Western Sydney locals cool off in their own backyard
THEY may be a long way from the beach but when it comes to incredible swimming spots, western Sydneysiders are spoiled for choice.
NSW
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WHEN people living in Western Sydney say they’re going to hit the beach, it doesn’t always mean they’re heading across town to the ocean waves.
During summer, people in the west are increasingly cooling off in their own backyard — across a series of hidden waterholes affectionately known by locals as “the beach”.
The west has plenty of largely unknown swim spots that are guaranteed to be less crowded than their overrun counterparts around Bondi or Manly. The foot of the Blue Mountains is home to Erskine Creek and the Glenbrook Gorge, with popular swim spots such as the Glenbrook Creek Beach, Blue Pool and Jellybean Pool.
Campbelltown residents cool off in the Georges River including Simmo’s Beach at Macquarie Fields.
Travel blogger and hiking enthusiast James Stuart, 39, from Canterbury, who was inspired to spend more time in “the great outdoors” after the birth of his daughter Marilla, has labelled Jellybean Pool the “Bondi of the Blue Mountains”.
“Sydney has the largest wilderness area right on its doorsteps but without the crowds of the eastern suburbs,” Mr Stuart said.
“There are a series of rivers and creeks running through the Blue Mountains and they all have swimming holes.
“Jellybean is one of the more accessible, family-friendly ones.”
Wallacia is also home to a series of beautiful swimming holes and freshwater lakes feeding off the Nepean River including Bents Basin, Norton’s Basin and St John’s Basin — although the locals recommend rubber shoes for some of the rocky areas.
Destination NSW also recommends Navua Reserve at Grose Wold in the Hawkesbury, and Lake Parramatta, both of which are family-friendly destinations with safe shallow swimming areas and sandy banks.
Lake Parramatta even has its own lifeguards, plus non-motorised boating areas, a playground and barbecue facilities for those less-than-rugged explorers.
A Destination NSW spokesman said “the little ones of the west” can also splash around at interactive water play parks such as James Ruse Reserve, Philip Ruddock Water Playground and Nurragingy Reserve Water Park, which are fitted with tipping buckets, water jets and fountains for the kids.
And then there’s Wet’n’Wild which opened in 2013 and is now offering a surf school to those who want to learn to hang 10 without having to trek across town — or worry about whether the waves are pumping or not.
The water theme park also runs a Surf Life Saving Nippers program to save Western Sydney parents the long trip east every Sunday morning in order for their kids to learn essential surf skills.
But for many, it is the natural watering holes — the hidden gems — that are the biggest attractions.
“Whenever I’m going outdoors, I’m always going west,” Mr Stuart said.
“Get off the paved roads and on to the bush track and you’ll find the most beautiful, secluded places.”
Tourism and Major Events Minister Adam Marshall said Western Sydney residents shouldn’t feel like they’re “missing out” when it came to places to frolic in the water this summer.
“Western Sydney is as an adventure-lover’s paradise,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s home to world-class swimming pools, water parks and lakes; perfect for families and friends to visit together to beat the heat.”