Ocean

At the rock pool by Mona Vale’s Bongin Bongin Bay

Sep 20 2012

Mona Vale on Sydney’s northern beaches was originally known as Bongin Bongin, says John Ogden in his book Saltwater People of the Broken Bays. It was renamed in 1858 after the first farm in the area called ‘Mona’, which means ‘high born’. Ogden suggests the owner of the farm, Scotsman Robert Campbell may have named[…]

Aug 28 2012

A favourite game among my friends back in the 1970s at Northbridge Baths was to dare each other to dive under the suspended starting blocks and come up the other side. The bottom of the blocks was often covered in moss, so it was bit like venturing into a dark, slightly disorientating world. I was always[…]

Jun 19 2012

Pushed for time and with the weather cool I wasn’t going to swim in Bermagui’s Blue Pool. But when I saw it from the lookout above, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist. Diving into the bluey-green pool I felt like I was entering an exotic cave like the Grotto Azzurra (Blue Grotto) on Italy’s Isle of Capri. I have[…]

Dec 05 2011

There were plenty of surfers in wetsuits in the Werri Beach waves last Sunday but only one swimmer in the ocean pool. The cool, wet weather discouraged most from diving in but as lone swimmer Margaret commented: “It’s warmer in the water than outside.” So after taking a few snaps I joined Margaret in the[…]

Jul 01 2011

Tomorrow (2 July) is the last chance to catch an exhibition of photos taken at Sydney’s Bronte Pool on show at the Iain Dawson Gallery in Paddington. As the blurb says: “Wayne Fogden’s painting-like photographs capture the quieter moments, in which lone swimmers do their laps or rest on the edge of the pool, pondering[…]

Mar 26 2011

A story I wrote on some of Australia’s heritage pools entitled ‘Treasured pearls of the past’ is in the travel section of The Weekend Australian, 26-27 March, 2011. The featured pools are Manuka Pool, Canberra, Spring Hill Baths, Brisbane, Tobruk Memorial Baths, Townsville, Wylie’s Baths, Coogee, Newcastle Ocean Baths, Dawn Fraser Baths, Balmain, North Sydney[…]

Mar 04 2011

The Illawarra area, south of Sydney is blessed with many beautiful ocean baths. Between Coalcliff in the north to Shellharbour in the south there are around 24 pools built into rock faces by the sea. One of these beauties is the double ocean pool at Austinmer. With my good friend Marg and her son[…]

Nov 08 2010

On the weekend I immersed myself in the Palm Beach rock pool. Built in the 1920s, the ocean baths are at the southern end of Sydney’s Palm Beach in the area known as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour and Kiddies Corner. Overlooking the rectangular space are palatial homes, which these days are mainly owned by the rich and famous.[…]

Jan 14 2010

It only costs 20 cents to get into McIver’s Baths, a lovely sea pool nestled in a protected curve of the coast at Coogee. There’s no turnstiles or reception desk at this peaceful place so making a contribution relies on honesty and trust. Reserved for women and children only, no men are allowed at this[…]

Jan 10 2010

Visiting Coogee’s Wylies Baths last week with three of my nieces, I was reminded of the ‘marine biologist’ episode of Seinfeld in which George Costanza proclaimed: “The sea was angry that day, my friends … like an old man trying to send back soup to a deli.” Swimming in the turbulent waters of the[…]

At the rock pool by Mona Vale’s Bongin Bongin Bay

Underwater with Narelle Autio, Persephone and me

Swimming in champagne at Bermagui’s beautiful Blue Pool

South coast swimming at Gerringong’s ocean baths

Bronte baths featured in photographic exhibition

Swim into history at Australia’s heritage pools

Austinmer’s double ocean baths

Salt water bliss at the Palm Beach rock pool

Ladies-only at lovely McIver’s Baths

Wild waves at Wylies Baths