12 Outdoor Pools in Melbourne to Keep You Cool This Summer

While Melbourne’s beaches have their moment, sometimes all you want is a quick plunge without the traffic, towels full of sand or a wind-whipped car ride home. Enter the city’s outdoor pools. From heritage baths and saltwater icons to sleek, design-forward swim centres, these sunlit escapes deliver cool water, green lawns, family-friendly zones and plenty of room to stretch out. Whether you’re chasing laps, a lazy float or a poolside afternoon with a book, these are the best outdoor pools in Melbourne.

Carlton Baths

First opened more than a century ago, Carlton Baths remains a cherished inner-city swim spot. Open seasonally between October and April, the centre features a heated 25-metre outdoor pool alongside a toddler pool complete with an aqua playground, slide and jets. Its compact scale makes it ideal for easy summer dips, casual laps and long afternoons spent sprawled on the surrounding grass. Simple, sunny and quietly restorative.

248 Rathdowne Street, Carlton

Brighton Baths Health Club

Waking up locals with bracing swims since 1881, Brighton Baths is one of Melbourne’s most iconic saltwater pools. Fully enclosed by a timber boardwalk that doubles as prime tanning real estate, the Olympic-length 50-metre pool looks straight out over the bay. Open year-round, it draws devoted lap swimmers even in winter, with a gym and steam room on hand to warm up afterwards. Morning swims here are a local rite.

251 Esplanade, Brighton 

St Kilda Sea Baths

Set right on the foreshore, St Kilda Sea Baths blend fitness and leisure with ease. The heated 25-metre seawater pool is perfect for year-round laps, while the hydrotherapy spa and steam rooms invite a slower pace. Sweeping bay views and the beachfront setting elevate even a quick visit into something more indulgent.

Sitchu Tip: Turn it into a full seaside day with a long lunch or sunset drinks at nearby Republica or Captain Baxter.

10/18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda

Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre 

One of Melbourne’s most impressive modern swim centres, Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre pairs thoughtful, sustainable design with serious aquatic facilities. The heated 50-metre outdoor pool suits both focused lap swimmers and relaxed paddlers, while an aquatic playground keeps younger visitors entertained. With generous deck space and a welcoming, community-minded atmosphere, it’s a standout for fitness and family time alike.

180 Victoria Road, Northcote

Fitzroy Swimming Pool

Known affectionately as the ‘Fitzy’, this north-side institution has been part of Melbourne’s swim culture since 1908. The heated 50-metre outdoor pool hums year-round with lap swimmers, while summer sees the concrete bleachers fill with sunbakers and social swimmers. There’s also a gym, spa and sauna on site, plus a dedicated toddler pool. It’s old-school, energetic and unmistakably Fitzroy.

160 Alexandra Parade, Fitzroy 

Brunswick Baths

Brunswick Baths offers a convivial mix of serious swimming and relaxed community energy. The 50-metre heated outdoor pool is open year-round, attracting a steady flow of lap swimmers alongside casual dippers. Inside, you’ll find a recreation pool for kids and water-based classes, plus a gym and a full schedule of fitness offerings from Pilates to yoga and Tai Chi. A true all-rounder for health and wellbeing.

14 Dawson Street, Brunswick

Harold Holt Swim Centre

A favourite in the city’s east, Harold Holt Swim Centre is a top-tier destination for swimmers who value both form and function. The heated 50-metre outdoor pool and 25-metre indoor pool cater to everyone from competitive swimmers to those easing into a gentler pace. The heritage-listed brutalist building adds architectural interest, while the adjoining gym rounds out the experience.

1409-1413 High Street, Glen Iris

Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre

For scale and state-of-the-art facilities, MSAC is hard to beat. Its competition-standard outdoor pool features a moving floor, alongside excellent change rooms and extensive fitness spaces. Book your lane online to secure a swim, then unwind in the sauna, steam room or 34-degree hydrotherapy pool. Inside, there’s also a wave pool, waterslide and multiple diving boards for a more playful visit.

30 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park

Prahran Aquatic Centre

It’s no surprise that Prahran’s local pool is a little more swish than your average. With a luxurious wooden sunbathing deck, sun lounges and lush greenery, you’ll feel like you’re on holiday when you set your towel down here. The outdoor lap pool is a full eight lanes and 50 metres, with a spa, sauna and steam room for post-swim relaxation, and in summer they’re known to host DJs, jazz gigs and sausage sizzles that add a party-like vibe.

41 Essex Street, Prahran

Monash Aquatic & Recreation Centre

A favourite for eastern suburbs locals, Monash Aquatic & Recreation Centre offers space, variety and plenty of sunshine. The eight-lane, 50-metre outdoor pool is ideal for laps, while the expansive lawn invites long post-swim lounging, with shade from trees and umbrellas. Inside, a wave pool adds an extra layer of fun, with swimmers of all ages diving in.

626 Waverley Road, Glen Waverley

North Melbourne Recreation Centre

Designed with families firmly in mind, North Melbourne Recreation Centre features a lagoon-style outdoor layout with four pools of varying depths. From the splash playground to the 25-metre lap pool, everything is kept at a comfortable 27.5 degrees year-round. Easy sightlines make supervising kids a breeze, and summer brings movie nights and special events that turn a swim into a proper outing.

204-206 Arden Street, North Melbourne

Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre

A hit with children and the young at heart, Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre is known for its colourful waterslides and relaxed outdoor feel. Open seasonally from October to April, it features a heated 50-metre pool, a shaded learners pool and a splash pool for younger swimmers. For a full day out, cycle there via the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and make the most of the surrounding green space.

563a Pascoe Vale Road, Pascoe Vale

Looking for more great ways to spend a hot summer’s day? Sip on spritzes with a view at these gorgeous rooftop bars, catch the latest flicks in air-conditioned comfort at our favourite cinemas, or picnic under tree shade at these lush Melbourne parks.

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

17 December 2025

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.