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Places We Swim
From lap pools to ocean pools, rockpools to hot springs, Places We Swim covers the breadth of Australia, bringing you the 60 best places to swim, dive, jump, paddle and float around the country. You'll discover just what makes each swimming spot unique, learn the best time to go, gain some useful local knowledge and find out the best things to see and do in the area. With destinations ranging from the neighbourhood city pool to remote outback waterfalls, this book is a celebration of not just these magnificent swimming spots, but of the diverse landscapes and communities that make up Australia.
208 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
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139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 30, 2021
We originally used this book a lot in the summer of 2019 when we had family visitors from NZ to show around. It was fun because it got us trekking to new locations so they really got to see all the glorious sights Sydney has to offer.
Places like Curl Curl were awesome and not somewhere we'd usually swim but I was surprised by additions like Clovelly over other Eastern suburbs beaches.
We haven't yet had the opportunity to try the swimming spots in other states since last summer we were overseas and this summer we all can't go anywhere. I've plotted them all out on our Google Maps though so we look forward to the future time when we'll get to test out all the recommended dips.
All of the info that is supplied is really helpful to plan rewarding trips to each of the recommended places but it would be awesome if they could include a shout out about tides as there was a time that we failed to take that into account which wasn't ideal. Some of the places they included to check out "nearby" were a bit of a stretch, as in they can be a good drive away from the actual swimming spot.
I really enjoyed the little interviews that sandwiched each chapter, they offered up solid information and acted as a nice transition to the next state.
I have since seen that Clements and Seitchik-Reardon have come out with a new book focused solely on Sydney. I think this is a good move because it allows them to go deeper rather than wider. As the authors mention themselves, and I empathise with their endeavour, it must no easy job to curate such a small shortlist of swimming spots as is offered up in this original book when we as a nation are so spoilt for choice.
Places like Curl Curl were awesome and not somewhere we'd usually swim but I was surprised by additions like Clovelly over other Eastern suburbs beaches.
We haven't yet had the opportunity to try the swimming spots in other states since last summer we were overseas and this summer we all can't go anywhere. I've plotted them all out on our Google Maps though so we look forward to the future time when we'll get to test out all the recommended dips.
All of the info that is supplied is really helpful to plan rewarding trips to each of the recommended places but it would be awesome if they could include a shout out about tides as there was a time that we failed to take that into account which wasn't ideal. Some of the places they included to check out "nearby" were a bit of a stretch, as in they can be a good drive away from the actual swimming spot.
I really enjoyed the little interviews that sandwiched each chapter, they offered up solid information and acted as a nice transition to the next state.
I have since seen that Clements and Seitchik-Reardon have come out with a new book focused solely on Sydney. I think this is a good move because it allows them to go deeper rather than wider. As the authors mention themselves, and I empathise with their endeavour, it must no easy job to curate such a small shortlist of swimming spots as is offered up in this original book when we as a nation are so spoilt for choice.
March 3, 2019
An expensive paper weight.
Don't get me wrong, the photography is beautiful but as the great philosophers TLC once said, "Don't go chasing waterfalls".
This is not a guide book, it is far to vague for that, nor is it an interesting bucket list book... I feel as though it is only going to encourage the wearing down of these beautiful places through the sheer volume of visitors that won't respect the area (cynical aren't I - but from someone that spends so much of their time outdoors in magical spots, I see this happen constantly).
No doubt I've offended someone and I'll get some backlash, but this book is padded out with boring fillers while exposing beautiful areas that will soon be (even more) filled with insta-photographers....
Don't get me wrong, the photography is beautiful but as the great philosophers TLC once said, "Don't go chasing waterfalls".
This is not a guide book, it is far to vague for that, nor is it an interesting bucket list book... I feel as though it is only going to encourage the wearing down of these beautiful places through the sheer volume of visitors that won't respect the area (cynical aren't I - but from someone that spends so much of their time outdoors in magical spots, I see this happen constantly).
No doubt I've offended someone and I'll get some backlash, but this book is padded out with boring fillers while exposing beautiful areas that will soon be (even more) filled with insta-photographers....
November 22, 2018
More than an exploration of Australia's best places to swim! A stunning photo-essay on the country's recreational relationship with beautiful and unique bodies of water. The book captures the cultures surrounding each place, in-depth interviews with significant people and heartwarming insights into the remote swimming pools programme. As a guide, the text also includes pointers on where to eat and things to see or do around each place. Couldn't recommend highly enough!
January 23, 2019
I enjoyed this book.
Covers all of the country exploring 50 places to swim. Great for swimmers and beachlovers, even notes if dogs are welcome. Fun to see the ones you’ve been to, and of course, fun to think up all the ones that they don’t mention. Well worth a look.
Covers all of the country exploring 50 places to swim. Great for swimmers and beachlovers, even notes if dogs are welcome. Fun to see the ones you’ve been to, and of course, fun to think up all the ones that they don’t mention. Well worth a look.
April 13, 2019
What a wonderful journey around swimming places in Australia!
Thank you Natasha xxx
I'll be coming back to this book over and over again! Will look to getting to and experiencing some or many of these amazing places.
Thank you Natasha xxx
I'll be coming back to this book over and over again! Will look to getting to and experiencing some or many of these amazing places.
January 19, 2019
As an obsessive swimmer and sunshine seeker, I loved reading through this book and creating a bucket list of swim places to go to.
September 3, 2019
A trip down memory lane to some of the amazing places I visited as a kid and some inspiration for the next adventure!
April 22, 2021
Beautiful
July 1, 2021
Beautiful coffee table book
March 31, 2025
It Was a pretty book and some nice looking places to swim but I found it took longer than I expected to read.
January 26, 2021
Beautiful book for a coffee table, easy for guests to flick through.
And the photography is STUNNING.!
Wouldn’t read it again as a lot of the places are so insanely hard to travel to so it’s not actually that useful but super interesting to read it once and the photography is amazing.
And the photography is STUNNING.!
Wouldn’t read it again as a lot of the places are so insanely hard to travel to so it’s not actually that useful but super interesting to read it once and the photography is amazing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews