If you grew up in the region, you would've spent countless swimming carnivals here - walking past…read morethe canteen area brings vivid flashbacks to me. Swimming carnivals of my youth aside, the Warringah Aquatic Centre is a swimming complex located at Frenchs Forest. It's impressive facilities include a 50m pool, a diving pool with several diving boards of different heights, a few outdoor pools that are constantly too cold to swim in, and of course, the canteen. There's always something happening at the Aquatic Centre - swimming lessons for little ones, squads and development training for the older kids, Aqua Aerobics for the realllly old ones, and a bunch of people who just want to swim. The centre has great - and free -parking available, although it's a bit of a walk to the car when you're dripping wet and it's freezing outside. A better option would be taking advantage of the free hot showers, and storing something warm for afterwards in a free (deposit required) locker. The Center has impressive, stadium-style seating for parents to cheer on their little ones in the race, and also has a range of swimming-related paraphernalia if you've forgotten the all-important goggles or floaties.

One of the only indoor pools on the beaches! Easy parking, get a lane to myself half the time,…read moreacceptable price. Hot showers afterwards should be free though, currently they're cold and too short for me!

I sure do love the Northern beaches. This one is complete with multiple rock pools, a strip on the…read moremain road with diverse food options, and lots of locals gallivanting around... so you know this beach is solid. Compared to the other Northern beaches, this one is super accessible by public transport (and also a 20 minute walk away from the B line). Palm Beach, Dee Why, and Collaroy are in the top 3 of my favorite Northern beaches.

Got a long-haired surfer mate that lives right on the promenade, a veritable stone's throw from the…read morefoam. Nay, less than a stone's throw. Here, then, is a morning spent in his company courtesy of Dee Why. Up at 5am. De-zombify as much as is practical at that hour. At his place by half fivey. Say good morning to his attractive flattie as she wipes the sleep from her eyes and stretches like a cat. Wettie top on, pick up our sticks, trot over to the south end of the beach. Wait 5 mins while mate hits the crapper (nobody likes an aquabog). Wait 5 mins more. What is he doing in there. Pick our way across the rocks to the end of the point, time our jump between sets and spend an hour surfing classy right-handers with a handful of like-minded souls. Follow the swell and paddle across to the beach. Sun is up now, everything's gold. Half the board riders in the drink disappear to get to work. It's all ours for another precious hour. Finishe with a giant brekkie -- acai with seasonal fruit or full clacker with a side of potato rosti -- at one of the dozen beachfront cafes, take your pick, throw down an Earl Grey, fist bump, chest bump, high five, draw the line at an ass slap, and start the day proper. Perfsies brah. Yay Dee Why.

I swim in the Masters three days per week, all three of my kids have had lessons here since they…read morewere babies, and have continued into their school years, including in-school swim programs. It's a well-structured factory for churning out competent swimmers, and I mean that in the best way possible, as it is a critical skill for living in our area with so many pools and so close to the Harbour and beaches... Seems expensive because there are four of us in regular sessions there, but worth it.