Meandering through our beautiful bush capital, the mighty Murrumbidgee River offers abundant opportunities to take a refreshing dip.  

On the doorsteps of suburbia you’ll find Kambah Pool, a perennial favourite, inviting you in for a refreshing plunge.

Venture further south and you’ll find the charm of Pine Island.

Historically, the magnificent Cotter precinct is the place to go on a hot summer’s day. With shady trees, manicured lawns and fantastic swimming holes, what more could you need?

If taking your canine companion for a dip, head to the dog-friendly Uriarra Crossing for a wonderful splash and play.

The gentle banks of Gibraltar Creek at Woods Reserve are a popular spot for camping, picnics and a dip in the river. However, there are naturally occurring inherent risks. Stay well clear of the cliff edge at Gibraltar Falls. Obvious warning signs and infrastructure are there for your safety. Stick to the paths and you’ll be safe.

When accessing any swimming spot it’s important to be aware of the potential risks. The signage along the banks of these popular waterways will help you understand the risks associated with swimming in rivers, make informed decisions, and stay safe.  

In showing our waterways the respect they deserve we can all make this a safe summer. Never dive into water, keep an eye out for submerged logs, watch the flow – flowing water is stronger than you think. Importantly, never mix alcohol with swimming. The only time water and alcohol should be mixed is in a glass.

The Backyard Life Guard campaign highlights the need for all of us to remain vigilant around water.

The home swimming pool is the most common location for drowning death and injury of children under the age of five. 

Collectively, we can all play our part in being a backyard lifeguard. The more backyard lifeguards we have, the more children we can keep safe in our community.

It’s so important to keep an eye out for the young ones. Children should never be left unsupervised nor in the care of older children.

Supervising adults should be suitably dressed to enter the water at all times and be confident swimmers in the event of performing a rescue. It is also imperative to know how to perform CPR.

To discover how to keep cool for that quintessential bush capital experience this summer and become a backyard lifeguard, visit www.act.gov.au/backyardlifeguard