Summer is now over down here in the Southern Hemisphere but we still see glimpses of the hot weather past – and yet again we get tempted to visit some of our favourite swimming holes.

Sydney is a big city with a wide choice of beaches & pools - surf beaches, wading pools, tidal pools or beaches within the harbour. Residents and Visitors alike can enjoy this wide variety even in the dead of winter – as brave souls and avid surfers do don their full body wetsuits to protect themselves ever so slightly from the cold winter waters. However given the wide variety, there are still beaches that a lot of Sydneysiders are not aware of - that only neighbouring residents seem to enjoy.

Redleaf Pool is not one of those. It is a popular beach however ask your average Sydneysider and he/she may not know where in Sydney it is. Ask your average Eastern Suburbs resident and they might be able to point you to the right direction.

If you come in by your own private boat or yacht, Redleaf Pool is just a few kilometres into Sydney Harbour on the southern side – past Shark Island, past Rose Bay and into Double Bay. It is neatly tucked within the Eastern Suburbs residential waterside areas, next to Seven Shillings beach. Quite a few boats anchor around the area regularly.

If you’re not privileged to use or own a boat, it is also accessible by all other means. It can be reached by walking, regular public transport, and by car. However, Redleaf pool is well hidden behind the Local Woollahra Council building and the Double Bay Library, as well as surrounding residential houses and flats. If you’re driving past the busy road near those buildings you can easily miss it. Once past those buildings you may still have to stroll through Blackburn Gardens to enjoy seeing the sight of the harbour and the pool.

Once you have strolled through the gardens you would see the boardwalk surrounding the 100m width swimming area. The boardwalk is supported by metal cage bars which protect swimmers from any nasty big fishies – like sharks that visit the harbour now and again.

Sunbathing is generally enjoyed on the grassy area or on the small sandy beach, but there is also another choice area to sunbathe. In the middle of the swimming area are two inviting pontoons floating 50 meters apart. Do swim to either one of them. Lay face up and feel the heat of the sun on you or lie face-down along the edge and you’ll see smaller fishes swimming around and below you. Sunbathing on the boardwalk can be done however, in warmer days it is a popular dive bombing platform for adventurous kids and fun adults.

The pool can also be enjoyed from a distance. A quiet cafe overlooks the whole swimming area from a safe height as well as offering a spectacular view of Sydney Harbour and the numerous activities that it contains.

The pool surrounds is closed by sundown as do the surrounds of Seven Shillings beach. Early morning swims are permitted. You’ll most often see a swimmer or two doing healthy laps in this favourite swimming hole as each day starts - even when the waters are turning cold and the Southern Hemisphere winter is just around the corner. However with a glimpse of hot weather past, you’ll most likely see a lot more.