The north and north-west of Sydney features beautiful beaches, lagoons and waterholes – some easily accessible, and others reached via bushwalking tracks. Unfortunately, the population growth of Sydney means some swimming spots can be too polluted to swim (I haven’t included these) and some are best avoided for a few days after rain.
See also wild swimming spots in Sydney’s south / Blue Mountains / Central Coast. The book Wild Swimming (by Sally Tertini and Steve Pollard) is also a great resource, with over 250 wild swimming spots around Sydney.
- Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Type of Swim: Beach (estuary)
- Distance to swimming spot: 2.4km
- Ease of access: Moderate
- Features: Caves, Shaded areas, Fishing, Wildlife
- How to get there: Flint and Steel track from West Head Road
Flint and Steel Beach is a sheltered and usually quiet beach at West Head. It's reaced by a 1km bushwalking track.
- Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Type of Swim: Beach (estuary)
- Distance to swimming spot: 2km
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Features: Shaded areas, Fishing
- How to get there: Flint and Steel track from West Head Road
Located on Sydney's northern beaches, Turimetta Beach is an unpatrolled surf beach. It's generally pretty quiet, but swimming can be hazardous due to strong rips.
- Type of Swim: Beach (ocean)
- Distance to swimming spot: 0.2km
- Ease of access: Easy
- Features: Shaded areas, Surfing, Fishing
- How to get there: Walking track from Narrabeen Park Parade
Refuge Bay has both a sheltered and protected beach, and a stunning cliff-top waterhole above the beach. It's most easily reached by boat, but can also be accessed on foot via an informal bushwalking track.
- Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Type of Swim: Beach (ocean), River
- Distance to swimming spot: 9.9km
- Ease of access: Moderate
- Features: Shaded areas, Waterfall
- How to get there: By boat via Hawkesbury River or bushwalking track from Salvation Loop
The popular Mullet Creek Falls (or Irrawong Waterfall) is a small but very photogenic waterfall. Mullet Creek drops off a wide ledge into a large pool and swimming hole.
- Irrawong Reserve
- Type of Swim: River
- Distance to swimming spot: 0.6km
- Ease of access: Easy
- Features: Shaded areas, Waterfall
- How to get there: Trail from Epworth Place (Warriewood) or Ingleside Road (Ingleside)
Lovetts Pool is a beautiful natural waterhole; a small waterfall drops into the natural pool. It's near the Elvina Track (at West Head).
- Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Type of Swim: River
- Distance to swimming spot: 3km
- Ease of access: Moderate
- Features: Shaded areas, Waterfall
- How to get there: Elvina Track off West Head Road
The "secret" Upper Gledhill Falls is a picturesque waterfall and swimming hole, only metres from McCarrs Creek Road at West Head.
- Ku-ring-gai Chase NP, West Head
- Type of Swim: River
- Distance to swimming spot: 0.2km
- Ease of access: Easy/Moderate
- Features: Jumping spot, Shaded areas, Waterfall
- How to get there: McCarrs Creek Road just before junction with West Head Road. Limited parking.
The Cascades is more of a waterhole than a waterfall, but does have a number of small cascades. Continue down Middle Harbour Creek after rain for the best cascades.
- Garigal National Park
- Type of Swim: River
- Distance to swimming spot: 3.6km
- Ease of access: Easy
- Features: Shaded areas
- How to get there: Douglas St near (Acron Oval) in St Ives, Ralson Ave in Belrose or Stone Parade in Davidson
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