Completing The Swim Around Middle Harbour

I actually began the swim around Middle Harbour last week when I swam Balmoral Baths and the non-existent sharkproof enclosure at Balmoral Beach. Today was a chance to complete the swim around Middle Harbour, and, hopefully, around Sydney Harbour itself.

Northbridge Baths

Northbridge Baths is a large enclosure in Sailors Bay. It's a bit like Wylies or Balmain as you pay a small entrance fee, and there are hot showers, a kiosk and a lifeguard. You can also hire kayaks from here.

 The warm, salty water became deep very quickly, and I swam over to the lane ropes to do lengths of front crawl and breaststroke.

Swimming Enclosure in Garrigal National Park

Thank you National Parks and Wildlife Service. You always provide pertinent information. 

This swimming enclosure is at a very narrow part of Middle Harbour just before it becomes Middle Harbour Creek. There are some great bushwalks through the scrub along the harbour and creek.

It was low tide when I got here, and I had to struggle through shin-deep mud to get into the swimming enclosure. There was quite a deep channel, though, so I was able to swim the length of the faux shark net.

Pickering Point Swimming Enclosure 

 Another walk down steps and a bushland track to get to this enclosure. The day was starting to get warm, and I was ready for my lengths in the baths. 

Sangrado Pool

As I arrived at Sangrado Pool, there was a council notice telling users that the pool was closed. I was disappointed, but thought I'd walk down the bush track to the foreshore just for a look. As it turned out, the pool was simply missing its shark net. The outer walls of the baths were intact, so I just did my lengths between them.

Clontarf Pool

By the time I got here I was getting really hot, so, after I swam a couple of lengths, I stayed in the water, duck diving in the deep parts and trying to get cool. The pool and beach are very popular for families with young children. this was the only place I swam on Middle Harbour today that was close to being crowded.

This was the final tidal baths in Middle Harbour, but it was still early so I set off to swim North Harbour ( just around Grotto Point from here).