Australia’s top 10 places for wild swimming

Australians will tell you about a dozen of their favorite wild swimming spots, but not necessarily the absolute best. The best places to swim in nature are those that you can enjoy all by yourself, even during the summer months.

In a large country like Australia, there are many wild swimming spots to choose from. Get your gear (or all of it if you like) off and jump in.

Queensland

Josephine Falls has a natural water slide.

The rainforest, which is listed as a World Heritage Site, is absolutely stunning. It’s home to animals like tree kangaroos, cassowaries, and platypuses. Wild swimmers are here for the amazing natural water slide that runs over a smooth granite stone into an aqua-green swimming pool. Bring your reef shoes, as the riverbed is very slippery.

Don’t miss Millaa Millaa Falls on the Atherton Tablelands.

You haven’t accidentally stumbled upon the set of Fantasy Island, but it is no surprise that Millaa Milla Falls, located in Australia, is among the most popular. Lush green rainforests, ferns, and flowering plants surround this 18m waterfall. It tumbles down in a wide white ribbon into a deep, shallow pool that’s perfect for swimming. This waterfall is part of the Waterfall Circuit, and you will not have it to yourself, but it still takes your breath away.

Victoria

Swim in Turpin Falls’ billabong

Want to take a swim in a Billabong (not the clothing brand, but a branch from a river that forms a pool of stagnant water)? Turpin Falls, a large and pretty billabong, is bordered by a 20m-high rock wall on three sides. The collection is free to use and offers a deep-tissue massage after heavy rain. Bring your inflatable flamingo.

New South Wales

Take the Woronora River from Sydney’s

The suburb of Woronora Road is 3km away from the Engadine station. This secret swimming spot can be reached in 15 minutes. The unspoiled Woronora River that augments Sydney’s water supply is lined with virgin bushland and the odd rope swing.

Camp near Jellybean Pool at the Blue Mountains National Park

The thick bush and rocky outcrops of Blue Mountains National Park surround Jellybean’s wide river beach. It is an ideal place to cool down on a hot summer day. It’s a short drive from Sydney so that it can be crowded. You can camp overnight to avoid crowds and visit the beach at sunrise or sunset. Or, swim around the bend to find your spot. On your way back, stop at Red Hands Cave to see the hand silhouettes left by ancestors between 500 and 1660 years ago. They are still vivid today.

Tasmania

Wineglass Bay is worth the hike in Freycinet National Park.

You can see it from the top by stopping at Wineglass Bay Lookout before you walk to the beach (it takes 2 ¹/2 hours to return). Wow! It’s amazing! The brilliant white arcs of sand gently curl around an isthmus. They gradually fade into turquoise, azure, and then deep-blue water, all against the granite mountain range called the Hazards. Why not bring a few wine glasses with you? Also, get a bottle or two of Tassie Pinot. It is best to visit in the summer when the water is transparent.

Western Australia

Karijini National Park is a colorful wonderland.

The incredible geology of Karijini Park may be located 1000km northeast of Perth, but it still attracts wild swimmers and photographers alike. This iron-ore land is a layered landscape of multicolored bands that look like a petrified sunrise. Many gorges are filled with crystal-clear water, which is the perfect remedy for summer temperatures that regularly reach 40 degrees Celsius. At Kermit’s Pool, rust-red rock layers stack up to form high walls around the deep-blue pool, while at photographer-favorite Spa Pool, the rock walls change color from chalk-white to crimson depending on the light and your perspective.

Relax in the Greens Pool, a sheltered pool at William Bay

Anyone who enjoys a natural, untouched shoreline with pure white sand and ultramarine, calm water. The beautiful boulders are what really make this place stand out. Greens Pool’s jigsaw puzzle of beautifully sculpted rock takes the wind and waves out, allowing the water to be calm, clear, and perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and floating.

Northern Territory

Desert Break at Ormiston Gorge, West MacDonnell Ranges National Park

A magnificent waterhole in the desert can be – well – holy. It is an incredible experience to plunge into Ormiston Gorge after driving through red dust from Alice Springs for 90 minutes. The waters of the West MacDonnell Ranges are sacred to the Western Arrernte, who call it Kwartatuma. They reflect the red escarpments and sage-green vegetation that surround the area, all set against a deep blue sky. Albert Namatjira, the local artist who died in 1959, loved to paint this landscape. It is easy to imagine yourself inside one of his vibrant, muscular paintings.

Jump into Gunlom Pool at Kakadu National Park

After a hot, steep scrub walk, visitors will be delighted to find the large swimming pool, which is fed by a seasonal waterfall. The view is what will take your breath away. The collection is perched high on the escarpment and offers a panoramic view of the Kakadu landscape, including three different habitats: stone country, wooded areas, and riverine (riverine). If you get your camera angle right, you can capture water and the infinity edge of a vista voted as one of Australia’s top 100 views.

The list below is just a small part of the many beautiful wild swimming spots that Australia has to offer. For more ideas, check out wildswimmingaustralia.com.

Words of caution

Remember that swimming in the wild can be dangerous. Check for obstacles under the water. Please do not jump into the water unless it is absolutely safe. This is especially true if you are not an experienced swimmer. Also, slippery rocks can be dangerous. Australia also has crocodiles. Check with locals first before swimming in remote areas in tropical Oz. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, you should keep your distance from any wild swimmers. ).