Water sports and leisure activities involving water must be in our Australian DNA. We love to swim, splash around, and enjoy our lovely beaches. Outdoor pools, indoor pools, and tidal pools; this article highlights the best swimming pools in Melbourne.
Oak Park Pool
Oak Park is a fully outdoors water recreation facility. Its 50-metre fitness pool stays at a comfortable 28 degrees year-round, and is divided into eight lanes; a lap swimmer's delight. The facility occasionally splits this pool into two 25-metre program pools.
Oak Park's 20-metre learning pool is where water enthusiasts take swim lessons, which the facility's swim coaches offer. This relatively shallow pool is also great for rehabilitation and water therapy usage.
Oak Park has two water slides. One includes raft mats, so two people to slide down together.
Other amenities you'll find here include shade sails over the smaller pools, umbrellas and tables poolside, and a grassy area to spread your blanket on. You might work out in Oak Park's fully kitted-out fitness centre, or sign up for yoga or Body Pump classes. Be sure to grab a snack from the café before heading home!
📍Location: 563a Pascoe Vale Road, Pascoe Vale 3044
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,10; bundled, family, and season passes available
🌐Web address: https://www.melbourneplaygrounds.com.au/oak-park-sports-and-aquatic-centre-pascoe-vale
Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Today's recreation and fitness complexes leave nothing to chance. Hawthorn stands out as an excellent example of such. Besides it full gym and pools, you'll find an onsite sports shop, with everything from swim gear to athletic wear. The kiosk offers a menu of hot and cold foods, as well as drinks.
Bring the kids for their swim lessons or play time.
And then, leave them at the crèche to relax and make the most of your leisure time at Hawthorn.
Which pool should you spend your time in? You may choose between:
Indoor pool:
- 20x10 metres
- great for exercise
- perfect for rehabilitation
- tailor-made for swim lessons
Outdoor pool:
- 50 metres long
- divided into eight lanes
- great for laps
- perfect for water polo
📍Location: 1 Grace Street Hawthorn VIC 3122
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM; Saturday - 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sunday - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,20; membership packages available
🌐Web address: https://hawthorn.boroondaraleisure.com.au/visit/facilities
Swim facilities in the Adelaide area also provide extensive water recreation. Many of them have cafés and crèches, too.
Collingwood Leisure Centre
Anyone looking for a swimming pool Melbourne CBD should consider this aquatic facility. It's not exactly in the City's centre, but it's close enough to count. Even better: Collingwood has everything a fitness and swim enthusiast could want:
- gym
- group exercise studio
- spin studio
- spa
- sauna
- 25-metre indoor pool
- learner's pool
This facility is fully accessible, including parking for the disabled, ramps, pool pods, and accessible changing rooms. Should you need personal training or prefer to work out in a small group rather than a large class, Collingwood is ready for you.
📍Location: 2-28 Turnbull Street Clifton Hill VIC 3608
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday - 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Sunday - 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,70 family and multi-visit packs available
🌐Web address: https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/yarra-leisure/locations/collingwood-leisure-centre#location
Collingwood rivals the top Sydney swim centres, both in amenities, and services. However, NSW swimming facilities don't vibe quite like the friendly, energetic Melbourne pools.
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC)
They say that one should choose one thing and do it well. That advice might apply to other avenues of business and life, but we're grateful sports complexes don't heed it.
Like the other swim centres we feature, MSAC chose many things, and does them all well. Here, you'll find a well-appointed gym, helpful trainers and instructors, and lots of pools.
This centre is very popular, and booking your spot is often required.
You must have a membership to do so.
MSAC comprises two 50-metre pools, and a 25-metre indoor lap pool, as well as hydrotherapy and multipurpose basins. After your swim, you may relax in the facility's steam room, or enjoy the spa and sauna.
📍Location: 30 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park, VIC 3206
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday - 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM;
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,50; various membership packages available
🌐Web address: https://statesportcentres.com.au/pricing/
With its friendly, professional staff, and all the fitness classes available, MSAC reminded us of an excellent facility in Canberra for water sports.
Carlton Baths
Like many leisure and fitness centres in Victoria, his north Melbourne swimming pool offers a bit of everything. Here, you'll find a fully-equipped gym, a group fitness studio, and halls for indoor soccer and basketball.
The aquatic facilities take the cake at Carlton. Here, you'll find a 25-metre outdoor heated pool to swim laps in, and an aqua playground for the kids to play in. Also, the venue features a toddler pool.
Every summer, Carlton Baths renews its commitment to water safety.
You may sign up for Carlton's extended swimming program. These classes teach water safety, as well as swimming and breathing techniques, and survival strategies for open-water swimming.
📍Location: 216/248 Rathdowne St Carlton VIC 3053
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,20; family passes and memberships packages available.
🌐Web address: https://carltonbaths.ymca.org.au/visit/facilities
Admittedly, the fitness facilities outshine the aquatics at Carlton. Despite that, this centre is in line with many of the swim facilities across Australia, both for amenities and services.
Richmond Recreation Centre
Any article about swimming in Melbourne must feature this city's oldest indoor swimming pool. Richmond is where Olympic athletes come to work on their speed and stroke technique. Australian Football League (AFL) players come here to unwind and recover from demanding sessions on the pitch.
At the time of writing, the swim facilities are closed for maintenance.
Scheduled reopening is February 1, 2025.
Imagine being among the first to take laps in Richmond's historic 50-metre indoor pool, under its iconic arched ceiling.
Your child probably won't care about history or icons, but they will love the newly-refurbished toddler pool. You might also plan a trip through the sauna and steam rooms, or relax with a spa treatment.
📍Location: 11-15 Gleadell St Richmond VIC 3121
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday - 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,70; multi-entry and family passes available
🌐Web address: https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/yarra-leisure/locations/richmond-recreation-centre#facilities
A few Brisbane-area pools are also undergoing upgrades this summer. Luckily, Brisbanites have many tidal pools and natural basins to swim in, until their favourite facilities reopen.
North Melbourne Recreation Centre
Unlike many Melbourne-area leisure centres, this outdoor swimming pool Melbourne keeps things low-key. For all that, water enthusiasts of all types have much to enjoy, here.
The 25-metre pool calls to anyone who swims laps for fitness. The complex's leisure pool welcomes anyone who wants to play, or just lounge in the water.
Small children can play in the covered splash pool, as long as a lifeguard is on duty (and the weather cooperates).
This swim facility shares a space with that football club.
Spending time there virtually assures that you'll see a footy player or two.
Besides the aquatic facilities, you'll find dedicated spaces for group fitness classes, as well as a complete gym. You might work out on the cardio machines and lift weights before taking your dip, or join a Zumba or Pilates class.
After those, you're sure to need a cooling swim - and, a refreshing drink from the onsite café:
📍Location: 204 - 206 Arden Street North Melbourne VIC 3051
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday - 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,20; bundled and season passes available; as are various membership levels
🌐Web address: https://nmrc.ymca.org.au/swim/pools
Swim centres in Perth invite bathers with the same verve and style that this North Melbourne facility does. Regardless of which side of the country we're on, access to swimming facilities is a must!
Learn to Swim with Superprof
Many facilities we visited offered swimming classes, for kids and beginners of all ages. That's an excellent business strategy, but it's a bit limited. What if someone would rather have private lessons, one on one? For that level of instruction, you need Superprof.
Superprof has 18 swimming tutors across Melbourne, all of them with experience in competitive swimming and/or coaching. You can search the Superprof platform for the swimming instructor that best meets your needs, and schedule a free introductory session. Don't be surprised to discover Superprof's rates are much lower than what you might pay at a leisure centre.
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