Close to the top of the list of what I miss about North Sydney Pool is the deep salty water. Northbridge Baths has plenty of that. The baths are made up of a netted off section of Middle Harbour with plenty of space for splashing about in the shallows and a set of starting blocks and lane ropes a bit further out that float up and down on the tide. It was more or less high tide when I visited so the lane ropes were about four metres off the sea bed.
The trouble was when I was there last Sunday afternoon you couldn’t see the sea bed. In fact I could barely see my hand in front of my face the water was so cloudy. It was really disappointing as it was a lovely sunny day and there hadn’t been much rain during the week before so I was expecting the water to be OK.
It was my second attempt at Northbridge as it was too busy with a kids party on Saturday so I ended up at the ABC instead. I feel I need to come back to Northbridge and maybe it’ll be third time lucky. I swim quite often at Balmoral and have done the Sydney Opera House swim a couple of times so I know that the harbour can be sparkly clear.
Despite the water quality it is pretty special. There aren’t many sorts of pools like this in the world. It’s similar to the chilly Serpentine Lido in London, and there are a couple of other harbour enclosures I plan to try in Sydney.
History
According to this site Northbridge Baths were built in 1924 and were originally 33 yards. The dressing sheds were added in 1927 and the pool area was extended to 55 yards in 1938. Northbridge Swimming Club was founded in 1925 and has been running handicap races on Saturday mornings during the summer season ever since.
It was also briefly (for a couple of weeks only I think) the home of the North Sydney Masters squad late last year who couldn’t swim at North Sydney with their covid restrictions. They’re now at Lane Cove until the renovations are finished.
Swimming
Pool etiquette is the same all over Australia – swim up and down on the left in a clockwise direction. This is pretty widely known, so I’ll give the swimmers here the benefit of the doubt and say that it’s harder to keep to the left when there’s no black line to follow!
The lanes are also quite narrow and the lane ropes are just that – ropes with foam floats every metre or so. Narrow lanes are fine for squad swimming when everyone knows the rules, but this early autumn afternoon was the domain of the head-above-the-water breaststroker who warranted a wide berth to avoid their flailing arms and legs.
With the funky water and the dodgy breaststrokers to navigate I ended up getting out early after only 200m. The changing rooms and hot showers were surprisingly good for a pool that is open to the public without any staff on site, so I had a quick shower and dried off in the sun with my kindle.
Coffee
There’s a kiosk that’s apparently open on Saturday mornings but otherwise it’s a trip up to Northbridge itself for a post-swim coffee.
Ratings
Read the Swimming & Coffee Rating system post to find out more about this highly scientific and objective rating system!
| Overall | ⭐️⭐️ I’d come back to have a splash and sit in the sun with a book for a bit, but wouldn’t rush back to swim some laps. A pleasant spot but variable water quality and narrow lanes. |
| Speedo Rating | 🩲 I’m sure it’s geared more towards lap swimmers in the early morning, but on this autumnal Sunday afternoon was the domain of the head-out-of-the-water breast-strokers and kids running around and bombing in to cool off. I was the fastest swimmer. Which tells you something. |
| Friendliness & Pool Etiquette | 🙏🙏 No staff on site. Friendly atmosphere with some families. A few local teens hanging around. Not much lane discipline. A place for cooling off rather than serious swimming. |
| Magic | 🪄🪄🪄🪄 Nice spot to spend a leisurely afternoon that could only really be Sydney. |
| Facilities | 🚿🚿🚿 Clean showers and changing rooms. The council must clean them regularly even though there’s no one on site and the pool is free to use. There’s a kiosk run by the swimming club that I understand is open on Saturday mornings. Beach with shelter and BBQ area. Plenty of space on the board walk around the enclosure to lie in the sun with a book. |
Practicalities
It’s a harbour pool. Best not to swim after heavy rain. And as the council website says:
Swimmers are to use their own discretion before entering the baths, and to visually inspect the water before swimming. Do not swim if the water is discoloured, smells unusual, or has significant amounts of rubbish or plant litter.
Willoughby Council Website
| Address | 2 Widgiewa Rd, Northbridge 2063 |
| Website | https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Council/Venues/Northbridge-Baths |
| Water | Unfiltered, untreated Harbour water. A bit funky on my visit. |
| Cost | Free. |
| Parking | There’s a small free car park at the end of Widgiewa Road and some street parking along the narrow backstreets of Northbridge. Probably hard to come by on a hot summer day. |
Swimming & Coffee 