I've spent way too much time here over the years; it can't be helped if you have kids. The little…read moreones LOVE it and by little I mean, preschoolers and up to about age 10. There's a nice warm baby pool and the shallows of the main pool are full of interactive water thingies, and of course a slide. There's "the lazy river" which is kind of an alternative to a whirlpool but what's most special about here is the waves, dude. They don't turn the waves on all the time mainly I think because they're bloody dangerous. Hold on tight to your toddler because the floor is really slippery and the force is enough to knock adults over easily, let alone adults holding another small body. Seriously, be careful. The hydroslide is pretty cool as far as these things go but the up the stairs and the shivering is not for me. Which I'm sure is fine with the kids. My reckoning is that this is Auckland's busiest pool so if you do have a little one in the big pool it's incredibly stressful trying to keep track of them. Go when your kids can swim on their own.

I used to come to this pool every single morning to swim laps before I went to work. My absolute…read morefavourite thing about this place was the kind of clientele it encased. Rapidly aging Asian men in the most terrific striped speedos imaginable. Pregnant women. Sad people. Lots of sad people. I dunno, it was a good people watching spot. The lane pool was never overly busy and the water was always a nice refreshing temperature. The price was okay. I think pools generally are a bit of a rip off. I probably wouldn't have gone here if it wasn't the closest pool to my house. But I did, and I'm perfectly at peace with the time I spent there. Three stars.

We come to these pools at least once a week, and I probably wouldn't bother going anywhere else…read more It's clean, the changing rooms are nice enough (and there's plenty of hair dryers). I do find the changing room exhibitionists rather intriguing though... There's a huge spa, with an adults section and a kids section. Also a huge lane pool, and a kids pool. Tips: there's a cafe near the spas, and my best tip is for parking - you can get your parking ticket from the Davis Cres carpark validated for cheaper parking (approx half price).

This pool is amazing!! Really!!! I certainly took the pool for granted when I lived in Auckland!…read more I am from New York, but lived in Auckland for two years while getting my Masters degree. In those two years I adopted swimming as my preferred fitness activity. I went to the pool whenever I was stressed or sad or bored, and within minutes of entering the pool, I was as happy as I could ever be. This pool has soooo many things you can't find in New York: - As a student, it only cost me $5 or so to pop by for a swim. Almost every pool (aside from the dingy pools) in New York require membership just to be able to walk into the facility. And even the dingy pools require membership outside of Summer. - It's a 50 meter pool. You would be surprised how rare that is. - It has a kiddie pool, hot tub, jacuzzi, steam room, TWO saunas, a cafe, a gym, fitness classes, SCUBA CLASSES (!!!) an incredible locker room with curtains AND hot water.... really just incredible facilities. Nothing in New York comes close to that. Not even remotely. - The price is absolutely insane. Again, I only paid $5 to swim, and they don't force you to get a membership or anything. The only establishment that I've been to that comes close to this pool is Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. But a day pass is $50 USD (So maybe $60 NZD.... just for the day). Yearly membership for the pool alone is over $600. I would do anything to be able to go back to this pool. Count your lucky stars, Aucklanders!!!! ;)

Trent Bray Swim School is located on Sandringham Road right in front of Kowhai Intermediate School…read more Run by locals, Trent Bray is a company dedicated to providing Auckland's youth with essential swimming skills and confidence in the water. I never attended swimming lessons as a kid, so know what's it's like to grow up being a bit unsure in the water. Schools like Trent Bray ensure all their students learn the right techniques and this is something that is pretty important in a country like NZ where we are surrounded by water. The children I babysit are students at Trent Bray, so I have witnessed a few of their lessons and have been really impressed by the instructors' patience and enthusiasm with even the most difficult kids. Katie Curd is one instructor I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any parents looking at signing their children up for lessons with Trent Bray. As a competitive swimmer herself she not only has the knowledge, skills and techniques of each stroke down to a fine art, she also was able to relate to her students really well and explain exactly what they were doing right/wrong. The kids I look after always rave about her, and it is obvious why! Tip: There's lots of free parking on either side of the swimming pool so don't worry about trying to park on busy Sandringham Road.

This is a great place for you and your kids…read more The staff are helpful and all round very good place. The pools are clean and the classes small.

The Parnell Baths are an affordable day activity and much fun for everyone. Pack a lunch and set up…read morecamp under one of the many umbrellas supplied, then enjoy a day relaxing in the heat. Alternatively there is also a café at the baths with a wide range of ice creams and ice blocks, sandwiches, burgers, hot chips, muffins and much more The pools are salt watered, so if you have sensitive eyes remember to pack some goggles. If you forget there is a swim shop that will be able to help you out. The Parnell Baths are a great summer pass time and are a perfect place to meet up with friends and spend a day lazing around the pool

There's something very retro-cool about Parnell Baths. I think it's the fact that it's been there…read moreso long. There have been pools on the site since the 1880s but the last renovation reflects its heydey as a 1930s Lido. The toddler pool is awesome; massive with an interactive playground and a family spa (there is an adults only spa too). The main pool is huge and provides more than enough space for serious swimmers and serious frolickers (that would be me) alike. All the pools are salt water which I personally find much more pleasant and given that you can see the sea across Tamaki Drive, it adds to the holiday feeling Parnell Baths seems to always have in the summer. There is a grassed area at one end with picnic tables and a BBQ area, both of which can be booked for groups. It is a good idea to have a strategy because if you're not in the shade here, you will almost definitely melt after not very long at all. There are sun loungers down the side for the hardy leathery brigade but either bring your own shade or be on alert for people leaving and vacating the shady spots. It can be a bit of a bun fight in that respect so don't forget to bring your manners. Really Aucklanders, it's ok to talk to each other. I recently spent a lovely afternoon here with a friend from Dunedin who befriended a lovely multi-generational family and said of course they could share our table, setting an example to all the other folk with their grumpy faces on. We took a picnic lunch and kicked back, the kids hopping in and out of the pools for hours on end. There's a shop that sells some surprisingly healthy and yummy looking lunch options and we ladies enjoyed a mid-afternoon frappe which totally hit the spot. This particular day was so busy that by the end of it the ice block freezer was almost empty. I can only hope that emergency supplies out the back!

Absolutely perfect setup! From the weights area, tennis courts to the pool…read more The staff are always very helpful and friendly. The cleanliness and support are second to none. Thanks heaps for everything you do.

This place is my personal sanctuary. I don't think I've ever looked forward to working out so much,…read morethan I do now that I have started my membership at 151. It's a calm oasis in there, with the most amazing air con and facilities you have seen in a gym. In fact I think gym is too much of a dirty word to associate with this pristine place. Because they keep a cap on membership, there is never a line for the equipment, the instructors are always on hand to dole out helpful advice and they even email to check up on you when you haven't been in for a few days. The facilities available to all members and casual members include a swimming pool, sauna room,a tennis court and a great range of weights/ exercise bikes and heaps of other exercise equipment. There are classes available too, a favourite of mine being tennis fit! And don't even get my started on the bathrooms, and the straighteners available, the shampoo/ conditioner\ bathrobes. They really have thought of everything. Why just the other day I got offered a free hour long facial and massage just for being a member. Have I tempted you yet?

Very clean swimming pool, the teachers are very friendly and helpful!…read more Several classmates of my son attended the swimming class.

No ethics at all, their pools are used by adults and visitors, we asked them to suspend our account…read morefor a month but they are keep on taking money from account and not enquiring why kid is absent. They don't have any screen methods for visitors and it's corona cases reported in Auckland as well

Tonight went down to my local pool. This is the pool where I more or less learnt to swim to the…read morelevel I am today, the pool where I first snuck into a sauna and thought "why would anyone ever do this to themself?" On entry I was pleasantly suprised to find a very good student price - $4.50 including sauna, steam and spa. The pool itself is a quite magnificent beast, with well regulated lanes and a clear division between classes and free swimmers. After a few laps, I went to the sauna. Impressive. They offer a self - regulating sauna (eliminating splash-and-dash) , and a lot of bench space - although this quickly filled up as the adult swimming class finished. Unfortunately , after a couple of reheats, the sauna filled up and I experienced another sauna trauma - spitting onto the sauna rocks. Up there with farting in the sauna and weeing on the sauna, this act filled the room with an unsavoury scent and also looked disgusting as it sizzled away. Overall , a good sauna / swim experience. Walking past the door of "Nan's Pool" bought back memories of struggling to hold onto the side of the pool wall as I valiantly kicked away , bringing tears of joy to my eyes as I watched the aqua joggers slowly canter through the chlorine-filled, aqua blue sardine tin.

Cheap way to relax after a day or week's work. So cheap you will enjoy your stay after using the…read moregym and have a dip in the spa or pool.

A lot of Aucklanders of my generation have memories of sneaking in here on hot summer nights. It…read morewas just the best thing to enjoy this huge pool after dark without the crowds. There was usually at least one other group but that's ok, we were bonded in the knowledge of our tresspass. Nowadays you'd be lucky to ever find this place on the quiet side but I love that it's cold - usually the coldest public pool you can find when Auckland's heat kicks in. There's a nice high diving board for bombs, frolicking space and lanes. There's a spa as well if you come in the chillier months and no doubt they heat the pool a bit too. You can find yourself a shady spot on the grass, kick back and let the kids run wild. There's even a playground. Like I said, it does get crazy busy and the parking can be a drama but this place just feels like Summer holidays.

Open air pools can be a bit of an acquired taste if you have not been brought up going to them,…read morethey certainly have been for me. Point Erin is secluded and surrounded by greenery. There is a couple of pools to choose from, with a good diving platform for getting adventurous off. Once you are done with the fun and excitement in the main pool, the spa pool provides a welcome place to relax. Fully fenced, with plenty of grass on which to relax with bookable BBQ points, I can imagine it's a great location for a family day out and judging from the number of families there at the weekends I think I might be right. Also not bad for lane swimming, just avoid times that it's full of kids!