wedding Cake Island. The beauty of these ocean pools is that you can have a refreshing swim in saltwater without being challenged by the surf.
Wylies Baths is such a beautiful location that wedding receptions are held on the upper deck. You can also enjoy on site massages and yoga classes before or after your swim. To live like a Sydneysider, even for a day, Wylies Baths will make you feel right at home.

A piece of swimming history in Balmain
Australian swimming icon Dawn Fraser learnt to swim at the now named Dawn Fraser Memorial Pool in Balmain. This is Sydney’s oldest habour pool and was built in the 1880s. A visit here is likely to be a highlight of any newcomer’s quest to find the real Sydney. There is a real community spirit surrounding this pool with many events and gatherings held here all year, kept alive by the Lizards, a group of retired men who swim here religiously every morning.

Bondi’s surf free alternative
At the less busy end of Bondi Beach is the equally spectacular tidal pool Bondi Icebergs, so called because of their famous winter swimming club. This club really is for those dedicated Sydney swimmers and has been around for over a century. Membership of the winter swimming club is notoriously difficult to obtain, you have to be nominated by two members and complete a 50 metre time trial. Once you are in the club, history dictates that you must compete for three out of four Sundays for five years or you lose your membership.
As a visitor you needn’t concern yourself with such stringent rules. After a dip, in summer, or winter if you are feeling brave, you can retire to the “unsinkable” bar upstairs overlooking the pool and the famous Bondi expanse where you can hear every wave and think yourself lucky that you aren’t slogging it like the club members down below.

Pools with a view on both sides of the harbour
The next two locations aren’t tidal pools but they make it on to the list because they sit as close to the harbour as possible and provide amazing views and superb swimming.
The North Sydney Pool is a beautiful salt water Olympic sized pool nestled right near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and if you do a lap of backstroke you swim mesmerised by the bridge looming over you. There surely can’t be a more spectacular Olympic pool in the world. There is also a great sundeck and cafe and you can take in the harbour view from your deck chair and feel like you are in a luxury resort.
On the other side of the harbour is the Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool tucked into the side of the Domain with another view across the water to the rather imposing naval base. This pool can get very busy before and after work with very serious swimmers but there is also some serious socialising during the day when you can sunbathe on the wooden decking or sit in the cafe and take it all in like a local.
To experience any city like a local it pays to do your research. Sometimes it is worth spending a bit of extra time investigating the local scene, especially in a country as vast as Australia. You probably won’t visit all of it in one trip but you can certainly make the most of the places you do. After all, you spend a great deal of time preparing for the trip itself, so why not make sure you get everything out of it.

Taking your trip to Sydney seriously
Preparing for a trip is obviously crucial, whether you are embarking on the long flight to Australia or visiting Sydney from within the country. You need to ensure your trip runs smoothly so you have plenty of time for sightseeing, relaxing and taking in all Sydney has to offer. Doing your best to ensure everything goes according to plan is a good strategy because you don’t want to miss out on anything because of poor planning. Once you have planned your trip to Australia, taken care of the flight bookings, booked accommodation in Sydney and organised travel insurance you owe it to yourself to really take the city seriously and get under its skin. Especially if you have been organised enough to make sure you are covered if things don’t go exactly as planned. It takes just a little extra effort and planning to get to know a city beyond the usual sights and attractions. If you love to swim or even just to dip your toe in the water, a tour of the ocean pools will give you a great insight into what makes Sydneysiders tick.
Why not spend a few days living like the locals and soak up the sun and saltwater as you socialise and perhaps surprise yourself with some serious lap swimming, just make sure you observe the swimming etiquette. Sydney is also famous for that.

We wish to thank Jennifer Halston for submitting this article to be published in OzeHols.