From beaches to lakes, islands to waterholes, this traveller is obsessed by finding the bluest water on the planet. But one spot takes the crown when it comes to affordable – and memorable – swimming.
Another time, friends and I are twirling and falling back into beanbags, laughing like loons, atop a cliff near Uluwatu in Bali, the blue of the infinity pool by my feet bleeding into the ocean beyond.
I never stray from the ocean for too long. If I’m asked my favourite destination, as travel writers invariably are, my brain automatically flicks through a viewfinder of mesmerising blues. Oceans, lakes, cenotes, pools – it doesn’t matter. There’s always water and it’s always blue.
Some people travel to eat and drink, others for a history lesson or a dose of culture, to conquer a physical obstacle or explore a remote region. For others, it’s for a deep-dive into magical blue water. Prepare to be mesmerised.
With an entry fee of $US1.50, Cenote Zaci is one of the world’s most affordable bucket-list swims.
Cenote Zaci, Valladolid, Mexico
A pristine blue sinkhole in the centre of this pretty town on the Yucatán Peninsula, Cenote Zaci has been used since pre-Hispanic times as a water supply. Reportedly 100m deep, jumping from the surrounding walls is the most invigorating way to enjoy these sapphire waters. Algae and ferns hang from the cave-like cenote, with stairs carved into the rocks, which give it a fairytale vibe.
At only $US1.50 for entry, this is an incredibly affordable swim spot. If you’re staying in Tulum, Valladolid is an easy daytrip by hire car with time to stop off and explore the Mayan ruins of Coba before or afterwards.
visitmexico.com
Aitutaki, Cook Islands.
Picture: Ben Teina / Cook Islands Tourism
Aitutaki lagoon, Cook Islands
Ask any Aitutaki local and they’ll tell you they invented the colour blue. While that may be a stretch, the colour of its atoll-ringed lagoon may just turn you into a believer. One of the smallest islands in the Cook Islands archipelago, Aitutaki is made up of 15 motus (islets), sprinkled like fairy dust across a vast lagoon. “Flying in over Aitutaki sees our guests crane their necks to get their first glimpse of the incredible turquoise-blue water to see if the pictures they have seen are real,” says Ewan Smith, managing director of Air Rarotonga, owners of The Vaka Cruise on Aitutaki.
New Jetstar direct flights between Sydney and Rarotonga start on June 29, with onward flights to Aitutaki available with Air Rarotonga. The Vaka Cruise is a top introduction to this mesmerising lagoon, with a new boat about to be unveiled. If you’re visiting between July and October you can even snorkel with humpback whales with Dive Aitutaki or Wet and Wild Aitutaki.
cookislands.travel
The Blue Grotto is one of Malta’s most iconic natural attractions.
Blue Grotto, Malta
Delivering the kind of Gatorade-blues that could only be found in the Med, the Blue Grotto on the southern coast of Malta is actually a series of seven caves. The mineral-rich water is so clear that on sunny days the underwater flora can throw pink, orange, turquoise and green hues up onto the limestone walls. The best way to experience it is by small traditional Maltese fishing boats, known as luzzus, but there’s also an easily accessible viewpoint where you can take in the 30m arch and the neighbouring island of Filfla, a protected bird sanctuary.
Boats trips run year round, but to experience the grotto in the best light, join a morning boat cruise in the summer months – the earlier, the better. Boats depart from the tiny harbour of Wied iż-Żurrieq. If you’re staying in Valletta, you can catch a public bus that will drop you right near the viewpoint. Snorkelling, diving and cliff jumping are all options for those who want to get even closer.
visitmalta.com
Te Waikoropupu Springs on New Zealand’s South Island. Picture: Alamy
Te Waikoropupū Springs, New Zealand
Holding the title as the largest coldwater springs in the southern hemisphere, the visual clarity of Te Waikoropupū Springs and its spectacular blue hue draws visitors to New Zealand’s Golden Bay in the South Island. The springs are wahi tapu (sacred) to Māori, who believe Huriawa – one of the three main taniwha (supernatural creatures) of Aotearoa – rests beneath the surface. You can show your respect by not touching the waters. Instead, enjoy the peaceful viewing platform, found via a short, wheelchair-accessible path through a mānuka and kānuka forest.
Drawing from one of the ancient aquifers that also feed Te Waikoropupū Springs, the spirits at Kiwi Spirit Distillery are well worth a taste test at the cellar door. Stay nearby in a brand-new glamping tent at Drift Off Grid and explore Tata Beach in your own electric buggy.
nelsontasman.nz
Wayag Island, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Picture: Getty
Gumdrop Islands of Wayag, Indonesia
Venture to the northern end of Raja Ampat and you’ll find paradise, or more specifically Wayag, a swirl of karst “gumdrop” islands with white-sand beaches. Not only are the lagoons that ring these uninhabited islands arrestingly blue, but below the surface you’ll find more than 75 per cent of the world’s known coral species. “We have seen extraordinary demand for this region due to its rich mix of marine life, spectacular coastal landscape and living cultural traditions,” says Coral Expeditions commercial director Jeff Gillies.
Coral Expeditions explore the islands on an 18-night expedition from Darwin, with the chance to explore via Zodiac and scale Wayag’s highest peak, Pindito, for unparalleled views. Then swim, snorkel or kayak and repeat. Prefer a private charter? The new seven-suite handcrafted luxury phinisi yacht Celestia has just started cruising within Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands.
Little Hellfire Bay near Esperance. Picture: Tourism WA
Hellfire Bay, Esperance
Even if you’ve pored over pictures, nothing prepares you for the first time you see the true contrast between Esperance’s icing sugar sands and turquoise seas. (Nearby Lucky Bay has been scientifically proven, twice, to have the whitest sand in Australia). This little bay is a local favourite, protected by rocky headlands and backed by dunes smothered with green coastal heathlands. You may have seen it make an appearance in the film adaptation of Tim Winton’s Dirt Music.
You can reach Hellfire Bay by 2WD through Cape Le Grand National Park, about a 45-minute drive from Esperance. But then you’d be missing the adventure of driving along the blinding sands of Cape Le Grand Beach with Tour Esperance, which runs half-day trips also taking in Thistle Cove and Lucky Bay. If you’ve got the time, you can hike over the rocks to Little Hellfire Bay for even more privacy.
australiasgoldenoutback.com
Stunning views from the island of Formentera.
Formentera Island, Spain
Still relatively undiscovered for the Balearic Islands, Formentera is a land of idyllic turquoise coves, technicolour sunsets and beautiful beaches. Reached by ferry from its well-known neighbour, Ibiza, or from some ports in mainland Spain, it was a hippy haven in the ’60s and ’70s – Joni Mitchell wrote her 1971 album Blue here – and these days it still retains a barefoot, boho vibe. Its posidonia oceanica (seagrass) meadows are the reason for the World Heritage-listed island’s crystalline blue waters.
Don’t miss the piercing aqua waters of Ses Illetes beach within Ses Salines Nature Park. Enjoy the island’s beautiful blues with horse-riding trails, a hike to one of two lighthouses, and a cocktail at Blue Bar, which is famous for its live music-tinged sunsets. Stay at small luxury hotel Gecko Hotel & Beach Club or the beachfront Casa Pacha.
spain.info
Cinema Paradiso at Soneva Jani, Maldives.
Soneva Jani, The Maldives
Photorealistic water may be the biggest drawcard for visitors heading to the Maldives, but the plethora of resort options – in varying categories of luxe – certainly help to solidify its appeal. Proving the blues continue well into the night, there’s even a glowing beach on Vaadhoo Island in Raa Atoll where bioluminescence creates a sea of neon-blue stars. Planning a trip around a fickle natural phenomenon has its downsides so set your sights on the Noonu Atoll instead, where the overwater reserves at Soneva Jani come equipped with slides so you can slip right into the sparkling lagoon.
As can be expected, you can snorkel, swim and dolphin-spot till your heart’s content at Soneva Jani, but the private outdoor cinema set in the lagoon, with hammocks cradling you just above the blue, blows those other choc-top sessions out of the, well, water.
soneva.com
Blue waters of Lake Tahoe in California.
South Lake Tahoe, California, US
As Mark Twain once declared, Lake Tahoe is “the fairest picture the whole earth affords”, especially in summer when it reflects the cloudless, clear blue skies. Straddling the California-Nevada border, the topaz-blue water retains its clarity year round thanks to glacial run-off from the surrounding peaks, but in recent years, microscopic zooplankton has been busily giving the place a deep clean, leading to the lake being the clearest it’s been in almost 40 years.
Jump in a fully transparent kayak with Clearly Tahoe to explore coves that glisten with pyrite (fool’s gold) and paddle alongside the impressive Cave Rock cliffs. Or get above it all with a short hike to Inspiration Point above Emerald Bay State Park. For serious blues, the 265km Tahoe Rim Trail takes in four national forests and two states in one single-track, multi-day hike.
visitlaketahoe.com