Make your next splash a hole in one with diving into Australia’s top hidden swimming holes.
Throw the jumpers away as winter 2020 is done for with things beginning to heat up. To help plan your next epic weekender by the water and under the blazing sun, Tourism Australia has uncovered the top hidden swimming holes around the country worth blowing up the pool inflatable.
Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park, NT
Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park stretches for 161km west of Alice Springs. Explore and appreciate the scenic beauty and history of the area on foot, swim in a waterhole, or pitch a tent for a longer stay. Take a dip in the cold waters of one the park’s permanent water holes. The larger water holes include Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Redbank Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge.
Champagne Pools, QLD
From the fascinating Fraser Island to the dense rainforests of the Daintree, Queensland is a haven for secret and secluded spots. One of the state’s most iconic waterholes are the Champagne Pools of Fraser Island, located 15km off of the Queensland coast. Shallow, sandy pools have been created by the ocean’s natural rock formations, allowing the crashing waves to create Champagne-like fizz during high tide.
Fern Pool, WA
Beyond waterfalls, Western Australia serves up more water holes than you could count. Take a two-day road trip from Perth to Karijini National Park, set in the heart of the state’s Pilbara region, to find Fern Pool – a picturesque swimming spot atop Fortescue Falls. Nearby, you can picnic overlooking the falls, or head to Circular Pool for a second swim.
Florence Falls, NT
Litchfield National Park, just under an hour and a half from Darwin, is full of remote rock pools and waterfalls waiting to be uncovered. Florence Falls might be the park’s best-kept secret; its picturesque plunge pool is open almost all year round for swimming, and there are plenty of nearby walks that offer unique vantage points.
Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park, SA
In South Australia, a six-hour drive south of Adelaide brings you to Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park, which has such clear waters that it is not only a popular spot for swimming but scuba diving, too. Divers have discovered a massive underwater cave due to the excellent visibility, which can be up to 30 metres (98 feet) on a good day. Swimmers can grab a snorkel and turn a quick dip into a serene float, observing the underwater world below.
Giles Baths, NSW
New South Wales boasts deep gorges, and dense rainforest falls, but you can also access amazing water holes right in Sydney. Located in the beachside suburb of Coogee, Giles Baths is a bogey hole, protected from the ocean swell by a natural rock break wall. It’s an idyllic place to take a dip in the ocean and even long enough to swim laps. At high tide, waves crash into the pool and make it difficult to swim without interference, but swap the goggles for a camera and you could be in for some dramatic photographs.
Kosciuszko National Park, ACT
The Australian Capital Territory might be small, but it still offers up incredible waterhole and waterfall experiences. Book a waterhole tour with Blue Skies Adventure Tours to embark on an expedition into the northern tip of Kosciuszko National Park, just over three hours from Canberra. Cross gentle rivers, explore hidden caves and wind past waterholes and waterfalls within the woodland.
Want to see where you can travel to?
With Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions around Australia easing at different times, Tourism Australia has created an interactive Australian Travel Status Map that enables consumers and industry to navigate the travel restrictions and the reopening of state and territory borders. The map provides a national picture including an up to date status of border restrictions and links to each state and territory for further advice and resources.
Feature image: Fraser Tours
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