In a city known for its opera house and bridge, it’s somewhat of a secret that Sydney harbour has more ocean pools than any other place in the world. These man-made public seawater pools, built on a surf coast and designed to be accessed at low tide, provide swimmers with safe, calm waters when big southerly winds come in. Serene at low tide, choppy at high, they are the original infinity pools and the heart of the beach culture of Sydney.
In fact, just about every Sydney beach has one, usually at its southern end, to offer swimmers protection from the pounding waves that can lash the city’s beaches during the cooler months. Often with changing rooms and showers, they are free for swimmers to use. And with the amount of outdoor living that happens here, it’s no surprise that many residents also have their own backyard pool.
Just a three-minute walk from our front door is the North Sydney Pool, where scores of world records have been set since it opened in 1936, cheered on by fans on the steep concrete grandstands. The pool decor is colorfully art deco, while the locker rooms are spookily dark and Luna Park, an amusement park from the same era, looms over the entrance with its eerily clown-like 30-foot smile.
The city’s pool culture is thriving. But it’s not without its problems. A major project that was supposed to reopen in 2024 was hit by budget blowouts, delays and design and structural issues. It’s now looking at a late 2024 or early 2025 opening.
Despite these setbacks, there are a lot of people in Sydney who want to swim in the sea this summer and the city’s public pools are a great place to go. It’s a chance to escape the heat, soak up the sun and enjoy the city’s beautiful coastal scenery.
At this month’s Pool & Spa Lifestyle Expo, SPASA CEO Lindsay McGrath says visitation numbers have returned to pre-Covid levels. Exhibitors describe this year’s event as “high quality” with plenty of people ready to invest in their swimming needs and home improvement projects.
If you’re planning on building a new swimming pool at home, it pays to do your research first. While there are a number of websites that claim to give you an instant price estimate, a professional builder will need to visit your property to get a more accurate quote. That’s why Poolz matches you with a local pool builder for a free site inspection, to help kickstart your pool project quickly and safely. Get a quote today.