Summer is fast approaching, and Sydney locals will soon be flocking to one of the city’s many beaches to cool off, but not all are equal when it comes to water quality. The latest Beachwatch report has revealed where you’ll find the city’s cleanest water, and which beaches are better left for a stroll than a swim. Nearly 250 swimming spots were tested across NSW, and the Northern Beaches led the way once again, claiming almost all of the top spots for 2025.
The NSW Environment Department tested 249 sites across the state, analysing levels of enterococci, a bacteria that indicates pollution and can cause stomach and skin illnesses. Beaches were rated from “very good” to “very poor” depending on how often they met safe swimming standards. This year’s results were boosted by relatively low rainfall, which meant fewer pollutants washed into Sydney’s waterways.
According to the latest results, Whale Beach on the Northern Beaches topped the list with the cleanest water in the city, recording just 5 enterococci per 100 millilitres, well below the safe-swimming threshold. It was followed closely by Avalon Beach, Greenhills Beach in Cronulla, and Palm Beach, all rated “very good” for water quality.
Sydney’s 10 Cleanest Beaches for 2025
- Whale Beach – Northern Beaches
- Avalon Beach – Northern Beaches
- Greenhills Beach – Cronulla
- Palm Beach – Northern Beaches
- The Basin – Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
- Wanda Beach – Cronulla
- Shelly Beach – Sutherland Shire
- Elvina Bay – Pittwater
- Bungan Beach – Northern Beaches
- Bilgola Beach – Northern Beaches
Most of Sydney’s lowest-ranked spots were enclosed baths or estuaries, where the water doesn’t flow as freely as the ocean. Foreshore Beach near the airport had the highest bacteria levels, while Coogee also rated poorly with a “poor” water quality grade. Famous spots like Bondi, Bronte, and Tamarama all received a “good” grade this year, meaning they’re generally safe for swimming but don’t quite match the Northern Beaches for cleanliness.
Sydney’s 10 Dirtiest Beaches for 2025
- Foreshore Beach – Botany Bay
- Bilarong Reserve – Narrabeen Lake
- Gymea Bay Baths – Port Hacking
- Carrs Point Baths – Sutherland Shire
- Dolls Point Baths – Botany Bay
- Kymeegah Bay Baths – Sylvania Waters
- Frenchmans Bay – La Perouse
- Bayview Baths – Pittwater
- Yarra Bay – Phillip Bay
- Narrabeen Lagoon – Northern Beaches
Read the full report here.