The eastern suburbs is blessed with amazing harbour and coastal beaches but sometimes the beaches are too crowded, too rough and you are over sand.
We’ve put together a list of our 5 picks for the best aquatic centres in the East if you feel like a day out with the kids this summer.
1. Botany Aquatic Centre – Botany
One of the east’s most iconic pools, set in the quiet back streets of Botany this “Olympic” pool centre once famous for its water slides offers families a really great experience.
There are three pools – 50 m large Olympic sized pool, medium sized pool where most primary aged kids can stand and a covered large baby and toddler pool.
One of the great things about Botany Pool is the outdoor area, well cut grass and loads of trees and vintage umbrella’s from the 70s provides a lot of shade and space for you to set up a picnic and enjoy the day.
There are also plans later this year to build a new water play area and return the legendary water slides that were removed a few years ago.
For more info
https://www.bayside.nsw.gov.au/area/pools/botany-aquatic-centre
2. Cook + Phillip Park Pool – Sydney
Situated just off Hyde Park next to St Mary’s Cathedral this is has a 50m indoor heated pool that provides shelter from the sun and lots of indoor aqua play. Good for a rainy summer’s day if you want to get out of the house.
https://cookandphillip.org.au/
3. Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre – Waterloo
One of the newest additions to centres in the East this is a state of the art pool featuring a 50 m outdoor pool with lanes dedicated to free swimming with helpful ledges so if you have a nervous swimmer they can practice their skills safely with you.
There is also a great 25 indoor pool area which is heated and then the highlight for kids is a water play area with slides, mega drencher and play area, they will never leave!!!
4. Des Renford Leisure Centre – Heffron Park Maroubra
Just off Heffron Park in Maroubra is Des Renford Leisure Centre which boasts a variety of pools to suit all levels. There is a large 50m outdoor pool with a shaded baby pool alongside then an atrium style heated smaller pool for those colder days.
There is also a 25m indoor heated pool which during school holidays and over summer has a large inflatable play item which the kids will exhaust themselves on but you have to be a competent swimmer so suited more to primary age kids.
https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/drlc
5. Prince Alfred Park Pool – Surry Hills
Newly renovated and only launched several years ago Prince Alfred Park Pool offers a great outdoor swimming area with a 50m outdoor pool. The highlight for the kids is a fun and interactive splash pad water play area that is suited for younger kids to enjoy.
There is plenty of shade with a grandstand style area set up with umbrellas.
