

If time is on your side, you can make the full nine-kilometre trek from Darby River, which passes through Fairy Cove and finishes at the breathtaking Tongue Point lookout.įind it: Around three hour's drive from Melbourne. To find Fairy Cove's white sandy beach and heavenly pool, park at Darby Saddle and take a sweaty hike through the steep terrain of Tongue Point Walk - you'll be well rewarded by the isolated beach, cooling waters and blissful serenity that awaits you. Sadly no fairies (that we know of) reside in the stunning blue waters here, but the magical seclusion away from the crowds of Wilsons Prom's busier sites is well worth heading off the beaten track for. Madeleine Deaton via Flickr FAIRY COVE, WILSONS PROM

And in between dips, you can stoke your inquisitive spirit with a mosey around the famed rusted wreckage of the SS Speke, which ran aground in 1906 and is also accessible at low tide.įind it: Around two and a half hour's drive from Melbourne. If you're especially keen on the latter, come by at low tide when the beach reveals a large rock platform that acts as a good jumping-off point. Located on Phillip Island, it's a sweet coastal setting where visitors can find solace in the gentle waves, venture further out to hit the surf or have a snorkel among the rocky reefs - with sponge, starfish and other aquatic creatures happily going about their day. The salty waters at this 500-metre-long, horseshoe-shaped beach provide good luck and good times to all who enter. The Best Day Trips from Melbourne to Take in Summer The Best Beach Camping Spots Near Melbourne The Best Natural Hot Springs Near Melbourne The Best Coastal Walks in and Around Melbourne Here are our picks of the best swimming spots around Melbourne – be they waterfall, beach haven or billabong. Not sure where to start? Luckily, we've done the research for you, so grab your inflatables and get ready to practice the art of floating, sans crowds.
Hidden water holes near me skin#
Armed with knowledge and sturdy water shoes, it was time to get our fix.When the weather's fine and balmy, there's nothing better than stripping down to your togs, baring your skin to the glaring summer rays and cannon-balling into a swimming hole near Melbourne.Īnd hey, why not make this the year to shake things up a little? Instead of heading to your local swimming spot you've frequented a thousand times before, opt for a more unusual swimming hole that's farther afield. And now, thanks to the help of the Bellingen residents I polled on arrival, I have a list of the best local swimming spots and hikes. I knew this area was famous for its waterfalls and hidden water holes, neighbouring as it did the Gondwana rainforests and volcanic slopes of the Dorrigo National Park and the Waterfall Way scenic drive. I’m also unashamed when it comes to asking total strangers for tips. One of the good things about being in a relationship for more than a few years is that habits that could be perceived to be annoying, like a tendency to over-plan trips, instead become what I like to think of as charmingly endearing quirks. Boast about price/quality for the next six months to my city friends. Eat fresh, local oysters at a ridiculously good price. Book a terribly romantic restaurant, preferably with fairy lights and amaretto sours with cherries. Morning hikes followed by lazy afternoons of passionate lovemaking. Swim in as many natural pools as possible, and give Drew Barrymore energy when she’s floating in the lake in Ever After. And, as I told him as we hurtled north up the Pacific Highway from Sydney to celebrate our anniversary, I had planned the perfect hit list to go with it. I had been anticipating four days of romantic bliss with my partner up in the mid-North Coast NSW village of Bellingen for some time.
