The Sport ReportWhere we swim
Our favourite ocean swims in Sydney
Set the alarm, pack your cossie and grab a coffee on the way. These are the Sydney swims we'd happily drag you out of bed for.
Three kinds of Sydney swim
Sydney does three kinds of swim: ocean pools carved into the rock at the edge of the surf, beaches with proper waves, and calm harbour bays where the water barely moves. Here are the ones locals keep coming back to, east to north.
Bondi Icebergs
At the south end of Bondi Beach, Icebergs sits right in the surf zone. It's one of Sydney's most photographed ocean pools and the home of winter swimming. Laps here come with waves crashing over the edge, so it swims like a pool and feels like the ocean. Bring a friend to film it.
Bronte Baths and the coastal walk
Walk Bondi to Bronte past Tamarama, then reward yourself with the Bronte ocean pool at the south end of the sand. It's sheltered enough for easy laps, and the grassy park behind it was made for a slow morning with a pastry.
GORDON'S BAY
One of my personal favourites. Protected, and great for a snorkel.
SHELLY BEACH
A staple. Round the corner from Manly, Shelly Beach sits inside a protected aquatic reserve. It's calm, shallow and the closest thing to a bay swim on the surf side. The open-water scene is strong here too, and Manly's big summer ocean swim starts on this stretch of coast.
Harbour days
When the surf's pumping, Sydney heads to the harbour. Camp Cove at Watsons Bay, Parsley Bay and Nielsen Park are calm, sandy and sheltered. They're also a gentle spot to build your open-water confidence before you graduate to the ocean pools.
Shop the pieces
Racer
Crossback straps for Icebergs laps and surf-side swims.
Shop Racer →Scungies
Low-rise swim shorts for running in through the shore break.
Shop Scungies →Brazilian
Reversible and cheeky, for harbour bays and ocean pools.
Shop Brazilian →Everything's on presale right now, which is our way of keeping waste out of it — we only cut what's actually been ordered, so nothing ends up sitting in a warehouse or marked down into landfill. Estimated to ship early December. We'll email you if anything changes.