Marrinawi Cove

A quiet swimming spot in the Sydney CBD

So Sydney has many beaches near the CBD, yeah? You have Bondi Bondi about 10km away, Watsons Bay roughly the same too - yet, Marrinawi Cove is;

the first swimming spot west of the Harbour Bridge to open in more than 50 years. (Chris Baker, Swimming Sydney 2024)

Marrinawi Cove is still a relatively new swimming spot that opened in the beginning of 2023. It is located at the northern end of Barangaroo Reserve, and it provides people a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city, without having to travel outside of the city. It’s a small swimming basin - 700 square metres, to be precise, but especially with the newly opened metro city line, it is not far from public transport. Before the metro line opened in the city, you had to get off at Wynyard station, walk through Westpac Walk, and then through Barangaroo to reach this swimming basin. It’s a long walk.

This swimming spot opened as Sydney realises it needs more civil spaces, both parks and swimming spots, after the COVID pandemic. Barangaroo was once an industrial shipping dock, which became unsustainable as ships became more larger to carry bigger cargo, so Port Botany was built in 1979 to better handle those bigger shipments, with modern facilities and better access to road and rail. Operations officially moved to there in 2006, leaving Barangaroo as a massive blank concrete slate. Over the course of over 20 years, Barangaroo redeveloped into a new modern mixed-used precinct, with a lot of residential, hospitality, retail and community spaces.

I often come here on weekdays, hours before I head down to Broadway to meet up with my local game dev community. Going to the swimming spot means going through Barangaroo Reserve, a walk I always enjoy as this park shines during sunny days. I would pass by many people doing their afternoon run, or cyclists overtaking me. The view of the harbour waters is also pleasant, with many boats and ferries sailing to and from Darling Harbour.

When I finally arrive, there’s always a spot for me to lay down my towel, but not before changing into my swimmers in the nearby bathrooms, which are located on site. I would then spend about an hour and a half bathing in the sun, cooling down in the water, and appreciating the good view of North Sydney. There is a shark net installed at the northern end of the basin to protect swimmers from any potential threat.

I think the most outstanding feature of this spot is the sandstone blocks that surrounds the pool. You can find many sunbathers here appreciating their time alone, perhaps reading a book, or listening to music whilst having a nap. I would advise some caution as you walk down into the water for a dip, as the rocks can be slippery, and when you get out - especially as algae grows on the submerged stones, making walking on it extremely difficult. It takes a lot of dexterity and focus to not slip, even with the provided hand rails to hold on to. Admittedly, I slipped once on my way back to my spot, but it wasn’t that bad. I got up with a sore bum and a bit of embarrassment.

I don’t come here often whenever I visit the city, but I love to swim here as it’s a peaceful, quiet spot to spend time alone in. Sure, there are many other people here, but I never had anyone disturb me or anyone else - everyone just keeps to themselves. It’s nice to have this swimming spot available to everyone, in the middle of the Sydney CBD.

All images shown in this post are taken by me. You can find them, and use them royalty-free, on my Unsplash page.