Australia's most special swimming spots
Dive in and splash about in secret swimming holes around Australia – many that you can only reach with an Indigenous guide.
Getting ready to dive in to a waterhole in Mossman Gorge © Tourism Australia
From the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory; from Queensland’s outback to its World Heritage-listed rainforest – there’s no denying that Australia has some of the most ravishing places to swim on the planet, whether saltwater or freshwater. And many of them are so special – so remote – that the best (sometimes the only) way to experience them is with an Indigenous guide. Often you won’t know they exist unless you’re on a Discover Aboriginal Experiences tour.
In Queensland, the Mossman River carves through the Daintree Rainforest of the Cape York Peninsula. Along its route you’ll find the purest of waterfalls spilling over mossy rocks into gin-clear swimming holes, all enveloped by ferns and the world’s oldest rainforest. Cool off during tours to this part of the world with Walkabout Cultural Adventures and you’ll not only have the chance to dip in a waterway that is as spiritual as it is serene, but get to visit with an Aboriginal guide who will explain the significance of the ancient flora and fauna that surrounds – they know all the secret places to take the plunge, with no-one else around.
Woman enjoying the scenery around a waterhole at Mossman Gorge © Tourism Australia
Also on the Cape York Peninsula, Jarramali Rock Art Tours is an extraordinary discovery of what UNESCO regards as one of the top 10 rock-art sites in the world. Outside of Laura, your base is an exclusive camp within easy reach of the ancient petroglyphs. By day and by night, you’re the only ones here. Which means you’ll have the river that cuts a dramatic form through the landscape all to yourself when it’s time to cool down. If you opt for the longer two-day experience, guide Johnny Murison will take you to a hidden waterfall oasis on Yalanji Country. Feel your spirit soar and your cares wash away.
Soaking in the Queensland outback with Jarramali Rock Art Tours © Tourism Australia
Venture west to the Northern Territory where Kakadu and Litchfield national parks are home to more legendary waterfalls than you can count. At the base of Jim Jim, Gunlom and Twin Falls, among many others, there are emerald pools to splash about in. Get your bearings and find the best spots with companies like Kakadu Tourism, Kakadu Cultural Tours and Davidsons Arnhemland Safaris, then plot your own course to return and dive in.
Even further west, the Kimberley region at the top of Western Australia is as remote as it is ravishing, a landscape with one of the lowest population densities in the world. Which means that there are endless opportunities to soak in secluded swimming spots – and the guides at Kingfisher Tours have insider knowledge.
Soaking up the waterfalls and swimming holes of Western Australia's Kimberley region © Tourism Australia
A highlight is Secret Springs, around 20 kilometres east of Kununurra, an oasis replete with beaches, multiple pools, plenty of fish… and even more photo opportunities. Swap Western Australia’s freshwater swimming spots for the ocean at World Heritage-listed Shark Bay, where Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures offers nature-based tours that last from a few hours to multiple days. Your guide may lead you to Big Lagoon within Francois Peron National Park / Wulyibidi, an incredibly scenic place to swim, kayak and snorkel. This part of the state is known for its majestic blood-red cliffs and crystal-clear turquoise waters, which teem with birds, small school sharks, rays, dolphins and dugongs.
Aerial view of the beach on a tour with Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventures, Shark Bay, WA
