There are plenty of great places in Sydney to cool off. With its far-reaching coastline, magical harbour and abundance of urban public pools, it’s easy to find a swimming spot within reach. But when you want a celebratory-style pool day, where you can turn Thirsty Merc up to full volume and get silly with your closest friends, it’s preferable to have your own space. Fortunately, with the help of an app and a handful of private hire companies, you can rent an entire pool to yourself at the touch of a button.
Whether you’re after an idyllic ocean pool with views of Barrenjoey Headland or a quiet, hidden cove at the foot of cliffs, here are some of the city’s best hidden gems.
The rocky, inter-tidal pools of Sydney Rock Pool are a highlight of this beautiful bayside reserve. At high tide the water is sheltered by rocky outcrops, making it a safe and calm swimming area. At low tide you can walk out to a small beach and build sandcastles.
A favourite of surfers, this ocean pool is set amongst rocky outcrops at the base of Jack Vanny Reserve. The water is chilly, but the pool’s spectacular setting and scenic surrounds make it worth a visit.
While there are plenty of benefits to owning a fibreglass pool, such as durability, ease of maintenance and cost, they can be limited in terms of shape, size and design. This is because the shell of a fibreglass pool is made from moulds, meaning there are only so many shapes, sizes and designs that manufacturers can produce.
Leaks are a common problem for pool owners, and can waste thousands of litres of water. Sealing leaks is essential to prevent further damage, and can be done using a readily available leak sealer found at most pool stores. The most common forms of leaks are suction and pressure leaks, which occur around the pump. Cracks in the lining, concrete or tiling of a pool can also lead to leaks.
Pools has a youthful energy and the filmmakers’ intent to breathe new life into the genre is admirable, but the film doesn’t quite swim as gracefully as it should. A lack of direction is felt throughout, and while there are confident ingredients, it feels as if the film is still finding its strokes.
Amid infighting, claims of pork barrelling and heritage concerns, the North Sydney Pool’s ill-fated renovation has become a textbook case of how not to deliver an infrastructure project. But, despite the budget blowing out to over $100 million and opening dates being delayed until 2025, federal independent MP Kylea Tink says she is committed to keeping it open – if the Federal Government can deliver its share of funding. She points to a Snowy Valleys Council trial, which found that free entry helped increase visits and income from cafe sales, classes and swimming and aquarobics lessons. If the plan is successful, it could be replicated in other regional NSW towns.
