Swimming spots in swan river

> 10 years ago
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Maj
Maj
VIC
35 posts
Maj Maj
VIC, 35 posts
17 Sep 2015 6:44pm
Hey,
I am new to Perth and I live close to the River.
I would like to know where can I swim, is there any specific swimmimg spots? Or any spots where swimming isn't recommended?
Also is it sandy ?
Thank you.
VB MAN
VB MAN
1156 posts
1156 posts
17 Sep 2015 7:34pm
Think I'd prefer swimming in a shark tank, at least it will be over quickly ;))
Buster fin
Buster fin
WA
2598 posts
WA, 2598 posts
17 Sep 2015 8:04pm
Swim in the water. Don't swim on the freeway.

I'll take the piss just in case you are too.
sn
sn
WA
2775 posts
sn sn
WA, 2775 posts
17 Sep 2015 8:34pm
Any bit that isn't an old industrial dump, or hasn't had a sewerage spill, should be fairly safe.

Mind you, the only times I have been swimming in the Swan was when my raft [repeatedly] fell to bits during Swantiki, or when the hire-cat fell over [repeatedly], or I got the deep end of the net when prawning [every time]- or when my eldest son pushed me over the side of the boat after I told the youngest son that the dolphins following us were sharks

stephen
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23647 posts
WA, 23647 posts
17 Sep 2015 9:48pm
Jump in

we all learn to windsurf or kite in that muck and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.


patsken
patsken
WA
717 posts
WA, 717 posts
17 Sep 2015 9:59pm
It's a long river !

Are you talking about mucking around swimming or serious fitness type swimming ? If it's fun swimming then the following are my favourite spots.

If you're at the Fremantle end then you can swim pretty much anywhere - watch for boats though. Rocky Bay ( North Frem ), Bicton Baths or Point Walter are the most popular. As the weather warms up so does the jellfish activity though.

As a kid ( many years ago ) Point Walter was the school swimming class area and I reckon we were in danger of breaking our necks when we dived from the jetty - the jellyfish were a solid mass almost !! Jumping from Blackwall Reach is always fun and my teenage kids usually manage to get there a couple of times a summer for the fun/fear of the big leap off the limestone cliffs .

The river bottom is generally sandy but can be a bit sludgy in places depending on where you are....
esoom
esoom
WA
119 posts
WA, 119 posts
17 Sep 2015 10:01pm
Gotta luv those big brown jellyfish
Elroy Jetson
Elroy Jetson
WA
706 posts
WA, 706 posts
17 Sep 2015 10:51pm

Head down to the Crawley Baths near Nedlands. They are all the rage with the kids nowadays.




Catch the Tram from Perth. It travels down Mounts Bay Road and straight to the Baths. Too easy



felixdcat
felixdcat
WA
3519 posts
WA, 3519 posts
18 Sep 2015 8:26am
You like jelly fish? Blow fish? Murky waters? If yes go and swim there! If not drive 10 minutes and swim in the ocean.
Mackerel
Mackerel
WA
313 posts
WA, 313 posts
18 Sep 2015 9:42am
Nothing wrong with swimming in the swan, i've been diving for crabs, king prawns and scallops for years in there. Some of the tastiest seafood around comes from the swan river.
Gazuki
Gazuki
WA
1363 posts
WA, 1363 posts
18 Sep 2015 12:37pm
^^^^ +1.

During the end of last summer I pretty much lived in the river. Kite the easterly, then the sea breeze, then a dive on dusk for a few prawns and crabs; Awesome Day!
gavnwend
gavnwend
WA
1374 posts
WA, 1374 posts
18 Sep 2015 5:43pm
I use to do swimming lessons down by the Garrett rd bridge back in the day.l wouldn't now .the swan is far to polluted the further you go down not to mention the river bull sharks .there breeding spot not to far away .
Mr Milk
Mr Milk
NSW
3137 posts
NSW, 3137 posts
20 Sep 2015 12:48pm
esoom said..
Gotta luv those big brown jellyfish


Just a thought. Do you have commercial fishing down in the lower Swan?
Quite a few years ago now, commercial fishing in Botany Bay in Sydney got banned. Jellyfish population plummeted. They used to be thick enough to use as stepping stones by late summer, now you only see a few.
Harrow
Harrow
NSW
4521 posts
NSW, 4521 posts
21 Sep 2015 4:41pm
Mr Milk said..

esoom said..
Gotta luv those big brown jellyfish



Just a thought. Do you have commercial fishing down in the lower Swan?
Quite a few years ago now, commercial fishing in Botany Bay in Sydney got banned. Jellyfish population plummeted. They used to be thick enough to use as stepping stones by late summer, now you only see a few.


What's the link? Is the recovering fish population eating jellyfish eggs? Or was it all the commercial boat propellers chopping the jellyfish into pieces that grew into multiple new jellyfish?
Hamsta
Hamsta
505 posts
505 posts
29 Sep 2015 5:09am
I grew up next to the river and have seen/smelt some of the stuff that has ended up in the waterway over the years. I know of a radiator repair business that used to be in Rivervale that would regularly flush waste into the river not far from the ski area . If I were you I wouldn't risk swimming in the Swan. Nowadays there are frequent algal blooms that are pretty toxic in parts. Despite what others have said to the contrary, I definitely wouldn't eat any fish nor prawns etc caught in the Swan.

If your keen to swim I would heat to an Aquatic centre and use the pools rather than risk getting sick from the Swan.
Toph
Toph
WA
1880 posts
WA, 1880 posts
29 Sep 2015 6:42am
When I did my SCUBA, our first practicle session was at Bayswater pool.. I reckon you've got more chance getting sick swimming there then you ever would
swimming in the swan. It turned me of public pools.
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