The Spring Hill Baths are an absolute gem, tucked away in Brisbane's inner city. First built in…read more1886, this 25m pool is completely covered and still has its colourfully painted changing rooms all around the perimeter of the pool. You don't want to do any hard-core swimming at the Spring Hill Baths; rather, it's a lovely place to float and soak up the beautifully restored surroundings and to imagine you've been transported back to Brisbane's yesteryear. As with all town pools, entry fees are a little pricey: Adult - $4.60 Concession - $4.00 Children - $3.30 Under 2yrs - free Hours vary between Summer and Winter, so best to check the website: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on/Whats-on-database/venues/index.htm?q_venue_id=464 Finish your visit to the Spring Hill Baths with a Boa Constrictor or Fizzer from the kiosk!

I'm a sucker for heritage buildings. I also enjoy lolling around in the water. The Spring Hill…read moreBaths have been providing me and many other Brisbanites with a lovely body of water to throw ourselves into since 1886. The multicoloured bather's pavilions that border the pool's perimeter remind me of the English seaside. They hold lots of swimming classes here so it's not ideal for laps, but as I said I prefer to loll around and look up at the sky. At only 25m, the pool isn't ideal for hardcore lappers, but it's a great place for a relaxing splash around. I love how the outside wall gives no indication of what lies inside, and the transition from city street to yesteryear swimming pool takes my breath away a little bit every time. On a hot day in the city, there's something so simple and satisfying about engaging in the timeless pastime of a swim and an ice block on the walk home.

Excellent heated pool. The aquatic center also has a shower and a smaller training pool for newer…read moreswimmers. People and staff are extremely friendly and most of the swimmers are also friendly and respectful. For new people, here are some of the "unofficial rules" that I didn't really know about and I learned the hard way: 1. Slower swimmers stay on the right side lane. I got dirty looks for swimming slow in the middle lanes. 2. Always swim on your left lane. 3. Rinse off in the shower before entering the pool. Also the pool is saline water so your skin doesn't turn into a raisin after swimming for hours.

Destroyed by the floods of 2011, the UQ pool is yet to return to its former glory, but the…read moreconstructions look to be taking shape nicely, with the pool relatively unchanged and a nice new club house nearing completion. Prior to the floods, the UQ pool was a popular place for those wishing to get their exercise in the water after a day at uni and for the lazier breed of student, like myself, who just enjoyed a paddle. During my college days, my friends and I would wander across campus with towels over our shoulders to take a dip in the pool and lay on the grassy slope for some sun and people-watching. Revised entry prices and opening hours are yet to be announced for the new aquatic complex, but one of the great things about the pool before the floods was that entry for UQ students was nice and cheap. Hopefully, it will stay that way, as entry to regular town pools is too pricey for my liking.

There's nothing really exciting about this pool, other than there's water in it and it's clean. And…read moreit's in the Valley. Aside from that it feels relatively industrial and grey. The facade is quite iconic but behind it the original pool appears to have been demolished and replaced with some sort of 1970s concrete box. I like swimming and will swim anywhere, including here, and if it's exercise then it's a good place to do laps. There just doesn't seem to be a great deal of atmosphere. What is a nice day is shopping and eating in the Valley followed up by a late afternoon swim here at the pool. That is a nice adventure. Anyway, not bad, but nothing to get too excited by. Note: Pool actually opens at 5.30am Monday to Saturday, despite hours listed above.

This pool is one of the last bastions of a Brisbane rapidly disappearing, and a good example of how…read morethis city ought to feel: laid back and unpretentious. Here are four reasons to bathe at the pool: One, a very relaxed individual who looks after the complex; two, a selection of traditional ice-blocks and lollies; three, individuals can sunbathe on green grass while watching the ancient palms that dot the skyline; four, the ability to swim in freedom without being yelled at for encroaching on the wrong lanes. I notice there have been some changes in the landscape of late. Tennis courts from the nearby high school have encroached, and there is now a concrete path cutting "the hill" in two. With any luck, though, this pool will not be ruined in much the same way many of the city's public pools have been. Let there be no quasi theme park, let there be no excessive squad practice, let there be no militant life guard yelling at you because you happened to make a splash when you dive. Let life be a series of swims at Musgrave Park Pool, with the odd bag of lollies thrown in. So close to the city and West End, for any who need a place to relax and refresh after a hard day at work, this is it. Forget the pub and instead enjoy the pool's dark blue waters.

Brisbane summers are for many people, including myself, utterly unbearable. Because swimmable…read morebeaches are at least an hour away from the city centre, the public pools are a summer hot spot for locals. Musgrave Park Pool is a particularly lovely public pool situated in central West End, right next to, you guessed it, Musgrave Park. While you're practicing your back stroke, you get to look out to the greenery, and a pretty nice city view. For me, nothing beats doing laps first thing in the morning. You will have to share the pool with other swimmers, but, really, during summer, you're always going to have to share the pool with a lot of people. Please note that learn to swim classes take place quite often, and so the lanes can suddenly change at very short notice. The man who runs the Musgrave Pool deserves a mention. He's a dude. He often runs the place single handedly. If there's a "Back in 5 mins" sign as you walk in AND out (as sometimes happens), do the right thing and pay for your entry. If only for the Musgrave Park Pool hero. You can buy your goggles and swimming paraphrenalia there if you need to. They've got your regular assortment of pool 'aids', like paddle boards too. It'll cost you $4.50 for adults, and $3.50 for concession (just bring proof of concession). Go on, have fun, and don't forget to wear sunscreen.

A sweet, family-oriented pool with kids' laughter and antics abound on the Summer weekends. I come…read morethen and also mornings for lap swimming. Usually one to a lane. Pool comfortAbly heated, and good shade and sun mix. Grassy area for sun baking. Sweet times.

The mercury cracks 30 degrees and the only answer was to loll in water under the guise of swimming…read morelaps. Arrive at pool around 10am and quickly realise it is prime time for mothers and their children - poolside play dates - and an active aqua aerobics class. As far as pools go, Ithaca is isn't bad by any stretch and was re-tiled last season. It served a grand purpose for what I like to call black-line-following meditation. I guess my only "gripe" was that this is far more a family pool than a grab-your-goggles-and-swimming-cap kind of pool at this time of day.

I've been coming here on and off for years…read more I used to work nearby, so would walk up on lunch breaks to do laps. Most recently I had a day off, and it was one of only two council pools on the northside that was open. They drain, clean, and do whatever maintenance they need over winter, so that's understandable. Centenary had just reopened. As much as it was a warm (24 degrees) winter day, I was still worried the pool might be a bit chilly, but I needn't have worried. The temperature was perfect. But this pool isn't for splashing around in with your friends, each lane was roped up and segregated based on swim speed (i'm always in the slow lane!). It was fairly quiet, but still expect to share a lane with one or two others even when it's not busy. As I left what appeared to be a school swim team was arriving and taking a lot of lanes, so it might be a good idea to check when the pool is booked out for groups. There was plenty of bench space, toilets and showers in the change rooms, but unfortunately the lockers (and there's not many) were out of order, so avoid bringing any valuables. Staff at the counter were friendly, and they have a good range of goggles and other swimming paraphernalia, so you can probably grab whatever you need right there if you don't have any gear, or just forgot it. There's also plenty of parking, with a gym above the pool!

The Centenary Aquatic Centre is a great option if you're after a pool that's sparkling clean and…read moreregularly treated, which is, I think, all you could ever ask for in a large body of water frequented by thousands of people each week. The lanes are split according to the speed at which you're swimming, and the people I've shared lanes with all keep to themselves and don't kick up a fuss when someone is swimming too quickly or too slowly. The change rooms are air conditioned because they aren't well ventilated for privacy reasons, but this makes them incredibly cold when you hop out of the pool. Luckily, their showers are always piping hot. The pool is heated in winter, but there are still those odd summer days that are inexplicably freezing, and this turns the water ice cold. It takes about ten laps to warm up.