Where To Find Melbourne’s Best Swimming Pools?

Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool

The 50-meter outdoor pool and 1-meter diving board at Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool are hard to beat for some good old-fashioned summertime fun. There are barbeque grills and shady grassy spaces for relaxing, and a vintage shop selling deep-fried potato cakes to satisfy your hunger. Just a heads up, though: It doesn't open until December 1 each year, so if you're planning on showing there with your snorkel and fins in tow, you're going to be sorely disappointed if you do.

An outdoor 50-meter Olympic pool, a learners pool, a shallow shaded pool for children, a landscaped lawn with plenty of natural shade, picnic tables, a kiosk, and a playground make this a great summer amenity for families, sunbathers, and athletes. Doors open every December 1 and close on March 31.

Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre

This northern establishment opened in the latter half of 2018, and like its southern counterpart, it is open only throughout the winter months (October through April). The resort features a 50-meter warmed outdoor pool, a 20-meter shaded learners pool, a splash pool, and large water slides for children's enjoyment. The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail is a great place to go for a bike ride before hitting the pool; it begins in Docklands and winds its way north, passing close to Kensington and Strathmore before terminating near Oak Park.

Fitzroy Pool

The deep end of Fitzroy Pool, made famous by Helen Garner in Monkey Grip, is still marked with the Aqua Profonda sign. Children swimming in the middle of the game, would-be Olympians ploughing down the passing lane, and blasé hipster leaping across the sweltering pavement to watch the chlorine events from the grandstands make this 50-meter outdoor gem bustle with activity throughout the summer.

You may also find a place to buy Speedos, goggles, and ice cream, in addition to using the gym, cycling studio, group exercise classes, crèche, spa, sauna, and steam room. The eight-lane, 50-meter pool in the contemporary building is joined by two smaller pools for children. At all times, the water temperature is just right.

It's a great place to go for a swim because it's relaxing and rejuvenating. The pool is among the best in the north. The pool is now only open for lap swimming, however the bleachers at the side are great for sunbathing after a swim. Only 20 swimmers can use the facility at once, thus reservations are required. Time spent in each session is capped at 45 minutes.

For many years, this Northside staple has provided shade to the always-cool citizens of Fitzroy. One of the greatest outdoor pools in the city, this one dates back to 1908 and has a charmingly retro vibe.

St Kilda Sea Baths

If you don't like getting chlorinated in your eyes, hair, or nose, the St. Kilda Sea Baths are the place for you. The baths were built in the 19th century when bathing from the open beach was banned during daytime hours. However, their past is far from pristine; they once served as the location of the legendary club Bojangles, a favourite of a teenage Mark 'Chopper' Read.

Even yet, one may argue that the cleansing properties of actual seawater are strong enough to remove the stain of any crime. Views of the bay can be enjoyed from the 25-meter heated seawater pool, sore muscles can be soothed in the hydrotherapy spa pool, and the luxurious aromatherapy steam room is an added bonus.

The St. Kilda Sea Baths have been around since 1860, making them one of Melbourne's oldest landmarks. While its rich history is impressive, what truly sets this Melbourne pool apart is the fact that it is constantly supplied with clean seawater piped in from Port Phillip Bay and kept at a comfortable temperature without the need for any additional heating or cooling. The indoor swimming pool is 25 metres long and overlooks the beautiful bay. If you're planning on swimming in St. Kilda Sea Baths, make sure to leave yourself enough time to have a drink and a tasty food at one of the many nearby establishments.

Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre

Relax your tense muscles with some slow shoulder twists at this east coast outdoor pool. There's room for swimmers of all abilities in the 50-meter pool, thanks to the nine wide lanes. The 20-meter indoor pool has a constant temperature of 34 degrees, making it ideal for therapeutic or recreational use. There are ramps leading to both pools.

Brunswick Baths

The Brunswick Baths received extensive renovations in 2011 to address a number of accessibility concerns and modernise its 50-meter outdoor pool and 22-meter indoor pool. It is one of the most ecofriendly profiles while still retaining its historic facade. There is a Water Play pool with a slides and water cannons for tiny kids in addition to a full fitness centre, cardio room, cycle room, spa, sauna, and steam room.

The Brunswick Baths are equipped to accommodate any swimming style. It has a spa, sauna, and steam room (unfortunately closed at the moment), as well as a 20-meter indoor pool, but when it's really hot outside, you'll want to jump right into the eight-lane Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool that's been heated for you. It's perfect for serious lap swimmers and is open year-round. Peck & Kemter, who worked on the Capitol Theatre and the deco Heidelberg Town Hall, also worked on the renovation of this magnificent remnant from 1913.

The 50-meter hot outdoor pool is available all year and includes a colourful water fountain (or "splash pad") for the younger guests to enjoy. Aside from the outdoor pool, there is also an indoor pool that is 20 metres in length, as well as a spa, jacuzzi, steam room, and separate locker rooms and bathrooms for men and women.

Monash Aquatic Recreation Centre,

If you're looking for a complete swimming facility in Eastern Australia, the Monash University Swim Centre is a great option. Only the eight-lane, 50-meter outdoor pool is available at the present, but it has some fantastic amenities like a 25-meter indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room; and a water park (that you can take a boogie board into). Sessions are 45 minutes long and require a booking in advance.

There is lots of grass all around it for lounging, as well as large trees and canopies for protection from the sun. There is a wave pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a spa, and a steam room and sauna inside for those who want to relax and rejuvenate after a long day.

North Melbourne Recreation Centre

North Melbourne has a lovely little outdoor pool that is nicely formed despite its diminutive size. The 25-meter pool has a comfortable year-round temperature of 27.5 degrees and eight lanes so you can keep swimming.

In addition, it has "cute water movie evenings" all summer long, where you can relax in an inflatable pink swan and watch films on the large screen. The outdoor swimming pool will reopen for hourly bookings on Monday, October 5.

The 25-meter long oasis in North Melbourne is perfect for more than just a dip in the water. When the sun goes down, the pool transforms into the ultimate Dive-In Cinema experience, with eight lanes reserved for serious swimmers to use for laps. Float around the pool on a neon raft while watching the latest blockbuster projected onto a giant screen.

Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre has a 50-meter outdoor pool and a grassy bank where you can relax and enjoy some of the talented professionals this side of High Street. For times when the sun gets too much, the 25-meter indoor pool is a cool haven, while the spa, sauna, gym, crèche, and café make it possible to spend an entire day there.

This spacious 10-lane, 50-meter outdoor pool is open all year, so you may cool down (or tough out the cold) whenever you like. There are trees and grass all around it, and from November to March, you can swim in the 25-meter pool or splash around in the children's pool. There is a spa, sauna, and steam room, as well as a lap pool (25 metres) within.

Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre

This state-of-the-art complex was constructed specifically for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, and it features two 10-lane 50-meter pools. There are 14 indoor diving boards, a 50-meter diving board, a hydrotherapy pool, a "wave" pool, and a spa with a sauna and steam room. Whew. Opened in 1997, this $65 million building was built on multiple old sports stadiums and featured events from the 2006 Commonwealth Games activities and 2007 FINA Swimming Championship competitions.

Now, it serves as a venue for swimming competitions and basketball tournaments and boasts a spa with a hydrotherapy pool and two yoga and pilates rooms. The 50-meter outdoor pool at the MSAC was constructed in 2006 and renovated in 2008 to have a world-first retractable floor. There is a water slide, a wave pool, and an indoor pool. The center's location in Albert Park's verdant surroundings makes it an ideal spot to plan a picnic after a swim.

The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) is tucked away in Albert Park, just to the south of Southbank. MASC has a tonne of different fields, courts, and sports equipment if you're the type of athlete that likes to run, jump, and move around in a variety of ways. However, it has the worst aquatic facilities in the world (excuse the pun).

It includes a beautiful 50-meter outdoor pool that is great for swimming laps and relaxing in the sun. In addition, there is a multifunctional indoor pool, a hydrotherapy pool, an indoor wave pool, a water slide, a spa, and a change room, as well as a 50-meter indoor pool, a 25-meter indoor pool, 14 indoor diving boards, and a multifunctional indoor pool. The whole thing is, in fact, present and accounted for.

The Pool Deck, Adelphi Hotel

Located on the roof of The Adelphi Hotel in the Central Business District of Melbourne, this hidden gem costs $35 per session but is well worth it due to the lack of swim schools competing for pool space, the good sunbathing areas, and the on-site bar. The Pool Deck is open from 9 am to 10 pm every day of the week, and it regularly hosts special events such as the Four Pillars Gin pop-up bar and the Melbourne Food & Wine Pool Party.

Carlton Baths

Despite extensive improvements just a few decades ago, Carlton Baths continues to be a popular area for people to swim and relax. You don't have to risk getting wet to make the most of this area, what with the sail shades providing shade and the grassy areas being perfect for lounging and reading.

If swimming is more your speed, the 25-meter pool offers soothing temperatures on hot days. Bring your bathing suit and get ready for a summer of live music by the pool on Sundays at the Baths. Check the schedule to see who is participating. Following extensive modernisation, the Carlton Baths are now firmly established in the current century.

The interior is contemporary and stylish, but it still has that classic Carlton feel. The heated 25-meter outdoor pool is less daunting than the 50-meter indoor pool because fewer serious swimmers choose to perform laps in the former due to its lesser length.

When it first opened in 1916, this Rathdowne Street landmark had to rely on weekly water changes and no chlorine to keep its patrons healthy. From October through April, you can swim in the outdoor 25-meter pool that has been heated (and chlorinated) for your comfort. And for the eager urban water babies, there's a separate toddlers pool with play equipment. You can even take swimming lessons if you'd like.

Prahran Aquatic Centre, Prahran

Prahran Aquatic Centre is one of Melbourne's top outdoor pools, perfect for those who want to strike a pose by the water. This heated urban lagoon measures 50 metres in length, making it a cut above your standard public pool on those chilly days (looking at you, Melbourne "summer"). One may get a great tan on its spacious wooden sundeck. Then, as the summer heats up, the music gets louder and the pool holds the best Sunday beach party with rhythms beginning at 1 p.m. The full story may be viewed here.

If you're looking for a place to "see and be seen," your best bet is Prahran Pool. The heated 50-meter outdoor lap pool is available year-round so that you may keep up your exercise routine without being put off by the prospect of swimming in frigid water. The Prahran Pool, located just off Chapel Street, attracts a diverse audience throughout the summer; you can see everyone from attractive people preening on the stairs to cool kids reclining on the grounds to families having fun in the toddler pool.

Knox Leisureworks

Knox Leisureworks, located in the east, is a terrific place to take the kids for a swim any time of year thanks to its indoor and outdoor pools. There are two year-round outdoor pools and a spa in addition to the four year-round indoor pools at acceptable temperatures. Some examples of enclosed swimming pools are:

• A Heated Swimming Pool (excellent for relieving tired and sore muscles).
• Indulge in the leisure facilities, including a 50-meter pool.
• A fantastic family-friendly leisure pool that features a sandy beach access.

There is a year-round 80-meter water slide at Knox Leisureworks. The outdoor 25-meter leisure and lap pool and 1-meter-deep toddler pool are heated and open from December to March. Guests can take advantage of the free use of the electric grills and the shady grassy areas.

Pascoe Vale Outdoor Pool

Enjoy the cool comfort of this northern facility, ideal for families, while escaping the summer heat. Both the main pool (7 lanes / 33 metres) and the learners pool (shade / 11 x 5 metres) are heated by the sun. Also available are a diving pool with a board of one metre in height, a splash pad for younger children, a campground with barbeques, and a metre-high board for diving.

Conclusion

You can cool off in saltwater, or a brutalist building with an interesting history. There are still limitations on attendance, so it's best to phone ahead and reserve a spot. Harold Holt Swim Centre, oddly named after our doomed Prime Minister, is one of the top outdoor pools in Melbourne. The 50-meter outdoor pool at Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool and 1-meter diving board are hard to beat for some good old-fashioned summertime fun. Richmond Pool has two gyms, fitness classes studios, a spa, a sauna, and a steam room, as well as a separate baby pool and free kickboards galore.

Just a heads up: It doesn't open until December 1 each year, so if you're planning on showing there with your snorkel and fins in tow, you'll be sorely disappointed. Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre opened in the latter half of 2018, and like its southern counterpart, is open only throughout the winter months. The resort features a 50-meter outdoor Olympic pool, a 20-meter shaded learners pool, and large water slides for children's enjoyment. Only 20 swimmers can use the facility at once, so reservations are required.

Content Summary:

• You'll want a place to cool off as the summer heats up and the summer vacations begin in full swing.
• Fortunately, cannonballing into one of Melbourne's many fantastic public pools is a breeze.
• But there are still limitations on attendance, so it's best to phone ahead and reserve a spot if you're interested.
• Melburnians may gripe about the rain, but they can't grumble about the city's swimming facilities.
• Pick a day with a high of over 25, head to one of these urban havens, and bring your towel to an empty piece of prime pool real estate to bask in the sun.
• Alternately, you may test yourself to see whether you have what it takes to join the Icebergs and swim at Brighton Baths come rain, shine, or anything in between.
• You can cool off in a saltwater pool, a brutalist building with an interesting history, or a pool built for competition and designed to make you feel like an Olympian.
• And there's a place in the North with bleachers for lounging and a "splash pad" full of brightly coloured water for kids.
• We have compiled a list of 13 of Melbourne's finest outdoor pools where you can cool off this summer.
• Do you remember the Prime Minister who took a stroll out on the beach and was never seen again?
• Well, we Aussies are so twisted that we even named a pool after him.
• With the original Malvern baths having been constructed in 1926, the Harold Holt Swim Centre was planned and erected in 1966.
• In 2006, it was designated a historical landmark because of its status as an outstanding example of "brutalist architecture" and its reputation as a "celebration of concrete."
• There are a total of six pools ranging in size from toddler to Olympic, as well as a variety of swim lessons and exercise facilities.
• The concrete, which is plagued with cancer, Harold Holt, oddly named after our doomed Prime Minister, can be found among the verdant streets of Glen Iris and serves as a suburban refuge for southside fitness addicts.
• There is no reason not to get your Thorpedo on, as both the mosaic-tiled interior 25-meter pool and the outdoor 50-meter pool are heated.
• This neighbourhood in the eastern suburbs is notable for two reasons: its landmark brutalist architecture and its name.
• The latter was given in 1967 to honour Harold Holt, a previous prime minister who reportedly drowned near Portsea.
• The 50-meter outdoor pool will reopen for lap swimmers and recreational users in 2021 after undergoing renovations.
• Those in need of accessibility can make use of the available hoist, stairs, and ramp.
• This 50-meter indoor pool is a terrific place for experienced swimmers to get in some serious laps as they recover from a day of shopping at IKEA.
• It has two gyms, fitness classes studios, a spa, a sauna, and a steam room, as well as a separate baby pool and free kickboards galore.
• In addition, the Richmond farmers' markets, held every Saturday, are directly across the street.
• Come out of the water to the smell of a grill and free samples of food?
• A high quality above ground will generally last 10-20 years.
• Those years aren't without added expense.
• You can expect to replace the liner at least once or twice throughout the years, while the frame should last the full 10-20 years.
• The 50-meter outdoor pool and 1-meter diving board at Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool are hard to beat for some good old-fashioned summertime fun.
• There are barbeque grills and shady grassy spaces for relaxing, and a vintage shop selling deep-fried potato cakes to satisfy your hunger.
• Just a heads up, though: It doesn't open until December 1 each year, so if you're planning on showing there with your snorkel and fins in tow, you're going to be sorely disappointed if you do.
• An outdoor 50-meter Olympic pool, a learners pool, a shallow shaded pool for children, a landscaped lawn with plenty of natural shade, picnic tables, a kiosk, and a playground make this a great summer amenity for families, sunbathers, and athletes.
• Doors open every December 1 and close on March 31.
• This northern establishment opened in the latter half of 2018, and like its southern counterpart, it is open only throughout the winter months (October through April).
• The resort features a 50-meter warmed outdoor pool, a 20-meter shaded learners pool, a splash pool, and large water slides for children's enjoyment.
• The Moonee Ponds Creek Trail is a great place to go for a bike ride before hitting the pool; it begins in Docklands and winds its way north, passing close to Kensington and Strathmore before terminating near Oak Park.
• The deep end of Fitzroy Pool, made famous by Helen Garner in Monkey Grip, is still marked with the Aqua Profonda sign.
• Children swimming in the middle of the game, would-be Olympians ploughing down the passing lane, and blasé hipster leaping across the sweltering pavement to watch the chlorine events from the grandstands make this 50-meter outdoor gem bustle with activity throughout the summer.
• You may also find a place to buy Speedos, goggles, and ice cream, in addition to using the gym, cycling studio, group exercise classes, crèche, spa, sauna, and steam room.
• The eight-lane, 50-meter pool in the contemporary building is joined by two smaller pools for children.
• At all times, the water temperature is just right.
• It's a great place to go for a swim because it's relaxing and rejuvenating.
• The pool is among the best in the north.
• The pool is now only open for lap swimming, however the bleachers at the side are great for sunbathing after a swim.
• Only 20 swimmers can use the facility at once, thus reservations are required.
• Time spent in each session is capped at 45 minutes.
• For many years, this Northside staple has provided shade to the always-cool citizens of Fitzroy.