My favourite pool: Mahon pool, Maroubra, NSW

Maroubra’s reputation is as a surfing hotspot, its golden sands and serious swells spawning an infamous surfing subculture, but it’s this charming rock pool a short walk from the northern end of the beach which beckons the city-frazzled swimmer.

Like others that dot the coast of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Mahon pool is sandwiched between the Sydney sandstone and the sea. But because of its location several beaches south of the tourist-bustle of Bondi and Coogee, there’s an extra degree of relaxation down here.

Heading for the clifftops through the suburban streets of Maroubra, the first-timer happening on the grassy lawns would be excused for failing to spot the pool at the bottom of the small cliffs.

But take the steps down past the public toilets (which double as a change-room) and you’re greeted with one of Sydney’s lovelier – and roomier – ocean pools.

In summer it’s a family favourite. Undulating rock formations provide nooks and crannies galore, as well as plenty of spots for sun-seekers to lean back and admire the Pacific. If there’s a downside it’s a lack of shade, but the native shrubs on the hillside are only a short walk away. There’s no cover charge, and it's an easy-enough bike ride down Anzac Parade. Should you decide to bring a car, you don’t even have to pay for the carpark. Are we really in Sydney?

It feels wider than many other ocean pools - even when a scorching summer’s day sees families pile in, Mahon manages to feel uncrowded. It’s also rougher around the edges than some; concrete is kept to a minimum and good use was made of the natural rock platform when the pool was made. A good coating of slimy seaweed on the walls at the southern end means you needn’t worry about cutting yourself clambering out at the deep end.

As with any rock pool, there’s always the chance you’ll be swimming with some of the local sea life after a high tide, but it’s the actual rock pools all the way around the public pool which the kids here really love. Large, circular formations filled with sea life, they are the perfect size to dangle a thrilled child over, while at low tide there’s a large area around the pool worth exploring for critters.

It’s this exposed setting which is at the heart of its rustic charm. Come high tide on a choppy day, the waves crash in spectacularly, which means that for all its summer glory, Mahon pool is just as charming in winter. From a vantage point on the cliff above the pool, a windy day can make for the sort of swimming conditions only the foolhardy – or the thrill-seeking – would consider. I’m yet to try a winter storm dip here, but the sight is something to behold.