Get Away with Dre: Sydney Swimming Spots

When it’s summertime in Sydney everyone flocks to the beach, but we have so many other amazing options in nature across Sydney you can cool down in.

Let’s look at some swimming spots in Sydney you can dive in to for a refreshing dip.

 

Jewfish Bay Baths, Oatley Reserve, Oatley

Jewfish Bay Baths is a serene swimming area in the waters of the Georges River and Jewfish Bay. 

If you go early in the morning you’ll have the baths all to yourself. It comes equip with a shark barrier, public bathrooms and showers. 

Located in Oatley Reserve, the Jewfish Bay Baths isn’t the only highlight in this nature reserve.  Oatley Park Bay is a little beach at the waters edge, but there’s also multiple sandy spots along the shore. These areas are all dog friendly, to make up for the fact that the Baths is only for humans. You and your pooch can cool down after doing the walking track that runs throughout the reserve.

It’s a short walking track with signs and an audio guide if you wanted to learn more about the area. Parts of the walk becomes scenic as it rims the waters edge.

In the middle of the reserve, Oatley Bush Play Park has a massive playground that’s not just for the kids. It has a pretty epic playground where grown adults are spotted using it more than their kids. It has a 12-metre tall play tower, tall slide, custom swings and a flying fox. It’s the kind of playground that brings out the child in everyone.  

You can also check out Oatley Castle, built in 1937. It’s a nice historic monument you can hold a BBQ gathering at. Royal snag anyone? 

 

The Needles, Engadine

Take a refreshing dip in the Woronora River at this popular little swimming hole surrounded by bush. The Needles is a go-to in The Shire.

This swimming hole gets deep pretty quickly making it a great place to jump right in. There’s even a communal rope swing you can launch off from, but you should always check the water depth by going in yourself before using the rope swing.

You need to do a little walk to reach this popular swimming hole. It starts from Woronora Road in Engadine and you can choose to do a quick 1.5km return walk on fire trail – it’s easy but hilly – or do the 3.2km loop and stop by Engadine Lagoon. You can go for a swim in both swimming holes.

 

Callan Park Tidal Baths, Iron Cove, Lilyfield (proposed)

The Bay Run will be getting it’s own baths in January 2027! Callan Park Tidal Baths is currently in its Design and Development stage after its first proposal back in 2024.

Managed by the NSW Government agency Greater Sydney Parklands, the same agency that manages major public parklands like Centennial Park, Parramatta Park, Western Sydney Parklands and Fernhill Estate; the Callan Park Tidals Baths will be managed by Greater Sydney Parklands, but the Inner West Council will work closely with them on the design of the baths.

It will have it’s own pathway to the baths from Waterfront Drive, a fixed jetty with handrails and a 4-metre wide ramp you can walk out into the water providing a shallow area for younger kids. It will also have a main pontoon and play pontoon further out, as well as a shark barrier.

Callan Park is State-listed heritage land, like Dawn Fraser Baths.