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.

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.

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

This is a small swimming school with a really close, connected and personal feel about it. The pool…read moreitself is the perfect size for swimming lessons in my opinion. The viewing benches for parents are literally one meter from the edge of the pool and this means two things. 1. You can hear and see everything that is going on in your child's lesson. You're close enough to speak encouragingly to your kiddy so they are confident and happy to participate. 2. You are so close to the action that it is highly likely you will be splashed when one of the eager little ones takes a plunge or practices their powerful kicks. From the lessons I've watched I've felt a great vibe from all the teachers and students here. The classes are small so each child gets the attention they need to feel safe and to progress. I think swimming lessons for children are CRUCIAL especially living somewhere as surrounded by water as Auckland is. My nephew swims like a fish and always looks forward to his lessons with Tracy. At the moment he's working on his "circle arms". I'm sure he'll be beating me at freestyle in no time.

I can not believe I had not been to the leisure centre sooner. Honestly its got alot going on in…read morethere. There is a Les Mills Gym, a large swimming pool, a spa pool, some saunas, and even a dive pool with diving boards. I had a visit during the week, before lunch time, so the toddlers pool was booked out with a swim group, so we were offered the fun section of the big pool we just had to share it with some swimmers, which was not a problem at all. The water was a lot cooler than the toddlers pool would have been but my little guy is obsessed with water so that was not a problem. There were a few lifeguards on duty, who were looking after us all, and although a large amount of little seven year old's did show up for weekly sports class, we seemed to all just co exist in the space happily. I am yet to enquire about the gym on site which I think would be so convenient for mums with little children as they have a creche that is connected to the whole complex, talk about convenience. Car park space outside is close to the leisure centre and is also all free to park in if you are using the facilities. The changing rooms, are big enough to have a quick change and the showers were clean, although I think jandals should always be essential in public showers, just a tip. I will be back for sure, as I love the fact that I get to relax and enjoy a swim with my child and we both benefit from it.

Went to use the pools today...Haven't been to this place for about 10 years. I guess that's why its…read more$6.70 for a swim and no longer $2.50. Anyway, its exactly how I remember it. Nothing has changed much. There are slides, diving boards, steam rooms, saunas, pools with lanes and a kiddie pool. I love how you no longer have to pay to use the lockers.... You just need to bring your own lock and key. They probably change this because things use to get stolen all the times. So make sure you bring a lock! Another thing that has changed is that It seems like this place has become the ultimate hang out for old asian people during the working week. I am quite shy with walking around naked in the change rooms, but the old asian ladies are not, just a warning!

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!

Fantastic experience at this swim school - especially swim instructors (Chloe is our fave!) who…read moregently and creatively guided our once nervous girl to grow in confidence and have fun in the water...Now she looks forward to her lessons every week!

My niece teaches at Dean Greenwood Swim School and I can tell you the youngsters are in good hands…read more She has the longtime experience and backing to impart life-saving skills of swimming to the children. My children all had swimming lessons from a very young age and it is no different at Dean Greenwood Swim School. Learn to swim classes are 30 minutes duration and allow for games in which skills are introduced and developed, which makes the whole experience FUN and something the kids want to come back to. These classes are at various locations around Auckland, my niece is at the Kelston School Pool.

The Manurewa Aquatic Centre has been around for several years now and was a much-needed upgrade for…read morethe area. It's located at Mountfort Park and it's hard to miss off the main road. It's a great facility and, living a two minute walk from here, I know that this place is popular all-year round. The aquatic centre boasts five pools, one of them being Manukau's first deep water pool, perfect for water polo and all other deep water sports I'd never dare to try (I'm definitely not a swimmer). Entry to the pools are free, but there's a great range of paid extras you can go for like the spa and sauna. The pools close relatively early but for a small fee you can stay later, which is ideal if you like swimming in peace, because this place gets busy. I've only visited the aquatic centre a handful of times, despite living so close. I prefer the pools in the winter when it's not so packed. You get some serious swimmers here so beware of accidently floating into someone's lane! I learnt that one the hard way. I've taken some younger cousins here on a couple of afternoon and I didn't swim, but the spectator seats here are great and you get a view of all the pools so there's no blind spot to worry about. There's a cafe on-site aswell if the hunger strikes, but I usually bring my own food when I come here or practice patience until I'm home. I really like the changing room facilities here; they're modern, spacious and well-looked after considering how much foot traffic comes through. The Manurewa Aquatic Centre is great for families with their range of swimming pools, and give adults the extra option of chilling out in the spa and sauna for some alone time. The Community Gyms fitness centre is here aswell, so the aquatic is great for that post-workout swim or sauna! A great addition to the Manurewa community and its as popular as ever.

I've been taking my one-year-old here for a few months now to their infant swimming class and its…read morebrilliant. For babies, they mostly teach them to be confident and happy in the water, and the start of how to get to the side safely and float on their backs - pretty important skills for little ones to have especially in a place like NZ where so much of our time is spent around water. Hilton Brown is a great facility, the pool is a nice size and its salt water chlorinated so you don't feel like you're swimming in too many chemicals. We've always had the same instructor so I don't know about the rest of them but she's awesome! Really encouraging and good at recognising which stage all the different babies are at and what they're ready for. Hilton Brown takes classes of all ages, even adults, and I'd recommend it as a great safe and friendly place to learn to swim.