The harbour is Sydney’s star attraction. It’s our scenic playground and come summer time, there’s nothing quite like a swim in Sydney Harbour.
But we’re not the only ones swimming in Sydney Harbour (🦈) so there are a few things to keep in mind (like where the shark nets are) to ensure a safe and fun swim in the harbour.
This is your guide to the best spots to swim in Sydney Harbour with helpful information like whether the swimming area is enclosed with a net and what facilities are located nearby.
From rock pools to harbour beaches, find your perfect Sydney Harbour swimming spot and dive in this summer.
Map of Places to Swim in Sydney Harbour
Camp Cove
Camp Cove is located on Sydney Harbour close to South Head and just a short walk from Watsons Bay wharf. With the city skyline in view, a sandy shoreline, and a boating exclusion zone in place to protect swimmers, Camp Cove is a popular place to swim in Sydney Harbour. Parking is available at the Cliff Street car park, or you can walk from the bus stop and ferry wharf at Watsons Bay. Toilets are close by and there is a kiosk right on the beach to purchase drinks and cafe food. Dogs are not allowed on Camp Cove beach.
Murray Rose Pool (Redleaf Pool)
Murray Rose Pool, formerly Redleaf Pool, is a picturesque swimming area at Double Bay. This harbour swimming spot is enclosed by a net and features a semi-circular jetty around its perimeter and a couple of pontoons too. Murray Rose Pool adjoins the sandy harbourside Seven Shillings Beach. There are plenty of facilities at Murray Rose Pool including drinking water fountains, toilets, showers, shaded areas to sit, and a cafe from which to buy food and drinks. Dogs are not allowed at Murray Rose Pool.
Marrinawi Cove
Marrinawi Cove is an enclosed swimming area at the northern end of Barangaroo alongside Walsh Bay. This swimming spot has views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the passing ferries as they head into Barangaroo and Pyrmont or across to Balmain and onward along the Parramatta River. Located on the edge of Barangaroo Reserve, this swimming spot doesn’t have a sandy shoreline like some other Sydney Harbour locations, but rather limestone blocks that step down from the reserve into the harbour. Marrinawi Cove has a shark net in place and nearby toilet and shower facilities.
Clifton Gardens Chowder Bay
Clifton Gardens Reserve is located on Chowder Bay in Sydney Harbour. It features an enclosed swimming area and jetty, with plenty of nearby facilities including drinking water fountains, picnic tables, and toilets. Car parking is available at Clifton Gardens Reserve, or you can walk from the harbourside track that forms part of the Spit to Manly walk. You’ll also find cafes and restaurants at Chowder Bay.
Balmoral Baths
Balmoral Baths is located at the popular Balmoral Beach in Mosman. The netted swimming enclosure has a curved jetty boardwalk around its perimeter, and a sandy shoreline. Balmoral is a great place to enjoy a swim on the northern side of Sydney Harbour, with its long shoreline extending from the baths, past Rocky Point Island to Edwards Beach, providing plenty of space to relax on the sand or in the adjacent Balmoral Reserve. Facilities at Balmoral Beach include toilets and showers, plenty of drinking water stations to refill your water bottle, and nearby waterfront kiosks, cafes, and restaurants.
Clontarf Beach
Clontarf Beach at Middle Harbour is one of the beaches you’ll pass when walking the Spit to Manly track. At Clontarf there is a foreshore reserve alongside a harbour beach that features an enclosed swimming area. Facilities at Clontarf include a playground, BBQ and picnic areas, and shaded lawn, drinking water, showers, and toilets. There is also a cafe and kiosk in Clontarf Reserve to purchase food and drinks, and parking is available in the car park alongside the reserve. While dogs are not allowed on Clontarf Beach or in the swimming enclosure, dogs are permitted in Clontarf Reserve (learn about off-leash and on-leash hours for dogs at Clontarf Reserve).
Forty Baskets Beach
Forty Baskets is a small beach located on Sydney Harbour at Balgowlah, not far from Manly. This beach has a netted swimming enclosure with jetty on one side, and a sandy shoreline. There is lawn with shaded areas immediately behind the sand, and facilities include BBQs, bench seating, and toilets. You’ll come across Forty Baskets when walking Spit to Manly and Bondi to Manly, or you can drive and access from Beatty Street in Balgowlah Heights.
Fairlight Beach Rock Pool
Fairlight Rockpool is a tidal pool located at Fairlight Beach on the north side of Sydney Harbour. Directly alongside the coastal walk through to Manly, Fairlight Beach has a sandy shoreline and grassy reserve. There are toilets and showers at Fairlight Beach, and plenty of space to roll out your picnic blanket or beach towel to relax harbourside after a swim.
Dawn Fraser Baths
Dawn Fraser Baths is a tidal harbour pool alongside Elkington Park in Balmain. Built in the 1880s, the baths have a proud history as a favourite swimming spot for many Sydneysiders. Dawn Fraser Baths are open daily during the summer season (except for Christmas Day) and there is an onsite kiosk, as well as toilets and showers. The entry fee for Dawn Fraser Baths is per session or you can purchase a monthly or seasonal pass.
Greenwich Baths
Greenwich Baths is a seasonal netted swim enclosure located on Greenwich Point. Featuring views across the harbour to Cockatoo Island and the Sydney city skyline, Greenwich Baths is beautiful spot to swim. You can relax alongside the baths on the sun lounges or grab coffee and snacks from the cafe to enjoy on the waterfront picnic tables. An entry fee applies, giving you access to the baths, change rooms, and showers.
Maccallum Pool
The Maccallum Pool at Cremorne Reserve has picture postcard views of Sydney featuring the city skyline and Sydney Opera House. Dating back to the 1920s, the Maccallum Pool is a testament to the community that built and advocated for it, having long now cemented its place as a favourite place to swim for both Sydneysiders and visitors to the city. The 33m pool has wooden decking around its edges which makes for a popular spot to relax in the sun. The harbourside pool is almost always open (closing only for scheduled weekly cleaning to take place). Facilities including toilets and drinking water fountains available nearby in Cremorne Reserve and there’s a small cafe on Cremorne ferry wharf.
Got Questions About Swimming in Sydney Harbour?
Can I swim in Sydney Harbour?
There are some parts of Sydney Harbour where swimming is prohibited such as the area between the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, known as Sydney Cove.
Is it safe to swim in Sydney Harbour?
When swimming in Sydney Harbour you should be aware that there are a number of risks to keep in mind to ensure you have a safe experience.
Because there are sharks in Sydney Harbour, it is safer to choose a swimming area that has nets such as Murray Rose Pool in Rose Bay, Balmoral Baths, or Marrinawi Cove at Barangaroo.
You can also check the water quality of various swimming locations around Sydney Harbour by entering the location into the Beachwatch website.
You will have noticed that many boats including ferries, cruise ships, and other recreational boats use Sydney Harbour, and that’s one reason why particularly busy areas such as the waters around the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Circular are off-limits to swimmers.
Are there sharks in Sydney Harbour?
Yes there are sharks in Sydney Harbour. This is why many of the swimming spots on Sydney Harbour have areas enclosed with nets, and why experts recommend precautions such as not swimming at dawn or dusk, avoiding swimming near people fishing, avoiding murky waters, and staying close to shore.
Where are the best places to swim in Sydney Harbour?
There are so many great places to swim in Sydney Harbour. Making a safe choice when choosing where to swim can ensure you enjoy your experience swimming in Sydney Harbour. You may like to consider whether or not a swimming spot on Sydney Harbour has a shark net.
Some popular places to swim in Sydney Harbour that do have a shark net are Murray Rose Pool at Rose Bay, Marrinawi Cove at Barangaroo, Clifton Gardens on Chowder Bay in Mosman, Balmoral Baths, Clontarf Baths, Forty Baskets Beach, Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain, and Greenwich Baths.
There are also several popular Sydney harbour beaches without shark nets, including Milk Beach on the Hermitage Foreshore Walk, Camp Cove near Watsons Bay, Chinamans Beach in Mosman, and Castle Rock Beach on the Spit to Manly Walk.
You should also keep in mind that most Sydney Harbour swimming spots are unpatrolled. Where Sydney’s popular beaches like Bondi and Manly have lifeguards patrolling during the day, this is not the case at the small, harbour beaches. As such, it’s important to know how to swim before entering the water and to be aware of the limits of your abilities, and the conditions on the water.