Water play and swimming for kids in Sydney City & the Eastern Suburbs

Things to doRainy dayPlaygroundsToiletsEat with kids
30 places to cool off across the region: water parks, pools, beaches, lakes and swimming spots, nearest first from Sydney. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.

Everything on the map

Over the border

South-West Sydney →St George & the Sutherland Shire →Sydney's Inner West →Sydney's North Shore →Sydney's Northern Beaches →
Nearest first, from Sydney

Beaches and islands

Beach illustration
Beach
Double Bay Beach
Double Bay
about 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Bellamy Beach
Rose Bay
about 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Seven Shillings Beach
Point Piper
about 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Rose Bay Beach
Rose Bay
about 10 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Queens Beach
Vaucluse
about 10 min
Shark Beach
Beach
Shark Beach
Sydney Harbour National Park
Harbour beach at Nielsen Park, Vaucluse, with shady lawns, picnic areas and a cafe; check Beachwatch water quality before swimming.
about 10 min
Photo: Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bondi Beach
Beach
Bondi Beach
Professional lifeguards patrol the beach all year; Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club, founded in 1907, is the world's oldest.
about 10 min
Photo: Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Camp Cove Beach
Beach
Camp Cove Beach
Calm harbour beach a short walk from Watsons Bay ferry wharf, good for swimming and snorkelling; start of the South Head Heritage trail.
about 10 min
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Clovelly Beach
Beach
Clovelly Beach
Small, calm bay between two rocky ridges with concrete promenades on both sides and a saltwater pool on the southern side.
about 10 min
Photo: J Bar, CC BY 3.0
Coogee Beach
Beach
Coogee Beach
Family-friendly beach with calmer surf; showers, change rooms and toilets mid-beach near the Arden Street bus stop.
about 10 min
Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0
Maroubra Beach
Beach
Maroubra Beach
1 km surf beach and National Surfing Reserve; Arthur Byrne Reserve behind it has a shaded playground and skate park. Swim between the flags.
about 15 min
Photo: Moatazayman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Malabar Beach
Malabar
about 15 min
Little Bay Beach
Beach
Little Bay Beach
Small, calm, unpatrolled beach down a steep wooden staircase, with a child-friendly man-made rock pool at the southern end.
about 20 min
Photo: TotyVox, CC BY-SA 3.0
Congwong Beach
Beach
Congwong Beach
Kamay Botany Bay National Park
Sheltered family beach reached by a 100 m path with steps from Cann Park, La Perouse; check Beachwatch water quality before swimming.
about 20 min
Photo: Floodstreet, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Cruwee Cove
La Perouse
about 20 min

Waterfalls, lakes and swimming

Pool illustration
Pool
Cook and Phillip Park
Sydney
under 5 min
Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool
Pool
Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool
Sydney
under 5 min
Photo: eyeintim, CC BY 2.0
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre
Pool
Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre
Ultimo
under 5 min
Photo: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Marrinawi Cove
Swimming spot
Marrinawi Cove
under 5 min
Photo: Jake Coppinger, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pool illustration
Pool
Prince Alfred Park Swimming Pool
Surry Hills
under 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Victoria Park Pool
Camperdown
under 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre
Zetland
about 5 min
Bondi Icebergs Pool
Swimming spot
Bondi Icebergs Pool
Tidal pool complex at the south end of Bondi Beach with a 50 m lap pool and a smaller children's pool; lifeguards on duty during opening hours.
about 10 min
Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0
Bronte Baths
Swimming spot
Bronte Baths
Ocean-fed pool at the south end of Bronte Beach, with a natural rock pool suited to young children; the surf beach itself can be rough.
about 10 min
Photo: Allan Henderson, CC BY 2.0
Parsley Bay
Swimming spot
Parsley Bay
Quiet harbour beach with an enclosed swimming area, playground, kiosk and a footbridge over the bay on a 20-minute bush loop.
about 10 min
Photo: SproulesLane, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swimming spot illustration
Swimming spot
Giles Baths
Natural rock pool at the foot of Coogee's northern headland, reached from the coastal walkway; popular with older kids and teens.
about 10 min
Swimming spot illustration
Swimming spot
McIver's Ladies Baths
Women and children only: the last women's-only seawater baths in Australia, between Coogee Beach and Wylie's Baths.
about 10 min
Ross Jones Memorial Pool
Swimming spot
Ross Jones Memorial Pool
Man-made ocean pool at the southern end of Coogee Beach; Randwick Council calls it lots of fun for families and it gets crowded on hot days.
about 10 min
Photo: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wylie's Baths
Swimming spot
Wylie's Baths
Ocean baths built in 1907, a few hundred metres south of Coogee Beach, looking out to Wedding Cake Island; open daily from 7am.
about 10 min
Photo: Collywolly, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mahon Pool
Swimming spot
Mahon Pool
Rock pool below Jack Vanny Reserve, north of Maroubra Beach; steep steps down from the Marine Parade car park, toilets and showers on the cliff.
about 15 min
Photo: Rmonty119, CC BY 2.0

Also in this region, more than 4 hours from Sydney

Sydney Harbour National Park (by ferry or water taxi; Captain Cook Cruises runs a service in school holidays, and visitors must book and pay a landing fee): Shark Island
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.