Dawn Fraser Baths

Definitely worth a visit and a swim. Such an interesting layout that feels like you’ve traveled to a far away place, nothing like this in Sydney. $7 entry for an adult and the water can be a merky brown but still great and vibes are high. Lots of people jumping off the wharfs and having fun.

A gem in Balmain 💙 We had a pleasant experience in the baths. The space was clean, civil, and respectful patrons all around. The water was refreshing, and views like the water and trees surrounding the space are very relaxing. There are places to sit and chill and basic toilet/shower amenities. The stairs can be steep, so take care when coming in and out. The baths have this historical feel and vibe about it as well. Staff and lifeguards are friendly and helpful.

Great public swim spot, not so accessible though. Recommend a visit

Lovely place for a summer dip. Good clean amenities and lots of places for shade and enjoy the sun.

Amazing place to spend a warm, sunny day. The entire is very spacious and clean. Decent showers and change rooms for everyone as well (male, female, unisex, family) There's a small patch of sand for a beach-y, free swim. They also have a lap area with 4-5 lanes. There were some jellyfish around in the lap area, so just be careful. The ladders and planks can be slippery too but nothing too dangerous.

This was on my bucket list, and I was not disappointed. The historic Dawn Fraser Baths. It is technically a river baths, which has been enclosed. The facility, after its recent upgrade, looks amazing. The staff were very friendly. Loved having the place to myself. Well worth a visit.

Very unique spot, tucked away and surrounded by a gorgeous lush garden. There is plenty of room in shade and sun. Nice cool water very cool to go to a pool where people can bomb & jump in seems rare these days! The floor is super super hot around the decking I’d bring sandals next time… locals seemed unbothered by how how burning hot the ground was 😆 also jellyfish & stingrays

Great local tidal pool. A bit of shade but not much. Lil shallow beach, stair and ladder entry and sometimes you can catch a water polo game! Can bring in picnic items and little shop as well! Nice to cool off on a hot day.

For those of us living in the Inner West, sometimes Dawn Fraser Baths is the closest thing we can to the beach. For you East/North/South shore folk this may seem ridiculous. But, despite the lack of sand, waves and seagulls, it is still the ocean and sometimes you've got to take what you can get. In the middle of summer Dawn Fraser ocean pool is packed with kids, water-polo teams, pregnant mums, big groups of teens, lap swimmers and anyone wanting to escape the city heat. The pool rises and falls with the tides, and we can kid ourselves that there's some surf if a ferry goes past creating a minuscule swell. Yes the beach may be free and Dawn Frasers may not be, but Dawn Frasers also has free parking, whereas many beaches do not. What's more, Dawny allows for jumps into the pool, it is shark-free and with timber boards instead of sand, you can make your way to the kiosk and back without sand being blown all over your icecream. Whilst I have some friends that won't come back here due to the occasional jellyfish, this is a standard ocean-related risk not specific to poor Dawny. And besides, this just makes it all the more of a genuine beachy experience. OPENING HOURS Oct - Nov 7.15am - 6.30pm Dec - Feb 6.45am - 7.00pm Mar - Apr 7.15am - 6.30pm Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

I've been going to Dawny since I was a tot, and thankfully it hasn't changed much! It's a fabulous spot for people watching: a lot of old Balmain characters still hang out there, leathery skin and Speedos .... you can also watch local teams play water-polo. When I lived in Balmain, Dawn Fraser Pool was the next best thing to a beach, and a whole lot closer. There isn't any sand (unless the tide is super low, I guess), but what you get is wooden boards to lie upon, which is actually really, really nice. You can stare down through the cracks at the water below. There's a mix of sun and shade, and a little canteen where you can buy hot chips and ice cream. You will probably see clear jellyfish, sea-weed, and little schools of fish in the water - it's a harbour pool so it comes with the territory. Sea lice can be a problem, though that's never happened to me. Dawny is generally nicer at high tide than during low tide, although at low tide you get to see the holes in the wooden slats: some big enough to let sharks in! Don't worry, there are no sharks, and they fixed the hole. I think. This pool is great for kids, and there are life savers hanging around watching everyone. As with Sydney beaches, it's best not to swim here after a heavy rain, as the run-off can contaminate the water.

A pool named after the famous Olympic athlete: Dawn Fraser who was born and bred in Balmain. Nothing overly spectacular; do not expect a Homebush Aquatic Centre type of experience. It is more of a sea pool, so watch out for bugs and sea lice. It has history and pride; and it is great that you don't have much of a choice but to walk through a fancy park (Elkington Park) to enjoy. Came here for my nieces birthday party for an in pool picnic on Christmas eve last year; a great day and a great (and different location) for a picnic. The children loved the pool; although I am not much of a fan. The water views of Sydney Harbour are just divine, and the change rooms aren't too bad either. The grass area for sun-baking is a bonus. Something different, yet not an establishment that I would be inclined to come back to in a hurry. Just the health factor as well.