Whether you want to swim laps, join an aqua aerobics class or squad, enrol the kids in swimming lessons or simply cool off, there is a public swimming pool for you in Brisbane. There are pools for serious athletes, pools just for paddling and some are heated and open all year round.
Here’s our pick of Brisbane’s best...
Brisbane City Council Pools
Brisbane City Council operates 19 pools across the city. All pools have change rooms with hot and cold showers and kiosks selling food, drinks and swimming accessories.
Dip your toe at:
Acacia Ridge (open in winter)
Acacia Ridge offers plenty of parking and an indoor, heated 25m pool, ideal for lap swimming and learn-to-swim classes. There’s also a large, outdoor swimming lagoon. There’s grass to lie on, and shaded picnic tables that you can book for group parties and functions.
Bellbowrie (closed for winter)
Take a dip or swim some laps in the 50m outdoor pool at Bellbowrie. Rain, hail or shine, the 25 metre heated, indoor pool is perfect for laps or learn-to-swim classes for all ages. There’s plenty of room to run around, good shade cover and kids love the water slide, splash pool and wading pool. Keen swimmers can join the resident swimming club.
Carole Park Pool (closed for winter)
Situated on large grounds, the Carole Park Pool is a great family-friendly facility. The 25-metre pool is ideal for swimming laps and young ones can splash about in the wading or children’s pool. There’s also learn-to-swim classes.
Chermside Pool (open in winter)
Chermside Pool is a large centre for swimming lessons and hydrotherapy and the water fun park (with separate entry) comes alive in summer with its huge waterslide. The 25 metre pool is open all year. Easy to duck into the vast Kedron Wavell Services Club next door or borrow a book to read poolside from Chermside library. Entry price depends upon the pool you want to access.
City (Centenary Pool) (open in winter)
The 50 metre inner-city Centenary Pool that benefits from an attached fitness centre. There isn’t any grass to laze on but lots of classes, a good kiosk, high diving platforms and plenty of kickboards for hire, make it a good pool for exercise. A toddlers’ wading pool makes it popular with young mums.
City (Spring Hill Baths) (open in winter)
This pool is unlike any other in Brisbane. The historical Spring Hill Baths host learn to swim lessons, a café, a fully equipped Pilates Studio, aqua aerobics and memories. The pool is heated and open all year round, attracting swimmers who want atmosphere and a dip into history. Swim in Brisbane's first inground public baths, built in 1886, and try out the quirky historic changing cubicles.
Dunlop Park Pool (Corinda)(open in winter)
Swim some laps in the 50 metre pool at Dunlop Park, shaded at the shallow end. One pool has a beach-entry, with wheelchair access ramp and water play features too. Kids love the wading pool and four water slides. Take learn-to-swim or aqua aerobics classes in the heated, indoor 15 metre pool. There’s barbeques, shaded picnic areas with tables. Why not join the resident swimming and squad training club?
Fortitude Valley Pool (open in winter)
A 50 metre pool is the main feature at Fortitude Valley with grandstands for all your fans to sit in. Open early for laps before work and you'll usually see a mix of office workers and more colourful Valley characters swimming here.
Hibiscus Sports Complex (Upper Mt Gravatt) (partially open in winter)
The Hibiscus Sports Complex offers beautiful, manicured grounds which surround the 50 metre outdoor pool, shaded at the shallow end. Keep fit in the indoor, heated 25 metre pool. Learn-to-swim classes are held in the 12 metre indoor, heated pool. Bring your skateboard or rollerblades for some fun in between dips in the pool or work out at the gym. And check out the brand new kids play pool.
Ithaca Pool (Paddington) (closed 15 March-October 2010)
Ithaca Pool is a 25m heated outdoor pool, next to a good park with a wonderful kids' playground. Offers great learn to swim and squad classes at affordable rates. The complex has a grassy area for sunbaking and relaxing, recliners to rent and background tunes to relax to. Across the road from Suncorp Stadium, wander up the road for a cool drink or food on Caxton Street after your swim.
Jindalee Pool (partially open in winter)
Join in one of the exercise classes or relax under shady trees at Jindalee Pool. Lap swimmers can swim a mile or two in the 50m outdoor pool. Toddlers like splashing about in the wading pool with fun water features. A heated 17m pool has learn-to-swim classes, rain or shine.
Manly Pool (open in winter)
On the Manly foreshore next to the boat harbour, the Manly Pool was recently refurbished and is great for fun or fitness. The 30 metre main pool is reserved from 5.30am to 7am for lap swimming. Kids love the waterslide and wading pool. Relax in one of the many shaded areas knowing the main pool is fenced off to protect the little ones. Fish and chips aren’t far away!
Mt Gravatt East Pool (Mansfield) (open in winter)
Brand new in 2009, the Mt Gravatt East Pool is located on the corner of Wecker and Newnham Roads (next to the Mt Gravatt East Primary School) and is open all year round.
Musgrave Park Pool (South Brisbane) (closed for winter)
Near West End and Highgate Hill, with views of the city skyline, the Musgrave Park Pool at South Brisbane has a 50 metre, outdoor pool plus two partially shaded outdoor pools ideal for the young ones. Learn-to-swim classes are also available. Water polo is big at this pool so get involved.
Newmarket Pool (partially open in winter)
A kids’ mecca of slides, waterspouts and more. Newmarket Pool also offers squad training, swimming lessons and good facilities. Lots of grass to laze on.
Runcorn Pool (open in winter)
Brand new in 2009, the Runcorn Pool offers heated swimming (indoor and outdoor) all year round. There is also a fantastic new play pool for the kids with interactive features and a water slide.
Sandgate Pool (partially open in winter)
Sandgate Pool is on the foreshore in large, landscaped grounds. There’s a 50 metre pool, a huge wading pool, water slides and play features. A heated, indoor learn-to-swim pool means that wet, cold weather isn’t an issue. With barbecue facilities, a basketball hoop and playground next door it’s popular with everyone.
Langlands Park Pool (Stones Corner) (open in winter)
Next to the Easts Rugby League football club, Langlands Park Pool complex has a 50m pool plus a shaded outdoor pool for toddlers and children. An indoor, heated learn-to-swim pool offers classes.
Yeronga Pool (open in winter)
Yeronga Pool has something for everyone, including an 8 lane 50m and 4 lane 25m outdoor heated pool.
Pool Top Tip: Barbecue facilities are available at some Council pools. Telephone the Brisbane City Council call centre on 07 3403 8888 for more information.
New pools
A new aquatic centre is planned for Colmslie Reserve on Lytton Road, Morningside. It is expected to open in October 2010.
Proposed facilities include:
* heated indoor leisure therapy pool with ramp access into the pool * heated outdoor 50 metre lap pool * dedicated parking.
Family friendly pools
These pools are the pools where the kids come to expect slides, waterspouts and extra fun, just for them.
Lap swimming pools
Swimming is a sport that makes sense in Brisbane. It’s the coolest way to keep fit in summer and heated pools in winter mean you don’t have to stop your regime. To get fit and swim laps, almost any pool of 25 metres or more can suffice. Read our feature about Brisbane’s pools for swimmers who like to count the kilometres.
School and university pools
Take advantage of some of the excellent public swimming facilities at Brisbane’s schools and universities.
Somerville House sports and aquatic centre (open in winter)
The Somerville House pool is a heated 50m pool for serious swimmers who want to train, be a part of a squad or learn stroke correction. It is open long hours, 7 days a week. School rules state that sunbathing around the pool is not permitted.
University of Queensland aquatic centre (open in winter)
The University of Queensland at St Lucia has two pools, one extra warm for lessons and a 50 metre pool that is heated in winter. A grassed area makes for a place to relax after your laps. Keep an eye open for scheduled family fun days when the pool is taken over by a large inflatable playground for kids. Opening times differ between summer and winter.You can also book children's birthday parties at the pool.
Adult fitness classes are currently available and cater for triathletes, masters and surf swimmers as well as a range of classes that cater for general fitness such as water running.
Pool Top Tip: Parking can be tricky during semester.
Pools in the Greater Brisbane area
There are a number of public swimming pools in the outer areas of Brisbane. Contact them for details of facilities and opening times.
Take the plunge at:
- 14 pools operated by Moreton Bay Regional Council, inluding Albany Creek Leisure Centre, Pathways at Mango Hill and Bribie Island.
- The four pools of Ipswich City Council
- Two pools at Cleveland and Victoria Point, run by Redlands Council
- The pools of Logan City.
Other places to swim
Whilst technically not “pools” that you can do laps in, the following swimming holes deserve mention as fabulous places to swim for fun. Plus they are free!
South Bank – Streets Beach & Aquativity
With enough water to fill five olympic swimming pools, this Brisbane water hole is enormous. Tonnes of sand create a beach-like feel and the kids love to dig in it or jump off the rocks and paddle in the small streams. It is a patrolled beach with views of the city and Brisbane River. Aquativity is a water-based playground, with varying opening hours.
Settlement Cove Lagoon at Redcliffe
The Settlement Cove Lagoon is a great place for kids with waterfalls, slides and a ship-theme playground. The beaches of Redcliffe are always good for a dip too.
Wynnum Wading Pool
The Wynnum Wading Pool is an old-fashioned favourite. Filled with water from Moreton Bay, it is on the Esplanade, at the end of Edith Street, Wynnum. It’s not deep but good for adult exercise and kids can slide into it.
Those looking for sun, surf and sand should check out our beaches close to Brisbane.
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