The best Melbourne pools to head to in Summer
FROM modern aquatic cathedrals to retro outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pools, Melbourne has a place for everyone to cool down in summer. Here’s our list of the best places to immerse yourself in the city’s swimming pool culture.
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), Albert Park
The daddy of them all. An aquatic cathedral for devout lap swimmers or a place for the family to wile away a hot summer’s day. There are pools aplenty with the indoor 50m competition pool and 25m lap pool and outside a multipurpose pool, 50m pool and wave pool. The FlowRider is a static wave of water to try out body surfing or boarding. www.melbournesportshub.com.au
Brighton Baths
Not everyone is willing to pay for a swim at the beach, when you can walk 50m down the road and swim in the bay for free. What you won’t get down the road, however, is shelter from the wind, a boardwalk and a bit of privacy at the iconic baths, which have been around since 1881. For the die hards, it’s the home of the ice bergers who swim in rain, hail or shine. The rarefied atmosphere extends to dining, with a restaurant and cafe. A popular dog beach is about five minutes walk away, if pooch needs a paddle as well. Details: brightonbathshealthclub.com.au
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Fitzroy Swimming Pool, Brunswick Baths and Melbourne City Baths
This cluster of three inner-city pools are worlds on their own. Melbourne City Baths on Swanston St would not look out of place alongside State Parliament in Spring St. The impressive architecture gives the baths an old-world feel. The Fitzroy Swimming Pool had a near-death experience in 1994 before a grassroots community campaign saved the 50m pool and its crystal clear waters. A short trip up Sydney Rd is the Brunswick Baths, which retains its heritage facade outside. The 50m outdoor pool and 20m indoor pool have been updated.
Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool
For retro fun in the sun, it is hard to drive past this Murray Rd pool. A diving pool that opens periodically is a chance to show off your best pike or cannonball while young families are catered for with two toddler pools of different depths and a 50m pool. Barbecues and well-shaded grassed areas are perfect for lounging about on hot summer days and evenings. Keep the retro theme going he by heading down to the Coburg Drive-in for a movie. Unfortunately the pool doesn’t open until December 1 and then only if the temperature is at least 23C. But with El Niño, it will probably be open more often than it is closed. Details: www.activemoreland.com.au
GESAC, Bentleigh East
The Glen Eira Swim and Aquatic centre is MSAC’s little cousin, although with a bunch of pools, kids water playground and two water slides perhaps it’s not so little. It opened in 2012 on the site of the old Bentleigh East pool and has quickly become the go-to destination for families from the area on hot days. Details: gesac.com.au
Oakleigh Recreation Centre
The outdoor pool harks back to the 1970s with crystal clear water surrounded by an expansive lawn area. The operators don’t mind retro-fitting the diving tower with a giant inflatable slide to bring the pool’s attractions up to date. When the diving platform is open, kids have to do a test jump and swim to the side under lifeguard supervision just to see if they are worthy.
Details: oakleighrecreationcentre.com.au
Aquanation, Ringwood
The new kid on the block, Aquantion opened this year. The $52 million centre features a 10-lane, 50m pool and a 10m diving platform. Aquanation will be home to the Australian Diving Centre, which is handy, because Melbourne has been down a diving platform since the one at the Harold Holt Swim Centre closed due to concrete cancer. Details: maroondahleisure.com.au
Olinda Pool
Leader has a soft spot for this outdoor pool, mainly because we were involved in a campaign to save it. Thanks to the hard work of the community, it will be brand-spankin-new this summer. Not far from that other Olinda institution, the Cuckoo Restaurant, the fact the pool was saved is a testament to its local support. Work is underway to repair major cracks ahead of the summer season. Details: yarraranges.vic.gov.au
Monash Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Glen Waverley
A beach break in the middle of suburbs is the main attraction. The 40m indoor wave pool is open year-round, offering hours of fun for the family. Lap swimming is available at the 25m indoor pool and 50m outdoor pool. Details: monashaquaticrecreationcentre.com.au
Harold Holt Swim Centre
The pool that was named after a prime minister who drowned got a $13.3m revamp in 2010. The one attraction that didn’t get a makeover was the concrete cancer-riddled 10m diving board, which struck fear into the hearts of anyone green enough to jump off it for the first time. Still, the swim centre has six pools including a leisure pool for kids. As an oasis in the heart of the eastern suburbs, it has a strong following. Details: stonnington.vic.gov.au
WaterMarc, Greensborough
This centre has all the standard features you would expect of an aquatic centre with one awesome water slide, Tantrum Alley. The rafts for the slide are big enough to take 3-4 people. The height requirement for Tantrum Alley is 122cm and 107cm for the less intimidating Pipeline. The water play park has four slides and a giant tipping bucket. Details: watermarcbanyule.com.au
Funfields, Whittlesea
Not strictly a public pool but for pure fun save the airfare to the Gold Coast and take a trip up the Hume instead for a wet ‘n’ wild experience. Funfields is 40km from the CBD and features waterslides with names like Typhoon, Blackout and Splashdown. The Wacky Waters playground has over 20 water activities. If you are willing to drive to Whittlesea, then it might also be worth considering Geelong’s AdventurePark, which opens on October 31 for the new season. The park’s biggest rides are Lazy River, Aqua Racer, Gold Rush Rapids and Wild West Canyon. Both parks have dry rides as well. Details: funfields.com.au
Melton Waves Leisure Centre
Another beach break in the suburbs. It is the only aquatic centre in the west with a wave pool. The pool also features a river rapids. Visitors are spoiled for choice as the wave pool is one of seven pools at the centre. The 50m outdoor pool has eight lanes and is heated. Details: meltonwaves.com.au
PIPEline and World ALLEY
Aquapulse, Hoppers Crossing
The waterslides are billed as the best in the west. Check out the video above of PIPEline and World ALLEY to judge for yourself. The play area for the kids includes twin slides, two covered tube slides, water cannons, water spray and beach entry. Details: aquapulse.wynactive.com.au
Noble Park Aquatic Centre
The pool with one of the biggest waterslides in Melbourne also has a large kids play park and a half basketball court for anyone who wants to build up a sweat before cooling off. The centre, which opened in 2012, is part of the new breed of aquatic centres that have helped transform the swimming experience for the current generation of youngsters. Details: greaterdandenong.com
Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre, Frankston
The peninsula’s premier swimming centre had a rocky start when it opened earlier this year to a flood of complainst but appears to be ironing out the kinks. The centre has a 50m indoor pool, learn to swim pool, and a toddler pool with beach entry. The 79m waterslide is called AquaSphere. Details: www.parcfrankston.com.au