Across Australia, we found a host of water recreation facilities. Some had only indoor basins, while others divided their offerings between indoor and outdoor pools. Most include fitness facilities and lessons of all types, along with other amenities. Pick your best swimming pool from this Top Ten list.
Manuka Pool - Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
We reviewed this facility in our exposé of the top-ranked pools in Canberra, and it doesn't hurt our feelings to gush over it some more. It recalls the days of Australia's can-do spirit, with a liberal dose of elegance mixed in.
Manuka welcomes young swimmers to its toddlers' pool, and invites serious swim fans to do laps in its 30-metre outdoor swimming pool. The surroundings are what make this experience. Nestled in the building's art deco arms, with grassland and greenery all around.
📍Location: Crescent Griffith ACT 2603
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry starts at $8.90; season passes and other packages available
🌐Web address: https://manukapool.com.au/about-us/
Spring Hill Baths - Queensland
This was Australia's first indoor swimming pool. It opened in 1886, and it retains much of the charm from its bygone days. The poolside changing cabanas alone make a visit to this Brisbane swim facility worthwhile.
You might do laps in Spring Hill's 25-metre heated pool. Or, if your swimming skills are lacking, you may join a swimming class. They're open to all swimmers, regardless of age and ability. Perhaps, before your swim, you'd like to work out with the Aqua Aerobics group.
📍Location: 14 Torrington St, Brisbane, 4000, Qld
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Thursday - 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM; Friday - 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $6.65; family passes and bundled packages available
🌐Web address: https://springhillbaths.com.au/
Leichhardt pool - New South Wales
Leichhardt offers swimmers a buffet of aquatic experiences, both indoors and out. This facility boasts a total of six pools, including an Olympic pool for laps, a dive pool, and a program pool.
Children may splash around in the mushroom pool but, to learn how to swim, they will advance to a bigger basin.
This aquatic centre is one of the few across New South Wales (NSW) that kept its iconic dive platforms through all its renovations.
Swimming in the outdoor pool, you're surrounded by lush gardens and views of the bay. Bring a book and stock up on snack from the café to make a day of things. Leichhardt is tops in water recreation, one of the best in Sydney.
📍Location: 43 Mary St, Lilyfield NSW 2040
🕐Operating hours: 5:30 AM - 8:00 PM daily (Olympic pool); 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM daily (program pool); Hydrotherapy pool: Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday: 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $10,20; you may also access the facility with your Fitness Passport.
🌐Web address: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/aquatic-centres/leichhardt-park-aquatic-centre-lpac/prices-and-memberships
Dawn Fraser Baths - NSW
Further in this article, we feature a freshwater pool but now, we cover an ocean pool. This one, named after the Olympic swimmer, is in Sydney's Balmain suburb. Record hint that this may be the oldest tidal pool bath in Australia.
You won't find many water-related amenities, but the surrounding area is packed with charming cafés and funky shops to browse around in. The pool itself provided handicapped accessibility, and parking. Otherwise, it's all about lounging in the healing salt water, and gazing out towards the harbour.
📍Location: Elkington Park, Fitzroy Ave, Balmain NSW 2041
🕐Operating hours: December through February - 6:45 AM to 7:00 PM; otherwise: 7:15 AM - 6:30 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $6.90; monthly and season passes available
🌐Web address: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/aquatic-centres/dawn-fraser-baths/about-dawn-fraser-baths/prices-and-memberships
Harold Holt Swim Centre - Victoria
This water recreation facility presents one of the best examples of Brutalist architecture across Australia. The time-lapse renovation video above shows the care and attention to detail that went into preserving this look. Of course, few come here to admire the structure, its amenities are the main draw:
- an Olympic-size pool (50m), and a 25-metre indoor pool
- a diving pool
- a warm-water pool
- a splash park
- saunas
- a spa
- a fully-equipped gym
- a café
Here, one may take swimming lessons and/or fitness classes. The entire facility is accessible, with pool pods and hoists to make getting in the water even easier. Many Melbourne-area swim facilities treat their guests to amazing experiences. However, only this one does so with a twist of iconic Aussie wit.
📍Location: 1409-1413 High Street, Glen Iris 3146
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Thursday - 5:45 AM to 9:00 PM; Friday - 5:45 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday - 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM; Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8,80; 10-visit passes available
🌐Web address: https://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/active/Swim/Harold-Holt-Swim-Centre
Vic Hayton Memorial Swimming Pool - Western Australia
Far outside even the suburbs of Perth, this aquatic facility rivals that city's best pools, in amenities and location. As a bonus, you might find this leisure park a bit less crowded than the ones in the middle of a large metropolis.
This complex features a large outdoor pool, as well as a toddler pool, covered with shade sails. You might find a hot game of volleyball going, sink a few baskets in the half-basketball court. The kiosk provides drinks and snacks, and the swim shop stocks all your waterwear needs. All this, surrounded by palm trees, and red dirt as far as the eye can see.
📍Location: Willow RD, Tom Price, WA 6751
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $5; multi-entry and season passes available
🌐Web address: https://www.ashburton.wa.gov.au/community/shire-facilities/tom-price-sport-recreational-facilities.aspx
Norwood Swimming Centre - South Australia
For those who love to take a dip in the shade of rivergum trees, this is the perfect pool. Located a short drive east of Adelaide's City Centre, it offers a 50-metre Olympic pool, a covered toddler's pool, and a host of amenities other pools around Adelaide lack.
You might stock up on snacks and drinks from their kiosk, or bring your barbecue ingredients from home. Norwood is a great place for recreation and serious swimmers alike.
You may even sign up for private swimming lessons, to master your stroke technique and breathing.
📍Location: Phillips St Kensington, SA 5068
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM; Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $9; family packages available.
🌐Web address: https://sacommunity.org/org/197757-Norwood_Swimming_Centre
Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre - Tasmania
We tend to overlook Tasmania, perhaps because it's detached from the mainland. But, where water recreation is concerned, overlooking this Australian sports complex is impossible. You'll find so much on offer at Launceston:
- Indoor 50-metre Competition Pool
- a program pool and spa
- leisure pools - indoor and outdoor
- children's interactive play area
- 65-foot water slide
- accessible facilities
You'll also find a complete gym and a long list of fitness classes, on land and in the water. You can sign up for lessons at the adult swim school to practise your stroke technique, or learn water safety. Be sure to sign up for the inflatable challenge, held every weekend. Let's see if you can make it across without falling in the water.
📍Location: 18A High Street, Launceston TAS 7250
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
💲Costs: Adult aquatic 10-visit passes start at $75,60; family passes and other bundles available
🌐Web address: https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lac/Memberships/Visit-Passes
Lake Mulwala Swimming Pool - NSW
Swimming pools, indoors or out, are wonderful for fun, fitness, relaxation, and celebrations. Free swimming pools take all that, and make it better. Lake Mulwala adds one more enticing ingredient: it's natural water, that so many of us prefer to swim in.
This Yarrowonga (Victoria) basin borrowed the sea basin template, and applied it to this lake. Though a natural water body, swimmers enjoy amenities such as water slides, changing rooms, picnic tables, and barbecues. The pool and amenities are fully accessible.
📍Location: Pool Ave, Mulwala, NSW 2647
🕐Operating hours: always open
💲Costs: free
🌐Web address: https://swimmingholeheaven.com/nsw-lake-mulwala.htm
Fitzroy Swimming Pool - Victoria
The community came together to save this swim facility in the 1990s, so it must have a place on every Best Australian swimming pool list. Like many of our country's pools, this one has a long history behind it. And a bit of a cult following, too.
The 50-metre heated outdoor pool is the main attraction, but the toddler pool, and the indoor gym facilities deserve their share of praise, too.
Besides these, poolgoers enjoy relaxing in the complex's spa and sauna, or emerge invigorated from the steam room.
📍Location: 160 Alexandra Parade Fitzroy VIC 3068
🕐Operating hours: Monday-Friday - 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM; Saturday/Sunday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
💲Costs: adult entry: $8.70 to swim; spa and sauna cost extra
🌐Web address: https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/yarra-leisure/locations/fitzroy-swimming-pool#opening
Private Swimming Lessons with Superprof
Most of these facilities - indeed, most every swimming pool across Australia offers swimming lessons. However, group swimming instruction isn't for everyone and, often, facilities don't have private swim coaches on retainer.
For those who need or prefer one-to-one swiming lessons, the solution is Superprof swim tutors. Across Australia, Superprof's 85 swim tutors deliver quality instruction, at competitive prices. Many are former professional swimmers, or competitive athletes. They put their experience at your disposal, so that you, too, may enjoy the best that water sports has to offer.
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