If you grew up in the region, you would've spent countless swimming carnivals here - walking past…read morethe canteen area brings vivid flashbacks to me. Swimming carnivals of my youth aside, the Warringah Aquatic Centre is a swimming complex located at Frenchs Forest. It's impressive facilities include a 50m pool, a diving pool with several diving boards of different heights, a few outdoor pools that are constantly too cold to swim in, and of course, the canteen. There's always something happening at the Aquatic Centre - swimming lessons for little ones, squads and development training for the older kids, Aqua Aerobics for the realllly old ones, and a bunch of people who just want to swim. The centre has great - and free -parking available, although it's a bit of a walk to the car when you're dripping wet and it's freezing outside. A better option would be taking advantage of the free hot showers, and storing something warm for afterwards in a free (deposit required) locker. The Center has impressive, stadium-style seating for parents to cheer on their little ones in the race, and also has a range of swimming-related paraphernalia if you've forgotten the all-important goggles or floaties.

One of the only indoor pools on the beaches! Easy parking, get a lane to myself half the time,…read moreacceptable price. Hot showers afterwards should be free though, currently they're cold and too short for me!

We have not had a swimming pool in the area for a few years so it was with bated breath we waited…read morefor our pool to reopen. Hmmmm. The good bits are that things are new but the not so good bits are .... There are not enough life savers or staff on duty to open both the 50m and 25m outdoor pools. When they go back to having school carnivals there is even less space to sit than before. The playgrounds on the other side of the pool are nice to look at but not practical. They have even surrounded them with a picket fence. The little kids water play area is not open all the time..again lack of staff The indoor pool area can get a bit funky but you can't open the windows to doors as there are a couple of shear drops without steps. Cancellations of classes for spin etc can catch you out. There is no sign in the vestibule to tell you what is still running. Sadly, and up to this point, many of us have been going to nearby council pools where it is cheaper and the "passport" is accepted. No discount for the local rate payers or services (ie teachers, fire, police, ambulance etc). It is looking like a white elephant.

What more could you need on a summer's day than an outdoor pool, a shady tree and a good book? Not…read morea lot. If you're in the Hills area this is a great aquatic centre for a lazy summer swim, although I will say most of the people in the area have that same idea. There are three pools here, the outdoor 50m Olympic size pool, there's an indoor pool for learning to swim and a kids play pool. There's heaps of grass and trees around the pool if you want to relax in the shade too. On a really hot summer day there are heaps of kids swimming in the designated play lane but there's always at least 4 lap lanes open, especially in the middle of the day. This goes down to one at around 3pm when squads start. Another great thing about this place is they open at 5:30am so if you are really keen (I will never be this keen) you can come for an early morning swim. Waves is pretty affordable as well, they have heaps of membership options available but a great value is the $30 for 30 days trial membership which gives you access to the pool and also the classes at the fitness centre. The fitness centre isn't huge but they have a good range of classes for everyone from Pilates to Boxing and Aqua Aerobics (super fun!). There's also a host of personal trainers you can book to train you up! The newest venture at waves is the trampoline ground. Basically the length of the pool there are trampolines imbedded in the ground that you can jump your heart away on! It looks really fun but try and fight the kids for the chance to jump! The most disappointing thing about Waves is their so called "tuckshop" which is basically an ice-cream stand. They have a wide range of sugary snacks, hot chips and questionable coffee but don't think you'll find a museli bar or piece of fruit. They would do well to stock some healthier options.

El Dorado, the Lost City of Gold, exists, and it's right there in plain sight, right next to…read moreCentral station and just down the road from every damned hipster bar and coffee shop worth caring about. What the hell am I talking about? Prince Alfred Pool is what I'm talking about. No, not talking. Gushing, in strictly the non-chatroom sense. I always thought this was a scummy hobo park littered with needles and broken dreams. But I took a punt on a friends advice and hit this pool up for an afternoon swim and I stand before you a changed man. Firstly, it's free until November. Nada, nix, bupkiss. Secondly, it's a hella nice pool, with clean, clear water, lotsa lanes, and - the best - a huge slope of grassy wonderland for sunbaking and, sure, perving, because why not? There's a big wooden deck under a tree, umbrellas, a cafe, and state of the art changerooms. We even smuggled a bottle of wine in and got a little sozzled in the sun. Fine a lot sozzled. What a day though. I particularly enjoyed the city workers who busted out the budgie smugglers and were sprawling out in the sun while getting through a fat stack of reports. Now that's how you read, son. That's how you read.

They've finished building it, and it's beautiful. This is an outdoor Council pool set within the…read morelandscape at Prince Alfred Park, near Central Station. It's a great design: grassy hills, big yellow sun umbrellas, with detailing in dark wood and swimming-pool blue. There's not that much to it: a 50m pool and a cafe, change rooms, lockers, and little fountain thing for toddlers to run around in. It's highly green rated : sustainable materials, tri-gen energy, water recycling. The pool is clean and heated (though not too too hot). Suitable for wintertime laps, though getting out of the pool is the unpleasant bit. Today I was a bit unimpressed with people's pool etiquette (the slow lane is not for standing around in with your boyfriend, it's for swimming, morons - and a few stray legs from the play lane heading into the lap lanes, hmph), but I guess that's life in a public pool. It has the standard fast, medium, slow, and leisure lanes and mostly people understand what that means. I'm pretty thrilled that I had a swim in late May, and lay around in the sun. Go Sydney. Go Prince Alfred Park. And the best bit: it's free for the first 6 months! (Until some time in November 2013...)

I used to live on Annangrove Road at Kenthurst so I was able to watch the pool as it was being…read morebuilt. A good idea in this area because if the properties don't have pools then they have dams. Classes soon filled up as there were a lot of young children being driven past everyday - Marian College and St Madeleine's schools are next door. They specialise in young children, their philosophy is to start them as babies. They are totally independent and both the owners are hands on so you know that the staff don't slack off. Depending upon the day of the week, classes start at 8am and they close again depending upon the day, at 6pm. They run classes for babies, toddlers, young school age and they also have training squads for young children preparing them competition. A large car park, an enclosed pool and a cafe for the mums and dads rounds out the complex.

A fantastic swimming learning centre. From the novice to the more competitive up to the elite. This…read moreis a centre that builds friendships. You don't just come to swimming, you become part of the Hills family!

Maccallum Pool, on the western side of Cremorne Point, is a unique harbourside pool with heritage…read morecharacter and superb views. Its waterside timber deck is an unparalleled sun bathing spot. It was originally just a rock pool created by local residents to form a safe harbour swimming hole. You need to work out the timing of the cleaning of the pool which is once a week and varies. When its closed for cleaning it will be up for 9 hours. The days leading up to the clean the pool can be very dirty. Take a picnic blanket, a wine, cheese, crackers and really indulge in one of Sydney's free attractions.

There is nothing better than finding a spot near the pool on Australia Day and hopping in to cool…read moreoff as you enjoy the park, the views of the harbour and bridge, and digest your prawns and sausages. The rock pool is a nice safe swimming area with some of the best views of Sydney. What makes this such a great place is that it is free.

This pool is great- the staff are grand and the water is warm in winter and refreshing in summer!…read moreAlways crystal clear and clean. Really safe venue and nice to go to. They have swimming lessons and a small gym

We just recently became patrons with our little girl who takes swim lessons there…read more The quality of the lessons are superb. We've been to different pools, but here suddenly she flourishes in the pool. The pool is quite modern, with an indoor slide and a little adventure world for the little ones. There is an outdoor pool, everything is still pretty new and clean. At time you can't find parking at their car park, which is frustrating as street parking is rare. The only downside is the staff. Arrogant pushy unfriendly girls working at the reception and the school. I nearly slapped one little tart who came and started to tell me off about something she got wrong. Not sure where they take their attitude and confident from that this is how you talk to clients. Thus my 2 star rating. The clientele is made up of Chinese, Indians and Caucasians. So don't expect a fistfight. Last not least. The coffee shop seems to be serving Caucasians first. So depending if you like that sort of behaviour, could be good or bad.

Finally settled into my new home so there was no excuse to delay getting back to my fitness…read moreroutine. The guys at the reception are lovely but does get chaotic when it's busy. But they remain friendly and apologetic. Signed up for the February special which is pay 6months get 6 free. Who ever came up with the deal must have not been a math wiz. Either way it's a 1 year pay up front membership. Which gives you access to the pools, steam room, sauna, gym and a wide variety of classes. Comes out to $13.50 a week. Otherwise they have other packages. If you don't wanna be locked in its $22 a week. This morning I went for a swim and used the outdoor Olympic pool which was bliss. The changing rooms and facilities all good. Next week will try out a assortment of classes to see how I go.

The perfect place to relax on a lazy Spring afternoon, or scorching Summer's day…read more Last year I went through this weird fitness phase, and swimming was my exercise of choice. I would spend every other afternoon staring at that mesmerizing blue line on the bottom of the pool. I would swim back and forth, back and forth. Swimming further and further every time, but never getting anywhere. And with surroundings this beautiful, why would I want to? Nestled amongst Cabarita Park, Cabarita Swimming Centre offers sweeping panoramic views of the foreshore, and the glass fence surrounding the facility ensures none of the natural beauty is lost. Prices are pretty standard- $5.40 for adults, $4.40 for kids and $4.20 for pensioners or seniors. Multi-visit passes are also available if you plan on visiting regularly. While it can get busy in the Summer, Cabarita Swimming Centre is a great spot to exercise, play and relax. Facilities include: * 50 metre outdoor salt water heated pool, * Salt water heated program pool * Shaded/heated toddler's pool, * Shaded bleachers area, * Cafe/kiosk facilities and swimming merchandise (goggles, swim caps etc). Trading Hours: Monday to Friday: 6.00am - 7.30pm Saturday & Sunday: 6am - 6:00pm Public Holidays: 8am - 6pm

There is a group of older men who believe they own the pool, they'll swim in any lane they want and…read moreswim into the back of you as they please, particularly if your a woman. Then they have the nerve to complain about you aloud even though they're in the wrong lane. If you can avoid them then this pool is great!