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.

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!

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!!!! ;)

This is a fabulous facility, close to the CBD, with good programs for kids as well as adults. This…read moreis only for the pool and changing room facilities, but not for the greater gym which is also available here. The pool area has both a 25m pool suitable for competitive swim training, but also a warmer, shallow pool for those who are doing young swim lessons and more relaxed laps. I swim with Future Dreams swimming which has workouts 3-5 days a week, typically with 2-3 options on times (morning, midday and evening MWF). It's a good group with a range of abilities, so would encourage you to try out a workout. Instructors for swim lessons seem quite knowledgeable and good, although the holiday programs can have a broad range of abilities which can be tough for swimmers on either end of the spectrum. The showers and changing rooms do the trick; hair dryer and iron are available but you should bring all your toiletries and towels.

Located off Auckland's CBD near the viaduct harbour, and (not so) fresh from a reopening in 2012…read moreafter a rennovation in 2010, Tepid Baths has a great location that is easy to visit (there is a parking lot nearby too) and has affordable prices (free for children under 16, $6.70 for adults 17 and older, $5.30 for seniors aged 65+, community service card users, disability access owners, and adults with an infant) Tepid Baths is a great place to spend your weekend or enjoy your morning/afternoon while working out. It's said that there is a cafe on site but I haven't visited it so I can't confirm that. The service is okay, the lifeguards watch over the swimmers well - kindly reminding them to change lanes if they are too slow/fast for that lane. I mainly go to their swimming pools, but they also have a gym that has a partial glass floor that overlooks the children's swimming pool below. They have a clean facility (although I suggest that they clean their floors and lower row of lockers more often) and a main pool with differed rows from aqua jogging/kids play area and a slow, medium, to fast speed for accommodate all sorts of swimmers. They also have a pool used for learners and kids (which is usually used for swim school to 1pm on weekends) and most excitingly, they have a spa (mind you, it's really hot) a sauna and a steaming facility (wooohoooo!) They have free lockable lockers that you can access in the bathrooms (it's BYO...lock) and they are conservative with water since they use timed showers (the ones that you have to press to turn on and then it turns off after a certain time, and you can press again until you are finished using the shower) and for the ladies they have two ghd hairdryers and straighteners that can be used anytime (yay no more bad hair days after swimming!)

Yesterday the swimming pool was the dirtiest I have ever seen it. There were clumps of hair…read morefloating and the water looked murky and unclear. Unfortunately I won't be going back there. Very unhygienic.

Situated quietly in Bellevue Road, this is still a bit of a secret. We come here when we don't have…read morea lot of time and just really need a dip; nothing flash, no slides, diving boards or carry-on, just a good old basic swimming pool. I love that even during summer school holidays it's not particularly busy. Whenever we've visited, there's only been half a dozen or so other groups which is unheard of at the more popular pools. The Dean Greenwood swim school operates out of here so like most of the public pools, you should check your times if you don't want to be surrounded by splashing kiddies. There's sweet and salty snacks available at the counter (ok junk food), and a range of togs and goggles etc. Cheap as chips, and although heated year round, the temperature is lovely and cool on a hot day making this place perfect any time. It's everything you need and nothing more.

There's an urban legend about Parakai that involves a woman squeezing the pus out of pimples on her…read moreman's back while sitting in a hot pool. I almost feel like I have seen it happen myself because I actually think I did. In the really hot adults-only pool. Anyway, such are the risks you take when sharing water with others. Ergh. The whole place has hardly changed in years and has a slightly sad faded feel about it which does nothing to deter the masses from descending, particular on chilly Winter's days. The slides are pretty rough but the kids think that's a good thing (uh huh) and the facilities in general are just a bit dilapidated. Still, it's so wholeheartedly Kiwi that you just gotta love it. I remember we used to have friends who would take their campervan to Helensville (the whole 40 minute drive from home) and camp at the campground here, which is part of the Springs complex. I was so jealous. Now I'm not really sure why you would - it's nice and green enough but there's better places. Still, like I said, it's classic Noo Zilland.

I hadn't been to Parakai since the last year of High School which was over 10 years back, so was…read morelooking forward to seeing if anything had changed since my last visit. Other than possibly redoing the reception, and maybe cafe area, I don't think a lot has changed since I last swam here. I did have a blast coming down the hydro slides with the kids on the mats provided; however I'm sure the owners could possibly put a bit more money in sprucing up the facilities and particularly the padding on the stairs up to the top as it looks a bit tired in places. The hot pool inside is great, and had it been a colder time of year I would of spent more time inside, however it was sweltering hot, so I had a quick splash and spent more time in the sun, and riding the slide. It felt like the busiest Saturday ever, 100's packed in to the springs, and the pool was a sea of faces- quite fun, but also hard to enjoy your own space really. I would recommend trying the pools out on a week day, when the kids at school next time.

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?

Howick Historical Village is in the park, it is pretty fun to walk about and go see it on a"live…read moreday" you can join a school class from the late 1800's. $15 Adult entry - $8 kids under 5's are free

Well, I have no clue who Lloyd Elsmore is, but he makes a pretty cool park. Covering a significant…read moreexpanse of East Auckland, it has a swimming pool, skate ramps, fields, sports clubs and the Howick Historical Village on site. Walking my dog here, I spied cyclists on the skate ramps, kids laughing on the playground, cars driving to and from sports matches and new games being set up for kids after school. They have plenty of sports days here - I know, because I can hear the announcer from my house a few kms away! It's also a good place to host an event, as I remember coming here a few years ago for a South African Festival. If you're looking for a day of fun, I reckon Lloyd Elsmore will fill your Saturday quite nicely.

Both my kids, and many of the kids I know, have learned to swim here. For around an hour once a…read moreweek for several years, they would swim up and down the pool, mastering the strokes and breathing. I had only rudimentary lessons as a kid and as we live on an island (or three) it was important to me that my own children learned to swim competently. Turns out they are both actually quite a lot better than competent and I think a lot of that is down to Jordan Millar and the team at Ross Millar Swim School. It's a family-run business based out of Three Kings School pool and while the pool is pretty basic, it doesn't matter because the teaching is second to none. They cater to all levels including adult classes, which I plan to do one day when I have the time and money (i.e. when the kids have left home). The staff have a really lovely way with the kids, keeping them engaged and having fun while taking no nonsense which is a tricky thing. Especially when you have those kids who just cry and won't get in - don't give up, come here.