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A historic Sydney swim site just reopened in time for summer

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
Forget the beachside crowds and make a splash along the river instead.

Summer has only just begun and Sydney’s already scored a new spot to cool off. The sandy riverside stretch is offering locals a quiet escape from the heat and hints towards a city slowly reclaiming its waterways.

Where is Sydney’s new beach?

Nestled along the Parramatta River roughly 15 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, the waterfront suburb of Gladesville has gained a new swimming spot just in time for summer. Although new may not be the most accurate way to describe it.

Bedlam Bay in Sydney, NSW
Bedlam Bay in Gladesville has officially opened to swimmers. (Image: Ann-Marie Calilhanna)

Originally opened to the public back in the 1860s, Bedlam Bay has long been a treasured outdoor space for the local community. But the bathing site was demolished in 1956 due to the development of a sports oval and increased water pollution. Now, after almost 70 years, swimmers are being welcomed back.

Hunters Hill mayor Zac Miles says reactivating the site provides a valuable community asset this summer. “This project highlights our ongoing commitment to enhancing community recreation around our natural waterways. It’s great to reactivate this cherished place once again for our community and visitors alike to enjoy."

Bedlam Bay in Sydney, NSW
The new swimming spot overlooks moored boats on the river. (Image: Getty/Elias Bitar)

Nestled at the bottom of Parramatta River Regional Park, the swimming spot looks out towards bobbing moored boats and is surrounded by greenery. It’s a low traffic area with plenty of peaceful pockets to enjoy the sun – minus the crashing waves, crowded shores and often long-winded drives to other popular beaches in Sydney.

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Is it safe to swim at Bedlam Bay?

In recent years, local councils and the NSW government have been committed to improving the water quality of the Parramatta River. Working with Sydney Water and the Parramatta River Catchment Group, over $560,000 worth of funding has been invested into making Bedlam Bay suitable for swimmers again.

Upon opening, the site features a secure shark net to keep visitors safe, as well as on-site lifebuoys and a boat jetty. It adds to a growing line-up of seven revitalised swimming spots along the waterway, including the establishment of Putney Beach back in January.

Bedlam Bay in Sydney, NSW
Putney Beach opened on the Parramatta River back in January. (Image: Getty/Zetter)

Thanks to programs like RiverWatch™, water quality at the site has been continuously monitored since 2020 to ensure it is safe for aquatic activities.

The Sydney Water initiative assesses microbial contaminants such as algae, enterococci and chlorophyll-a in water samples, as well as temperature, turbidity (the amount of material suspended in the water) and conductivity (an indicator of salts in the water).

Even once a site is marked safe, levels are continuously monitored during its ongoing operation. Routine sampling occurs every four to six days, as well as five days of consecutive targeted sampling at sites that have received heavy rainfall.

Bedlam Bay in Sydney, NSW
The water at Bedlam Bay has been marked safe for swimming thanks to RiverWatch™. (Image: Ann-Marie Calilhanna)

“Our RiverWatch™ recreational water quality monitoring program was specifically established to support the opening of new swim sites in waterways," says Leanne Niblock, waterway coordination manager of Sydney Water.

“Sydney Water has also made a significant investment in upgrading the wastewater network in the upper and mid Parramatta River catchments to reduce the impact of wet weather overflows, directly supporting the swimming outcome in the Parramatta River."

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How do I get to Bedlam Bay?

If you’re driving, it’ll take you roughly 15 minutes to get to Bedlam Bay from Sydney’s CBD via the Anzac Bridge, or Victoria Road from the city’s northern and western suburbs. Parking is available at Gladesville Hospital, just a 10-minute walk away, but fees may apply.

Bedlam Bay in Sydney, NSW
The swimming spot is accessed via Parramatta River Regional Park. (Image: Ann-Marie Calilhanna)

There are also plenty of public transport options. Sydney’s F3 ferry service from Circular Quay will take you to Huntleys Point Wharf, two kilometres away. This route also stops at all major ferry terminals along the Parramatta River. The 501, 507 and 536 bus routes all stop at Gladesville Hospital, too.

Like many of Australia’s natural swimming holes, locals heading to Bedlam Bay can dive in with confidence knowing that they’ll be swimming safely this summer. Stay up to date with water quality alerts via Urban Plunge by Sydney Water or the Parramatta River Catchment Group’s interactive map.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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This new tour takes you to the best and most unexpected parts of NSW’s outback

Credit: Destination NSW

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    The outback is calling, and the adventure is made all the easier with this hot new AAT Kings’ tour.

    It’s the desert palette of rust-red earth and vast cobalt sky that calls you at first, for where better to get away from it all than the outback? Of course, once you start driving, taking note of all the weathered pubs, dusty tracks and tiny towns held together with humour, resilience and more corrugated iron than ever deemed possible, something else grabs a hold of you: the idea that far from the celebrated icons and landmarks associated with Australia, you’re finally immersed in an authentic slice of local life that few have ever experienced.

    Ancient landscapes, proud pastoral histories, ghost towns, culinary powerhouses and a rich Indigenous heritage; there are plenty of facets to life on the land. The best way to experience all of the above with both ease and like-minded friends? AAT Kings’ new Outback New South Wales Adventurer, a 9-day small group tour. This Sydney-return itinerary is designed to connect travellers not only with iconic outback destinations, but with the characters, culture and experiences that bring each place to life.

    Highlights? The Adventurer has more than a few, but here are eight to start.

    1. Broken Hill

    See the striking art at Living Desert and Sculptures. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Welcome to Broken Hill, where mining history, outback eccentricity and a surprisingly rich arts scene unite in a rusty desert landscape. In Australia’s first heritage-listed city, exploration is quickly rewarded. Begin with a guided walking tour taking in the city’s grand Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Later, enjoy visits to both the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Living Desert and Sculptures – the perfect place to enjoy the changing colours of an outback sunset. Of course, no visit to Broken Hill is complete without a stop at the historic Palace Hotel Broken Hill, famous for its role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Happily, it makes for the perfect spot for dinner.

    2. White Cliffs

    people in a mine in white cliffs nsw
    Strap on your hardhat and head underground. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Strap on your hardhat and start spending your imaginary fortunes; White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, is begging you to come in search of rare pineapple opals. Admittedly, you’re much more likely to find white opals, but the true gems of White Cliffs – where much is built underground to escape the desert heat – are everywhere.

    Here, you’ll descend 13.5 metres underground into a working mine to learn about the region’s heritage, and observe how miners continue the search for these prized gemstones. Perhaps you’ll even find a couple yourself?

    3. Mungo National Park

    mungo national park nsw outback
    Spend time in the striking, lunar-like landscape of Mungo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    With its lunar-like landscape made up of ancient, dried lake basins and sculpted sand and clay formations, a drive into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park is somehow two things all at once: uniquely Australian with vast outback skies, and somehow otherworldly, as though you’ve been dropped off by spaceship. At its heart lies the iconic Walls of China, a 30-kilometre sand-and-clay lunette shaped by thousands of years of erosion.

    Understanding more than 40,000 years of Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa history begins with a visit to the Visitor Centre, and concludes with a sunset tour led by local Aboriginal guides. A key experience? Learning about the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. At 40,000+ years old, these are among the oldest human remains found anywhere in the world.

    4. Kinchega National Park

    kangaroo in Kinchenga National Park nsw
    Meet the locals of Kinchega National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Some come to Kinchega National Park for its iconic Darling River landscapes full of birdlife and haunting river red gums; others visit for its rich First Nations and pastoral history. Your visit will encompass all of the above, with a guided tour (part of AAT Kings’ MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience) designed to give a deeper understanding of Barkindji cultural heritage, history and traditions.

    Walk with local guide David as he shares ancestral knowledge and creation stories, and explains how native plants – through bush food and bush medicine – have sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Then sit back and enjoy those views alongside native tea and sweet treats.

    5. Griffith

    chef at zecca restaurant in griffith
    Treat your tastebuds to ‘the food bowl of Australia’. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    How can you say no to a visit to a destination widely regarded as ‘the food bowl of Australia’? Shaped by fertile farmland and home to approximately 75 per cent of New South Wales’ wine grapes, this is a day to roll up your sleeves and enjoy the best gastronomy the state has to offer. Think vineyards, cellar doors, cafes and restaurants largely shaped by its multicultural heart (Griffith is not only home to over 60 nationalities, but has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry anywhere in Australia).

    6. Mudgee

    exterior of lower wines in mudgee nsw
    Visit some of Mudgee’s best wineries. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Nestled by the Cudgegong River, Mudgee packs a big punch for a heritage country town, having carved a reputation for itself as one of the country’s leading (and award-winning) wine regions, a key epicurean destination, and a regional arts centre growing in both visibility and vibrancy.

    Take a moment to enjoy the town’s 19th-century charm before heading to Lowe Family Wine Co. for a guided tasting of organic and biodynamic wine, followed by a relaxed lunch featuring a feast of homegrown and local produce. Will you walk away with bottles of Mudgee’s iconic reds under your arms? It’s a distinct possibility.

    7. Silverton

    see the living ghost town of silverton on AAT Kings new NSW outback tour
    See the living ghost town of Silverton.(Credit: Destination NSW)

    A once-booming silver mining hub, the dystopian setting for Mad Max 2, and now a tranquil settlement that’s home to around 50 people; Silverton is considered a living ghost town and remains a sight to behold.

    Take time to explore its heritage streets (and perhaps take a look at the quirky Mad Max 2 Museum) and the Silverton Hotel, an iconic outback pub, before a visit to Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum. It’s home to a wealth of colonial artefacts, early mining equipment and stories from the outback’s pioneering past which will serve to anchor you firmly in place.

    8. Shear Outback

    man working at shear outback in nsw
    Get a glimpse behind the wool curtain. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    If you ever find yourself singing, “click go the shears boys, click, click, click…”, you’ve come to the right place. Shear Outback, an award-winning tourist and education attraction located in Hay, brings to life the traditions and stories of one of the outback’s most enduring industries: sheep shearing.

    Here, in the heart of the Riverina, you’ll enjoy live shearing demonstrations, meet the shearers, shedhands, sheepdogs and yes, sheep, who come together to show guests exactly what it takes to provide Australians with all that glorious wool.

    Discover more of Outback NSW with AAT Kings. Visit aatkings.com.