Melbourne is renowned as Australia's cultural capital, and with good reason. Our festivals and facilities - the State Library Victoria, our Princess Theatre and others give proof to those claims. Our city is also considered Australia's sports capital. We host the annual Australian Open tennis event and are home to no fewer than 27 professional sports teams.
Melburnians don't just rush from one installation to the other event, though. In our downtime, we like to relax, take in the sun and splash about in refreshing waters. We love our outdoors and thirst for adventure.
If you're among that crowd, St Kilda's might be too tame - and too crowded for you. Near our town and farther afield, aquatic wonders await. So pack your cozzies and a picnic lunch or your camping gear. We're off to find the best swimming holes in and around Melbourne.
Swimming Holes, Melbourne and Close-by
Pound Bend at Warrandyte National Park - 45 Minutes Away
Our nearest national park offers leafy coolness and frisky wildlife. The Yarra beckons with its watery welcome and Pound Bend is one of its prime wild swimming spots.
We have ancient gold miners to thank for this delight. They bored through nearly 150 metres of rock in their hunt for that precious metal. Today, the basin they left behind offers us calm waters to dip into and float on.
Blackwood Pool at Werribee Gorge - One Hour Away
If you head to Blackwood Pool at the right time of the year, you may swim with curious companions. Platypuses abound in this region and this pool is their favourite.
Blackwood lies along the Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk. You'll find other pools along the way that you can dip into. Should you go during the low-water season, you might not have much water to swim in. But you can still enjoy the stunning views you'll see as you hike.
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MacKenzie's Flat at Lerderderg State Park - One Hour Away
This state park has one of the coolest names to pronounce. The river that gave it its name cut a gorge 300 metres deep into the sandstone and slate. Thus, it created many picturesque swimming holes.
You may also get your hike on in this park. Lerderderg maintains three short trails and three long ones, as well as picnic sites. Be sure to stock your cooler with picnic provisions; you'll want to spend the whole day exploring.
Turpin Falls in Langley - One Hour Away
Turpin Falls is legendary as much for its snakes as for cliff diving. However, it's best to not dive off a cliff. A rash of injuries some time ago caused a diving ban. Still, the Campaspe River is a good place to cool off, and Turpin Falls is the best spot for that.
These are the types of close water retreats that Sydneysiders are jealous of. Sure, you can find amazing swimming holes in and around Sydney. But how many can hold a candle to our local swimming treasures?
Wild Swimming Spots With Camping
Fairy Cove in Wilsons Promontory National Park - 2.5 Hours Away
For a more secluded swim, consider this slightly arduous trek. Leave your car at Darby Saddle and hike along Tongue Point Walk. In no time, you'll arrive at Fairy Cove where, sadly, anyone's yet to discover any fairies. But you'll enjoy your swim.
We found another mystical swimming hole in Adelaide, in a conservation park. It presents a different type of wild beauty that Wilsons offers. However, we confess that the Promontory Coast is far more dramatic and picturesque.
Blue Pool in the Briagolong State Forest - 2 Hours Away
Blue Pool is an oval-shaped basin that lies in the Freestone Creek gorge. This swimming hole's shape is natural and its waters are crystal-clear; the pool tends to keep a warm temperature year-round. Once you splash in, take the time to contemplate the scenery. Your stillness will encourage the wildlife to show itself.
Lake Catani in Mount Buffalo National Park - 4 Hours Away
This artificial lake once belonged to a winter resort; now it forms the crown jewel in Mount Buffalo Park. You may camp near this lake to enjoy everything this park has to offer, including rock climbing and hang gliding. Don't forget to bring your bike! You may cycle up some of the park's challenging roads and cool off with a swim afterwards.
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Swimming Holes With Adventure
Polly McQuinns, Strathbogie - 2 Hours Away
Legend has it that 'Polly' couldn't grow a beard. Angry at the constant ribbing over his baby-faced appearance, he downed too many sherries and drowned. Man-made waterfalls feed these pools, one of which is indeed deep enough to drown in.
One of Perth's best swimming holes also has an interesting legend. It dates back to the times when the railroads needed lots of water for their steam engines. That era of train travel has long since passed, so the reservoir built for train service is now a swimming hole.
Laughing Waters, Eltham - 40 Minutes Away
If you're feeling lazy but restless, drive the short distance to Eltham, where you can drift along the Yarra on your floatie. For a more exciting water adventure, go a little further, to this popular swimming hole. There, you'll find frisky water rushing across rock pools. Just be careful when you step in, lest you tread on a yabby.
Loddon Falls, Glenlyon - 1.5 Hours Away
Just outside Daylesford and just down a gently sloping trail, you'll discover a cascade of water filling a heavenly pool. Loddon Falls lies in a quiet bush reserve, home to various species of wildlife. Its cathedral beauty might tempt you to mute your fun, all the better to spot the beasties as you swim.
Kitty Miller Bay, Phillip Island - 2 Hours Away
Motorsport enthusiasts head to Phillip Island for the Motorcycle Grand Prix. Wildlife lovers come to see the penguins. Historians wait for low tide to inspect the SS Speke wreckage while surfers clamour for the high tide waves.
Swimmers enjoy the salty water and snorkelling to spot starfish and sponges. The bay's rocky reefs teem with marine life, sheltered in this bay. The beach itself is horseshoe-shaped. Legend has it that all who visit there find their luck.
Gooram Falls, Seven Creeks Wildlife Reserve - 2 Hours Away
South of Euroa lies a small outpost called Gooram. Driving just a hair beyond it, you'll arrive at Gooram Falls. Its waters thunder into rock pools as they cascade down. You'll need to walk about 400 metres from the car park to the water. If you've got an adventurous streak, you might sneak a swim while you're there.
Gooram Falls is a lot like some of the best places for wild swimming in Brisbane. All of Queensland's mountains make for a lush terrain and its rainforests produce a lot of moisture. Thus, it's no surprise that this state's landscape is dotted with cascading water to fill its swimming holes.
Legendary Swimming Spots, Melbourne and Beyond
Ladies Bath Falls at Mount Buffalo - 3 Hours Away
A century ago, Australians loved hiking through the wilderness and swimming just as much as we do. However, males and females were not allowed to bathe together back then, hence the curious name. Today, swimmers of all types can enjoy these waters.
Bring your picnic basket and make sure your camera is charged. You'll find plenty of reasons to use it along the walking trails and at the pool itself.
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Venus Baths at Grampians National Park - 3 Hours Away
It would be hard to overstate the delight The Grampians has in store for outdoors enthusiasts. Its unique rock formations make it a bucket-list destination for climbers the world over. Gliders crave the lift they get from the Grampians Wave. Hikers dream of going the full 164 kilometre Peaks Trail.
Swimmers are at a slight disadvantage. Splashing into MacKenzie Falls is not allowed but if you trek a bit further, you'll find inviting pools. Venus Baths is the best example of such. You can reach it if you start at Halls Gap, following an easy trail for just over two kilometres.
Wingan River at Croajingolong National Park - 7 Hours Away
We've saved the best of Victoria's wild swimming spots for last. Croajingolong National Park is the type of destination where you pack your camping gear and a week's worth of food for. You'll find so much to see and do that you might not want to emerge from the wilderness.
Wingan River is the most renowned wild swimming spot but by no means the only one. This park is full of billabongs and swimming holes, including one enticingly called Elusive Lake. On your way there, be sure to catch the Wingan River Rapids.
Croajingolong National Park is one of Victoria's - and our country's most spectacular retreats. So it follows that the Wingan River is rated as one of the best places to go wild swimming in Australia. It may take a bit of petrol and patience to get there. Still, you're in for a treat from the minute you arrive.
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