Swimming at Lake Parramatta
Lake Parramatta is located in Lake Parramatta Reserve, a beautiful 73 hectare area popular with visitors who enjoy picnics, aquatic activities and bush walking.
The lake is 10.5 hectares in size and was officially re-opened for public swimming and water recreation activities in January 2015, before being refurbished and upgraded in 2024.
The swimming area is currently closed for Winter, and will reopen in late October 2025.
Facilities
Lake Parramatta Reserve offers a range of facilities:
- designated swimming area
- boat hire
- non-motorised boating facilities
- children’s playground
- off-street car park
- walking trails
- public toilets
- BBQs
- picnic facilities
- a cafe
Entrance and opening hours
Entry into Lake Parramatta Reserve is from Lackey Street via Bourke Street, North Parramatta.
Lake Parramatta provides lifeguard supervision during peak swimming periods.
Parking
Lake Parramatta Reserve has 68 car spots on site. When the car park is full, parking is available on surrounding streets just a short walk away.
Public transport
If you arrive by train, disembark at the Parramatta Interchange - you can then catch a bus from the Parramatta CBD (bus route 609). The bus stops 50m from the entrance to Lake Parramatta every hour, Monday to Saturday, and three times on Sundays.
Alternatively, buses that travel along Windsor Road and Pennant Hills Road include stops about 500m from the Lake Parramatta entrance.
To plan your journey visit Transport for NSW or call 131 500.
Important safety information
See important safety information below about swimming in Lake Parramatta.
Swimming safety tips
- Never swim alone.
- Know your swimming ability.
- Stay within a suitable depth; the water at the Lake is over 8m deep in some areas outside the swimming enclosure.
- Wear an approved, well-fitted buoyancy vest or life jacket.
- Read and follow the safety advice signs around the Lake. The swimming enclosure has depth markers; the depth in this area ranges from ankle depth to 2 metres.
- Do not swim outside of the designated swimming area.
- Only swimming during the lifeguard patrolled hours.
- Lifeguards will be patrolling the swimming enclosure during the stated hours; this is the safest time to swim.
- Do not enter the water from rock areas around the Lake; the depth and what lies below the water may not be visible.
- Do not swim for three days after heavy rain; there may be submerged objects that could cause serious injury or entrapment.
It is important to take care when walking on slippery or uneven surfaces around or in water. Conditions should be checked before entering the water slowly, feet first or slide into the water on your bottom. Avoid submerged obstacles, such as tree branches and rocks.
If you get in trouble in the water
- Remain calm and roll onto your back - float.
- Float on your back.
- Call for help.
- Try not to panic; relax as much as possible, this will help you to float.
- Stay as still as possible, this will conserve your energy.
- Breath normally.
- Attract attention by raising one arm and/or calling out for help.
Avoid alcohol and drugs around water
Alcohol and drugs often contribute to drownings. They can impair judgement, encourage greater risk-taking behaviour, reduces coordination, impairs reaction time and reduces the effectiveness of CPR, should someone require it.
National Drowning Statistic Summary
Download the Royal Life Saving Drowning Report 2024 (PDF)
Here are some key statistics:
- 323 people drowned in Australian waterway
- 82% of these drownings were male
- 25% were born oversea
- 30 people drowned in waterways like Lake Parramatta
- 43% were aged between 15 – 24 years
Learn to swim
The City of Parramatta Council offers affordable swimming and water safety lessons in Parramatta. For further details, visit: Learn to Swim | City of Parramatta
For more water safety tips
Learn CPR and first aid
Gain the knowledge and skills to administer first aid and CPR until medical help arrives. You may save a life.
Read more safety information
Swimming area re-opening and improvements
Lake Parramatta’s re-opening for swimming in 2015 marked an important step in the 'Our Living River' initiative, which is co-ordinated by the Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG).
The PRCG includes 12 local councils, government agencies and community groups and seeks to set a range of achievable targets to bring currently unusable parts of the river and surrounding creeks back to life.
Following a 19-week construction program, Lake Parramatta’s had a renovation to upgrade the area for the summer 2024/25 swimming season.
Key features of the upgrade included:
- Construction of an underwater retaining wall to create a sand bed or ‘beach’ within the swimming area to make entering and exiting the water easier.
- Improved water access through construction of footpaths, and other accessibility features such as handrails and traction treatments for steps.
- Installation of a formal lifeguard viewing platform providing improved sightlines over the swimming area for lifeguards.
- New seating, shaded areas, landscaping, and bushland regeneration.
These works were proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Council.
The Places to Play program is part of the Open Spaces Program, a $50 million investment in public open space across three streams: Places to Play, Places to Swim, and Places to Roam.
Places to Play supports investment in nature and water play spaces to promote recreation and connection with nature for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
For more information see Places to Play.