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.

Why are wave pools so fun? These sorts of waves out at the beach are at best a non-event, at worst…read morea nuisance. But put me in a much smaller body of water with a concrete bottom, turn on the swooshing, and somehow that's a grand old time. I don't get it. The thing is it really is a grand old time. Wave pools are fun, and it doesn't matter how old you are or if you've ever seen what a real wave looks like. There's a shallow end for the little kids, and a deeper end for everyone else, and this is where the waves are at their best. There's also a grown-up pool in the next room (you know, with lanes and a flat surface) that you can swim laps in but to be honest I've never felt the need. I'm sure it's fine though.

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!!!! ;)

Sometimes if we have kid-free time at the weekend and are feeling righteous we use the gym here…read morebefore having a swim. I like it when gyms aren't painful about casual visitors and the ones run by Auckland City Council are really a bargain. We had a good time here as we usually work out without machines so each time we're in a new gym it's all new and exciting. Which is a really helpful feeling to have about exercise. Don't come here though if you're a complete novice; the staff are more interested in posing than assisting the clients. Which is fine with us. There's probably more cardio machines here than I've seen anywhere else along with everything else you might need; weights, kettle bells, Swiss balls, stretching mats... This place is the ideal set-up because it really has everything; there's a cafe, creche, sauna, group fitness and personal trainers, nutritionist and physio all on site. And what's left of the original building's character is beautiful. Aucklanders of my vintage will remember when the Newmarket Pool was the place to go in summer and hang out on the concrete terraces in the sunshine. It's now of course covered in but they did the best job they could retaining the building's Deco character. It's a pretty busy pool and there's no dedicated "frolicking" area so you need to avoid the serious swimmers if you're just in for a dip. The curved spa at the end gets crazy crowded which is less than relaxing but that's what you get in the populated areas. The changing rooms here have some interesting features, particularly the strips of clear glass at strategic height in the showers. So you can have a moderate level of privacy but not for the body parts where you really it. My husband has a hilarious story about one of our visits involving a clearly very body-confident man hoisting his leg up on a bench to blowdry his nether regions - yes with the hairdryer. Personal space being at a premium when it's busy it was apparently quite an eyeful. Not sure this is a selling point but it's certainly bloody funny.

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.

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!

Great affordable summer attraction. Saltwater pools which are great, kids area is fun and safe,…read morebig pool provided lots of activity for older kids. Loved that you could bring your own lunch in as well, perfect day out. Parking is a premium so get there early. A must go place!

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.

Pool is great, atmosphere is awesome but the communication between the staff is CRAP! was told $30…read moreto book 2 tables for my daughters birthday but ended up costing me $75 and all i got was a "sorry please check prices next time as the communication between receptionists isnt very good" Chose this pool as a cheap option for a bday party but actually ended up being the most expensive place that i looked at! Wont be going back as i dont think my complaint was taken very seriously and dont want to deal with the crap customer service anymore.