In a city known for its opera house and harbour bridge, a lesser-known claim to fame is Sydney’s ocean pools. Dotted along the beaches and coastline, many are more than 100 years old. Often named after their winter swimming clubs, they provide safe access to sea water for recreational and competitive swimmers.

Despite their longevity, each has its own unique character. For instance, Bondi’s Icebergs are a bright white lap pool with a distinctive shape that’s famous around the world. Located on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, it’s a stunning location for Instagram snaps year-round. On the North Shore, you can swim in Manly Beach’s Freshwater Rock Pool, which is accessible from the promenade that links Manly and Shelly beaches via the Cabbage Tree Bay Eco Sculpture Walk.

Then there’s Coogee’s Wylie’s Baths, the only tidal pool in Australia designed for women and children. Built into the cliffs, it offers raised decking and sweeping views over Wedding Cake Island. The pool isn’t heated other than by natural wave action, and its open to the sky, so it shifts temperature much more frequently than you’d expect from a Sydney beach – 12 degrees in winter, 24-plus in summer.

If you’re looking for a new pool for your Sydney property, you need to find a qualified local builder who can meet all council regulations. With Poolz, we match you with local builders who’ve worked with your council before and can complete a site inspection at your home before providing an instant price estimate for the cost of your new pool.

Every council has different construction guidelines, and some pools require a development application or a Licensed Certifier to approve the build. This process takes 2-6 weeks, so it’s important to allow plenty of time for your pool project. Having the right local team on board will help you get your plans approved quickly and avoid delays.

Once your local builder is onboard, they’ll begin the concrete laying process, which takes about 2-3 weeks depending on your design and the size of your pool. After that, they’ll spray on a layer of gunite or shotcrete, which creates the structural framework. The next step is curing, which usually takes 3-4 months, and then tiling and coping can be installed. After a month or so, your pool will be ready for use.