12 secret swimming holes in Australia you've probably never heard of It's time to explore the country to experience the best natural swimming holes Australia has to offer, tucked away and waiting to be discovered. Victoria's best swimming holes. Location - Paluma Range National Park, North Queensland, AustraliaDistance - 100 metresDuration - 1 minuteGrade - 2, easyApproach - 60 km, 1 hour north of Townsville. Amazing little get away. text-align: center; Combine your swim with an overnight canoe adventure from Bendeela Campground, making use of one of the multiple campgrounds along the shore of the lake and ending at the dam wall the next day. A beautiful natural swimming hole just two kilometres from the Parramatta CBD, Lake Parramatta offers plenty of water action every summer when it opens in October. The pristine waterfalls, crystal clear waters, and ease of access to this freshwater creek are ideal for a refreshing swim. 1. if(change_link == true) { The setting was amazing with lovely farm animals. This swimming spot is certainly worth the short 15-30 minute hike off the beaten track. Lovely quiet spot right next to the creek. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Two people recently died swimming at Mahon pool at night with big waves, just like the article is suggesting. The creek which flows through the campsite was perfect to cool down in morning, noon and evening. 2. The trees of the bush leant their branches over the water like thirsty old men, and the sounds of birds and tumbling waterfalls are the only things we heard. There are heaps of breathtaking gorges with swimming holes in them, but Hamersley Gorge was my stand-out. As the walk to get here is really short, it's the perfect spot to come on a hot day. As construction teams moved slowly up the mountain building the road, they built ten tent camps. Leave your pets at home. It was framed by the orange-hued sandstone cliffs that reflected in the still dark emerald water of Kangaroo creek. The Grant McBride Baths. My trip in Feb 2023 was a solid week of thunderstorms and rain. Located in Orara West State Forest, this secret spot is dog friendly and just the beginning for exploring even more off the beaten track waterfalls and waterholes nearby. You can also take the 3km walk to the Rockslides - a series of swimming holes and cascades. If it's busy, make tracks downstream, where you'll find more pools to explore. The NT is filled with gorgeous waterholes for swimming, and as long as you pay attention to the signposts and dont swim where you shouldnt, youll be safe from the crocs, too. Best time to visit: Any time of the year, however as with all waterfalls, be . (See images featured). Otherwise, keep to the still water it's one of the deepest swimming holes in New South Wales. A pristine swimming spot about three hours south of Sydney in the beautiful Kangaroo Valley, above Tallows Dam. The walk into the gorge is less than a kilometre each . { Take some kind of water shoe, as rocks can be very slippery. The rocks can be slippery, and people have injured themselves here in the past. Do not attempt to cross strong flowing creeks and streams. Maybe you already hike with swimmers and a towel in your backpack, just in case, or maybe this is the first time youve ever considered swimming outdoors. Photo by @shaneonthego #daylesfordmacedonlife #visitvictoria #yourhappyspace, A post shared by Melbourne (@visitmelbourne) on Sep 25, 2018 at 2:02am PDT. Although there is other campers close by at other sites, they are not close enough to bother at all. If you take the walk around to Devils Pool, make sure you dont swim its illegal to do so because its pretty dangerous. These ponds get their water from the limestone springs, and are ridiculously clear a fave among divers and snorkellers. This is the most southerly national park in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Swimming holes, on the other hand, are very fun. Everything was fantastic, I couldn't recommended this campsite more! Our most westerly location for swimming holes in this list, Lake Cargelligo is 2 hours south west of Parkes in the township of Cargelligo. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ As no powered boats are allowed on the dam, this is the perfect place to settle into the rhythmical peace of a long swim or paddle. Update Tuesday, November 29: Bents Basin is currently closed due to localised flooding. We came across a crystal-clear creek, glowing in the sun in dusty tones of green blues and brown quartz, with extensive flat rocks that we lay across like sun-drunk lizards. Do not feed native wildlife. If you need to cool off in summer, fewer spots are as naturally refreshing as a natural swimming hole. Spring Creek swimming hole . [CDATA[ The pool is fed by a picturesque cascade and surrounded by dense bushland, it's like a little patch of paradise. The creek was perfect for cooling down on the hot days. . func(); Glass containers are not permitted in some areas as broken glass can cause injuries. The property also features a dam and a bore for both stock and domestic use and two large water tanks near the home provide ample drinking water. Really great location being at the foothills of the range. function external_links_in_new_windows_load(func) Demographics [ edit] In the 2016 census, Crystal Creek recorded a population of 259 people, a decrease from the 395 people recorded in 2011. We had a great time at the Horse Paddock and loved the creek. HEREAREA FEW LESSER-KNOWN SWIMMING HOLES IN NSW WHICH WE HOPE WILL INSPIRE YOU TO MAKE YOUR NEXT SWIMMING TRIP AN ADVENTUROUS ONE. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Launceston is one such place, and @dibb_ddib captured it perfectly on a recent walk to @northerntasmania's Cataract Gorge Reserve. It is an hours walk from the start of the trail to the falls and trust me you'll work up a thirst to go for a swim! Would thoroughly recommend. Located only 20 mins from Orange, Cascades waterfall is a great 900 metre single track to a waterfall with a swimming hole at the base. Head further down on foot to the swimming hole. Upper Crystal Creek, New South Wales, Australia, To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking. Join our community Facebook group to stay up-to-date with trip reports, conditions, to ask questions and get answers, and to share your adventure via photos and stories. Whether you're traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Stayz holiday homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including pool and fireplace. Firewood was available at our site, cheap and plentiful. Nice spot to sit in the creek with a beer! Our campsite is called 'Creek Side' as it's located right next to the creek on a flat grassy patch of land. if (!document.links) { FOR US, FINDING SOMEWHERE NEW AND WILD TO SWIM IS OFTEN AN EXCUSE TO GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK AND EXPLORE SOMEWHERE NEW. There is also interesting hiking in the national park with ruined buildings and roads from bygone years to discover, all of which can of course be punctuated by swims in the lake. The facilities at Big Crystal Creek are better, as there is a camping ground here. Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. change_link = false; . It depends on what you make with that stone A Wall, or A Bridge ??? s = d.createElement('script'); But beware submerged rocks when going for a swim in the Paluma Range National Park near Townsville. Whether you prefer splashing in a river or floating in the sea, here's Tim the Yowie Man's top seven secret swimming spots, just in time for the summer holidays. Crocodiles have been seen swimming and sunning themselves at two popular Far North Queensland water holes, wildlife officers say. Swimming at Big Crystal Creek in the Paluma Range National Park near Townsville, Queensland. Under licence, Crystal Creek enables 6ha of creek flat pasture irrigation. The water can be fast flowing so supervising little ones is a must. Complete privacy, private creek and glow worms at night. w[ l ].push( { And that water is clear, fresh, and heavenly. 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; There is an easy 1.5km circular route joining the two swimming spots together with the Gordon Falls Picnic Area but the track opens up a world of possibilities for more adventurous hikes as it connects with several other routes covering a large area of the Blue Mountains. Another one of those ridiculously pretty swimming holes, Crystal Creek is a short drive outside of Townsville and features THAT amazing old bridge as a backdrop. } Step out of the city and discover a new waterfall Turpins Falls is just 1.5 hours out of the city and a short drive away from the quaint little town of Kyneton in @daylesfordmacedonranges. Getting to this spot involves a fun scramble up the riverbed, which means that when you arrive at the deep pool under the waterfall, company is likely to be limited. A series of photos and brief words about some of the swimming holes, waterfalls and swimming lakes near Port Douglas and Cairns, the Daintree and Tablelands, in Far North Queensland Australia. With flat water and boat and watersports access via the Cudgegong Water Park this is a great spot for families with big and little kids looking to cool off in summer. A few people said they'd seen them, but finding proof was difficult. if(document.links[t].hasAttribute('onClick') == false) { Its not exactly a cool down, but surprisingly is ridiculously refreshing especially after a long day of dirt track driving. By the time you count up all the beaches, the entire harbour and the scattering of islands, you've got a serious stack of kilometres behind you. All Rights Reserved. But there are a couple of nearby accommodation options. If you like our content, please consider liking our Facebook page and Instagram account. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. Although Tehuti Falls houses a less diverse ecosystem, bug spray and sunscreen are not okay to introduce into any swimming hole, so long clothing is the go for sun and bug protection if you plan to swim. var d = document, A true bushwalking adventure with a very refreshing finale is on the itinerary when visiting Mermaids Pool in the Southern Highlands. You can also take the walk into the Gorge is less than a kilometre each not! The setting was amazing with lovely farm animals water of Kangaroo creek FEW! Morning, noon and evening: Bents Basin is currently closed due to localised flooding road, they built tent... Was available at our site, cheap and plentiful and cascades the 3km walk to @ northerntasmania 's Cataract Reserve. Sydney in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area the Paluma range national in... 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