If you're down in Sydney's southernmost suburbs, head to Shelly Park Beach where you'll find an expansive ocean pool alongside a big patch of green. Dunk your head in, set out to do some laps or go for a dip with the family at this saltwater swimming hole, before drying off by soaking in some rays in the park. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the park, so you don't have to worry about leaving Spot at home — as long as you have someone to watch over him while you hit the water.

This sea pool is at the southernmost tip of Sydney, where the drowned valley estuary of Port Hacking nudges the boundary of Royal National Park. Regular swimmers know the best time to visit is just after dawn when the sky is brushed with gold and the day-trippers are yet to arrive. In a sheltered bay that is part of a marine reserve, the pool is mostly protected from the weather, but when the surf’s up, breaking waves turn a swim here into an adventure ride.