Sydney pools are a great way to cool off and enjoy the summer, but they must comply with stringent safety standards. If you plan on installing a pool, be sure to read up on local government rules and check that your site doesn’t interfere with underground power lines or utilities. It’s also a good idea to hire a professional pool builder that has experience in the area and is licensed and insured.

One of the best sidney pools is at Bondi Beach, where the iconic Icebergs pool beckons swimmers to hang out on its terrace with a drink and imagine themselves in a summery coming-of-age movie. The pool’s clifftop location is part of what makes it so popular, and its famously pristine waters are ideal for swimming laps or simply chilling.

Another great Sydney pool is Bronte Baths, where you can combine a swim with the iconic Bondi to Bronte costal walk. This pool, too, has an idyllic setting, tucked into the cliffs behind Bronte Beach. You can lounge on the edge of the pool and warm up like a lizard, or float in the water while you take in the stunning views and luscious greenery.

The city’s inland waterways and swimming centres are equally welcoming, with many offering free public lap swimming. The best lap pool is perhaps at the newly upgraded Prince Alfred Park Pool, which nabbed two national architecture awards when it was recently upgraded. Its buttercup yellow sun umbrellas and lush lawns bring the Riviera vibe, and its 50-metre pool is always at that jump-right-in temperature that screams summer.

Ocean pools, meanwhile, have been a staple on the Sydney coastline since the 1890s. These pools were particularly important recreational and learn-to-swim venues for country children staying at the Stewart House Preventorium, as well as for city residents taking advantage of the free, state-wide club swimming program. They forged further links with country communities in the 1930s, when club members took their expertise to rural areas and taught kids how to swim.