A pristine, crystal-clear pool is a summer essential. Whether it’s a public swimming pool or your own private backyard oasis, swimming pools are the perfect way to beat the heat and get in some water fun. While the idea of a pool in your own backyard may sound like a luxury, it’s actually more affordable than you think. You can find quality swimming pools at an affordable price by shopping online. Just make sure you do your research before making a purchase. There are many different types of swimming pools available on the market, so you’ll want to choose the one that’s right for your needs and budget.
Serene at low tide, choppy at high, Sydney’s ocean pools are the city’s very own version of an infinity pool. And with the reopening of iconic swim spot Bondi Icebergs, it’s time to check out the rest of Sydney’s aquatic gems.
The city has more ocean pools than any other in the world, says Dr Marie-Louise McDermott, a maritime archaeologist at the University of Sydney. And they’re an important part of the local culture. “Sydney’s sea pools have been a major influence on the city’s cultural identity, with their association with health, wellbeing, community and social interaction,” she says.
They’ve been in the city for more than two centuries, starting when convicts carved the state’s first pool at Newcastle’s Bogey Hole in the 1800s. And in 1907, Coogee’s Wylie’s Baths opened, a tidal pool carved into the cliffs by Henry Alexander Wylie, a champion long-distance swimmer.
Since then, the city has built dozens more, from Coogee to Shellharbour and beyond. And while some have closed, others have been revamped. Some, like the ones at Bondi and Icebergs, have become multi-million dollar attractions for tourists, but others, like the one at Mount Druitt, remain a beloved community resource.
In addition to being a great place to swim, Mount Druitt’s pool is also home to the Stingrays Swim Team, which this year boasted around 100 youth members. “There’s something about this pool and the people who go there that feels good,” says the team’s head coach, Nicole Zavadil.
With its buttercup yellow umbrellas, sun-drenched lawns and rippling turquoise waters, it’s easy to see why the pool is a local treasure. But the future of Sydney’s iconic pool culture isn’t without its challenges. Rising sea levels, driven by climate change, could spell trouble for ocean pools. Because they’re built on rock platforms, raising them would require lifting the bottoms of the pools as well, and there’s no guarantee it can be done safely. Regardless, the pools will continue to play a vital role in Sydney’s summer culture.