It’s the stuff of local legend or urban myth – depending on who you listen to – but the one constant is that the Canoe Pool/Mariner’s Pool/Geographical or Map Pool at the southern end of the Newcastle Ocean Baths is a fabulous place for families to cool off on hot summer days. Combining the fun of the beach with its sandy shore and the safety of a wading pool, this gorgeous city icon is always packed when the sun comes out. The Ocean Baths kiosk is handy for beachy snacks and you can pass the hours watching locals parade on the promenade. There may or may not be a coloured concrete map of the world underneath the sandy bottom but that doesn’t matter to the little ones who create their own imaginary worlds populated by pirates, fishermen and mermaids.