#placestoswim

~  P . O . O . L  ~  R . E . V . I . E . W  ~

8. W O M B A R R A   R O C K   P O O L  

by Dawn Tratt

Wombarra Rock Pool is a weird shape. 

It can’t decide if it’s a rectangle or a triangle. 

The northern end has three edges - like a giant pair of scissors has chopped off the right corner of a rectangle. 

The southern end has two uneven sides likes the pool is busy transforming into a triangle.

From the air it reminds me of high school geometry. Is it a quadrilateral? A trapezoid? I love that it’s none of the above. It’s just Wombarra. Take me or leave me. Wombarra don’t care.

I chose to swim a straight-ish line between the pointy triangle side to the chopped off corner poking into the sea.

I feel a sense of accomplishment after 1km.

The first time I swam at Wombarra, I climbed out after two laps. The day was overcast, the water black and there were creepy fingers of seaweed lightly touching me with every stroke.

In contrast, today the water is clear and the seaweed keeps its hands to itself.

I also have Shani with me. Swimming is best with a buddy.

On the way back to the car we stop to talk to a middle aged woman holding two large bundles of seaweed draped over her shoulders.

She encourages us to eat some raw.

I chew it with my back teeth, and swallow.

It’s rubbery and tasteless.

Shani immediately spits it out, scrunching her face in disgust and scraping her tongue with her fingernails.

The lady tells us the slippery seaweed is nutrient-dense.

I say, “awesome, thank-you, and bye-bye,” walking away.

The lady continues to talk about the benefits of seaweed.

I’m not sure she has noticed that we are no longer standing in front of her.

I watch her from the car, turn on the ignition, and drive away.

For all I know, she’s still there. Talking about the seaweed.

Wombarra Rock Pool gets 9/10 in my Pool Review of ocean baths:

Wannabe triangle and rectangle pool encourages you to be creative with your lap... you decide from which point to begin and end

It looks like it’s 50metres, though from where to where, I don’t know

Panoramic view of the ocean

Cold showers and change rooms

Paddling pool for minions.  

Seaweed-eating locals 

Next stop… Coalcliff Rock Pool

ENDS

Photo 1 - “Wombarra” by Cardinal Direction Productions

Photo2 - “Wombarra” also by Cardinal Direction Productions

~  P . O . O . L  ~  R . E . V . I . E . W  ~

7. A U S T I N M E R   O C E A N   P O O L S 

by Dawn Tratt

The Austi noticeboard is awesome.

Some swimming angel writes in chalk the date, water temperature and a quote or a riddle for the day.

It’s these personal touches that makes life magic.

Locals leave their belongings undercover on benches next to the noticeboard and dingy toilets, then walk about 30 metres down to the pools.

There are two. The narrower one on the right when looking out to the ocean is 50 metres, a local assures me, and the one on the left is a little smaller.

I choose the 50 metre pool, of course. 

The waters are crystal clear.

With each long lazy stroke I watch the sand puff up like smoke from the shallow bottom of the pool. 

Swirling.

The sharp barnacled walls closest to the beach-end of the pool make kicking off after a tumble turn a little painful. 

Best to do tumble turns at the far end jetting out into the sea rather, and just stop and turn around on the beach side.

After my 20 laps I jump into the smaller pool, swimming like a little froggy underwater and running my fingers through the soft sand, like a loving owner does her pet dog.

Lush.

Austi is a lovely location to visit but I don’t belong here.

I miss the Conti.

Austinmer Ocean Pools gets 8/10 in my Pool Review of ocean baths:

Two pools - the narrower one is 50 metres

The other shorter one is great for wading in and for children

Panoramic view of the ocean

Cold outdoor showers to wash off

The noticeboard is a sweet touch

Dinky cafes and restaurants overlook the beach - great choice for foodies and coffee drinkers

Next stop… Wombarra 

ENDS

Photo 1 - “Austinmer Aerial” by Kramer Photography

Photo 2 - “Austimer Pool Sunrise” by Kramer Photography

~  P . O . O . L  ~  R . E . V . I . E . W  ~

5. T O W R A D G I  R O C K   P O O L  

by Dawn Tratt

Towradgi heals.

The day after I tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in my left knee I asked my husband, Kobi, to take me to Towradgi Rock Pool.

I limped down the ramp and collapsed into the pool’s embrace. 

I swam a languid freestyle, my left leg floating behind me. I towed it like a beachie lifeguard would an injured surfer, broken by an unexpected wave. 

“The ocean is healing me,” I repeated silently to myself with every stroke.

After 10 days of dedicated ocean pool swimming, predominately at the Continental Pool, as well as modified yoga, I regained full range of motion in my leg and was able to ride my bicycle again. 

Whether it was Towradgi Pool, my positive mindset or good fortune that healed me is irrelevant. 

As modern day poet Kate Tempest says, “It’s true if you believe it”.

And I believe the moment I waded in the cool, glassy waters of Towradgi the healing was well and truly underway.

Towradgi Rock Pool gets 9/10 in my Pool Review of ocean baths:

50 metres

Panoramic view of the ocean 

All the little fishies

Cold outdoor showers to wash off

A great place to heal metaphysical wounds

P.S. For the staunch lap swimmer, this pool is tricky to get into a flow due to the turbulence, no lane markings and the sometimes build-up of sand at the far right of the pool

P.S.S. The magic of this playful and calming pool cannot be described in words, especially at high tide, which is like swimming on a treadmill or out at sea. Once my 20 laps are done, I like to explore the sandy bottom and chase all the finned-critters - there are heaps. Apparently a shark and an octopus have enjoyed the pool in the past too. “It’s the vibe”.

Next stop… Bellambi Rock Pool.

Photo 1 by Chilby Photography

~  P . O . O . L  ~  R . E . V . I . E . W  ~

4. W O O N O N A   R O C K   P O O L  

by Dawn Tratt

I stare at cracks.

Swimming up and down Woonona Rock Pool in a straight line, without colliding with other freestylers is possible.

Even though the pool has no lane markings or lane ropes, if you have clear goggles and 20/20 vision there are definite lines or cracks visible on the bottom of the pool. Straight as an arrow.

A local lap swimmer says people getting into the water smothered in sunscreen affects visibility and makes it harder to see the cracks on the bottom. 

However, she says the Wollongong City Council adds chlorine to the salt water during routine Monday maintenance which helps. The pool is otherwise unsupervised.

The day I swim at Woonona the water is crystal clear, and notably colder than the other pools I’ve enjoyed this week.

Without a hot shower facility I am not sure I would be game enough to swim here in winter.

Woonona Rock Pool gets 8/10 in my Pool Review of ocean baths:

50 metres

Panoramic view of the ocean 

Cold outdoor showers to wash off

Next stop… Towradgi Rock Pool.

Photo 1 by Chilby Photography. 

Photo 2 by Chilby Photography. 

~  P . O . O . L  ~  R . E . V . I . E . W  ~

3. C O L E D A L E   R O C K   P O O L  

by Dawn Tratt

What’s with the flat rocks sitting on the bench at Coledale Rock Pool?

I push one aside, and sit down.

The surface of the pool ripples and sprays in strong onshore winds. I squint in the sun, watch two fishermen chasing after something in the wind’s playful grasp. Fishing line? A bag?

One fisherman throws a dead fish at a seagull nearby. Seagull pecks at the flesh and then squawks at other gulls to get lost.

I strip off, place the car key inside my plastic goggle case underneath my neatly folded hoodie towel on the long wooden bench, and slide my jandals off under the bench.

A walking ramp into the pool helps ease me into the cool ocean water, one step at a time.

Without lane markings at the bottom of the pool, I swim straight by intermittently lifting my head out of the water completely to make sure I don’t crash into the Jackson 5 of family swimmers. 

All the children, and the parents are seasoned swimmers. The mother tells me the kids usually do 12 hours of swim training a week, but because their squad pool is closed due to COVID-19, they’re here.

Dad is coaching from the outside of the pool, and Mum takes the lead as her ankle-biters blitz me every lap. 

Thank God for these outdoor pools, without which those little nippers would no doubt drive their poor parents stark-raving bonkers. They have energy to burn.

I finish my 20 laps as a smiling man with a winter coat of dark body hair enters the water.

“You should see this place at high tide,” he says smiling. “The water pours into the pool. It’s beautiful but hard to swim.”

When I get to the bench all my stuff has been thrown around like a police raid.

About 20 metres away I see my towel, and in the same line I find two upturned jandals, my car key and the goggle case looking aghast with its mouth gaping open.

Next time I swim at Coledale I’ll be sure to use one of the flat rocks on the bench to weight my possessions in the wind.

Coledale Rock Pool gets 8/10 in my Pool Review of ocean baths:

50 metres

Panoramic view of the ocean 

Pretty little paddling pool to the side

Cold outdoor showers to wash off

Rugged and untamed

Next stop… Woonona Rock Pool.

Photo 1 by Chilby Photography

Photo 2 by Liz Bell Photography 

Photo 3 by Liz Bell Photography

~  P . O . O . L  ~  R . E . V . I . E . W  ~

2. B U L L I    R O C K    P O O L  

by Dawn Tratt

There’s an otter in the pool.

Rather than swimming up and down the length of the pool, the old man with the words “Otter” printed across his bobbing butt cheeks, is freestyling perpendicular, left to right. Otter don’t give a fuck.

I watch a while with my buddy Rachel, an off-duty poolie who is also at Bulli for a COVID-19 stress relief swim.

“Can he not do that?” I say as though I own the pool.

What if he karate chops me in the head just as I get into my flow? Gah, if only this was a manned pool, there’d be rules against this chaos.

Next minute Mr Otter gets out. YUS! I’m in.

Bulli Rock Pool gets 8/10 in my Pool Review of ocean baths:

50 metres

Panoramic view of the ocean 

Grassy hill overlooking the pool and beach - perfect for mediation and yoga

Cold outdoor showers to wash off

Bulli Beach Cafe looks out onto the pool and beach

Minions’ paddling pool

Good enough for otters

But it’s no Conti...

* No designated lanes for lap swimming

* No public hot showers

* No legendary lifeguards (unmanned)

Next stop... Coledale Rock Pool.

ENDS

Photo 1 - “Bulli Aerial, Wollongong” by Kramer Photography.