New Swim Spots to Try This Summer
New Swim Spots to Try This Summer:
Your Guide to Dips, Dives and Free Fun Around Sydney
Summer has officially clicked into scorching mode – the kind where the washing dries in six minutes, the kids beg for ice blocks before breakfast and the only acceptable weekend plan is “where can we swim?”
This year, the answer is: everywhere.
Sydney has quietly dropped a whole bundle of new (and newly revived) swim spots — and many are perfectly positioned for Inner West families who want to splash, float or flop somewhere beautiful without trekking across half the city.
Here’s your guide to the newest places to cool down, chill out and beat the heat — all free, all fabulous, and all ready for your next family day out.
🌊 Bedlam Bay, Gladesville — The Quiet Riverside Gem
Hidden behind the old Gladesville Hospital is Bedlam Bay, a just-opened swimming cove on the Parramatta River that feels like stumbling onto a secret bush-beach.
What you’ll find:
- A shark net for safe paddling
- Water-quality checks via the Riverwatch website
- Plans for handrails, change rooms and even a pontoon
It’s peaceful, pretty and just five minutes from the Inner West. Yes, the river occasionally gifts us some natural debris — but locals are already calling it their new shortcut to a cooling dip without the Bondi parking battle.
Vibe: Shady, calm, quietly magical.
Bring: Snacks, curious kids, zero expectations and you’ll be delighted.
More info: Bedlam Bay, Gladesville
🌞 Marrinawi Cove, Barangaroo — Reopened, Upgraded and Very Chic
If you’ve ever dreamt of a city swim like the Europeans do it — plunging into the harbour between coffee runs — Marrinawi Cove is your place.
Freshly reopened with a big upgrade, it now boasts:
- 150sqm more swimming space
- A 45m swim stretch
- Sandstone steps, handrails and a brand new non-slip platform
- A shiny double outdoor shower
- More space to throw down a towel
And because Barangaroo never does anything halfway, weekends from 6 December through March come with free live music, gelato carts and barista-made coffee right by the water.
Vibe: Seaside holiday meets CBD lunch break.
Bring: Bigger kids, swimmers that can handle sandstone, and an appetite for gelato.
More info: Marrinawi Cove, Barangaroo.
💦 Bayview Park, Concord — The Inner West Swim Spot Making a Comeback
If you’ve ever looked at the Parramatta River and thought, “We should be able to swim in that,” the City of Canada Bay heard you.
Thanks to $700,000 in funding, Bayview Park is set to resurrect its long-lost river baths, which closed back in 1969. Think:
- A swimming safety net
- An outdoor shower
- Ongoing water testing with Sydney Water
- A return to those nostalgic, neighbourhood-style swims
This one isn’t open yet — but it’s coming, and it’s big news for Inner West families who want easy, local, crowd-free water play.
Vibe: Nostalgia meets modern-day river revival.
Bring: Patience… and excitement. This will be a game-changer.
More info: Bayview Park, Concord
🏖️ Penrith Beach – Western Sydney’s Own “Inland Bondi” Reopens
If the kids want a proper beach day — sand, space, water for miles — but you don’t have the emotional energy for the M5-to-Maroubra crawl, Penrith Beach is your new best friend.
Reopening Saturday 6 December, this enormous, calm, family-friendly freshwater beach has already seen 330,000+ visitors since its debut last year. And it’s free.
What makes it worth the drive?
- Open daily 7am–7pm during peak season
- Plenty of sandy shoreline
- Great water visibility and gentle entry
- Free family activities all summer
What’s on:
👧 Junior Lifesaving Program (Term 1)
For ages 5–12 — fun, action-packed lessons in swimming, rescues and water confidence.
🚨 Community Water Safety Days
Includes hands-on water safety sessions, free lunch, and a free shuttle from Penrith Station.
🩺 Skin Check Champions
Free skin cancer checks — extremely mum-approved.
Vibe: A laid-back Gold Coast day trip… but 40 minutes away.
Bring: Beach toys, a big esky and kids who need to burn energy.
More info: Penrith Beach
🏖️ Still to Come… Callan Park Tidal Baths Are One Step Closer
If you’ve ever power-walked the Bay Run and thought, “Imagine if we could actually swim here,” you’re not alone — and now, that vision is finally moving from dream to draft plan.
After years of advocacy and extensive water quality testing, the Inner West is taking the next step toward creating the Callan Park Tidal Baths – a stunning new swimming spot right on the Bay Run.
With its prime foreshore position and natural harbour outlook, this could easily become one of Sydney’s most iconic urban swim sites.
The Inner West Council is now seeking community input on the design and construction of the baths, with a focus on creating a space that works for everyone who uses the area — walkers, cyclists, joggers, families, pram-pushers and splash-seekers alike.
This is your chance to shape what could become a genuinely beloved, and heavily used, Inner West destination.
Vibe: The Bay Run, but with a swim at the end.
Why it matters: It’s the closest the Inner West has come in decades to having its own dedicated harbour swim spot.
What’s next: Community feedback will help inform the final design – think access, safety, seating, and how this new space will weave into daily Bay Run life. Want to have your say? Click here.
🏖️ Looking for more family friendly swim spots? Check out this article on Sydney’s top outdoor swim spots.
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