down past tharwa there are some nice parts of the ‘bidgee. its just a matter of going for a drive and seeing what’s good. i dont know what the water levels are like, but you can find some decent quiet places if you have a wander.

Stay away from Queanbeyan pool. It’s filthy, the floors, walls and lane dividers are coated in mouldy scum, there are leaves, bobby pins and even band aids across the floor of the pool.

There’s a reason why it’s not especially crowded there.

If you get in before the end of summer Point Hut Crossing is all right, you can pick your own little spot & if you go for a walk through the scrub there are some secluded spots.

Angel Crossing is also a nice spot. Access can be either from Tharwa or Williamsdale. But if you are unsure where to go take the Williamsdale way as there aren’t many signposts on the dirt tracks past Tharwa.

Kambah Pool. Just don’t go right out of the car car park into the nude area. Unless you’re into that kind of thing of course.

Pine Island further up stream is alright as well but a little more crowded.

Pine Island in Greenway, Tuggers is ok, but can get very crowded on hot weekend days with the usual rabble of drunk and rude juveniles. Nice place for a dip otherwise.

Or, if you are a gay nudist, there is always Kambah Pool?

The Kambah Pool nudist beach isn’t just for the queers.
I know a lady who thinks its great she can all over tan and not have to worry about being hit on.
Her husband, on the other hand…

But the upstream bit of Kambah Pool is fine, and family-friendly.

Are there any spots on the river from the Northern/Western suburbs. Surely there has to be access and a reasonable picnic spot around the Dunlop/Hall or even West Macgregor area that doesnt require you to drive to Woden 1st.

Please help

Chop

are only gay nudist aloud

+1 for Pine Island, if you don’t mind swimming in a river.

Well, as far as public pools go, Manuka Pool is a lovely old pool. Worth the visit if you don’t mind paying.

bileduct @ #9, I’d rather swim in fish wee in a running river than human kid wee in a pool …

There is a small pool in Gold Creek- Nicholls, but not many people know about it so it’s not that crowded… from my experience.

The Shoalhaven River Bridge on the Kings Highway near Braidwood. About a 1hrs drive from Canberra but the fresh bread coffee etc in Braidwood is worth the extra distance.

Casarina Sands (a few minutes on out of Woden from Cotter camp ground) is nice if the water is up..I don’t know how quickly the levels have dropped

Casuarina Sands is closed at present, and for the summer, for renovation (another example of great timing from the ACT government), And how the Cotter Dam expansion will affect access and amenity is anyone’s guess.

@#7

The best spot I know of is just upstream of the treatment plant at the bottom of of Drake Brockman Drive. Get out at the gates just before the treatment plant, jump the fence into the paddock, walk about 10 minutes down a hill and a secluded beach with cliffs and deep clear water to jump into.

+1 Heavs

The track that runs between Point Hut Crossing and Pine Island goes right along the river. If you’re willing to do a bit of a walk from either end you can find a nice secluded spot anywhere along that track.

Are there any spots on the river from the Northern/Western suburbs. Surely there has to be access and a reasonable picnic spot around the Dunlop/Hall or even West Macgregor area that doesnt require you to drive to Woden 1st.

Unfortunately Ginninderra Falls have been closed since the ‘03 fires. Private ownership didn’t want to deal with the insurance/cleanup/etc.

The spot where McCarthy Road intersects the ‘Bidgee is nice for a swim, and isn’t too far away from the north side. No facilities at all though.

@#7

The best spot I know of is just upstream of the treatment plant at the bottom of of Drake Brockman Drive. Get out at the gates just before the treatment plant, jump the fence into the paddock, walk about 10 minutes down a hill and a secluded beach with cliffs and deep clear water to jump into.

Just down stream of the plant there is more water in the river…

The spot where McCarthy Road intersects the ‘Bidgee is nice for a swim, and isn’t too far away from the north side. No facilities at all though.

Forgot the link.

I-filed said :

bileduct @ #9, I’d rather swim in fish wee in a running river than human kid wee in a pool …

You’ll get no argument from me regarding that – I swim at Pine Island regularly.

Heavs said :

@#7

The best spot I know of is just upstream of the treatment plant at the bottom of of Drake Brockman Drive. Get out at the gates just before the treatment plant, jump the fence into the paddock, walk about 10 minutes down a hill and a secluded beach with cliffs and deep clear water to jump into.

No shit?

Please, stay away from Manuka Pool….the more people discover this oasis, the more crowded it will get.

Heavs said :

@#7

The best spot I know of is just upstream of the treatment plant at the bottom of of Drake Brockman Drive. Get out at the gates just before the treatment plant, jump the fence into the paddock, walk about 10 minutes down a hill and a secluded beach with cliffs and deep clear water to jump into.

Any chance of a GoogleMap link?

Hey P1, what size are the cliffs downstream from the falls? Do you need to break the water first? I wouldn’t mind trying some new ones if they are big enough.

I have done the 3m, 11m, 15m, and 23m cliffs at the falls, never seen anyone do the 32m though.

p1 said :

@#7

The best spot I know of is just upstream of the treatment plant at the bottom of of Drake Brockman Drive. Get out at the gates just before the treatment plant, jump the fence into the paddock, walk about 10 minutes down a hill and a secluded beach with cliffs and deep clear water to jump into.

Just down stream of the plant there is more water in the river…

The gates you are talking about are at the end of Parkwood road which is along way away from the gates before the treatment plant. I thought you were talking about the spot near the existing treatment plant, near Shepherds hill lookout.

There are some some nice deep waterholes on the lower Molonglo at the footbridge near to Uriarra Rd. The water is dark and clear and contains many carp, which are caught by the local fisherfolk. It’s close to the water treatment plant and the junction with the Murrumbidgee. Critically, I can’t work out whether it is above or below the outlet from the plant. Even though the outflow is well-treated, it makes a difference in the mind of a swimmer. I’d be very interested if someone can enligten me on this point.

There’s a footbridge over the Molonglo near Uriarra Road?