Built in 1932, Wynnum Wading Pool remains a popular place to cool off during summer in Brisbane.Credit: Brisbane City Council
Scorching summer holidays in Brisbane present you with two options: a hunt for air-conditioned relief, or lathering on the sunscreen and finding a place to get in the swim.
Cinemas, museums and art galleries can offer the former, and the latter might see you hitting the Bruce and Pacific Highways to find surf and sand on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
But if you are staying in the greater Brisbane area and hoping to make a splash, look no further…
Council pools
Logan North Aquatic CentreCredit: City of Logan
Brisbane swimming pools
Various locations, $2
Entry to Brisbane City Council’s 22 pools is just $2 this summer for all adults and children. The offer lasts from December 1 to February 29, and means that cost of living pressures won’t prevent you from heat relief.
Logan Aquatic Centres
Various locations, $4.20-$6.20
The City of Logan has swimming pools at Logan North, Beenleigh, Bethania and Eagleby. Some are closed on Christmas Day – check online.
Redlands Aquatic Centres
Cleveland and Russell Island, $3.50-$6.50
The Cleveland Aquatic Centre is $6.50 for both adults and children but the Bay Islands Aquatic Centre is a bargain at $3.50 for kids and $4.50 for adults. Both are closed December 25.
Newmarket Olympic PoolCredit: Brisbane City Council
Moreton Bay swimming pools
Various locations, $4.70-$5.90
Moreton Bay has 11 aquatic centres across the region and most cost $4.70-$5.90 for a casual swim except Woodford’s, which is a cheap $5.20 for adults. All are closed on Christmas Day, and Samford’s swimming pool is also closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Scenic Rim swimming pools
Beaudesert, Boonah, Canungra, Rathdowney & Tamborine Mountain, $4-$5
The pools are all closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day and the Rathdowney Pool is also closed on New Year’s Day.
Tidal pools & artificial swim spots
Settlement Cove Credit: City of Moreton Bay
Stanley St Plaza, South Brisbane, free
The spectacular artificial beach in South Bank is a rightfully popular must-do in the warm months. Don’t miss the adjacent Boat Pool, and kids will love the interactive water-play park Aquativity.
Orion Lagoon
155 Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central, free
Ipswich’s answer to Streets Beach, Orion Lagoon is a huge sequence of connected shallow pools with squirting spouts and stepping stones. Depths range from toddler-friendly 0.3 metres up to 1.5 metres.
Wynnum Wading PoolCredit: Tourism and Events Queensland
Wynnum Wading Pool
Wynnum, free
This huge tidal pool on the esplanade was built in 1932 by unemployed workers during the Great Depression. It’s still a great place to escape the heat and features a small spiral slide for the kids.
Enoggera Reservoir
60 Mt Nebo Road, The Gap, free
The dam is even older, having been built in 1866, and can be accessed via the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre off Mount Nebo Road. You can paddle your canoe or swim, or explore the surrounding bushland.
Settlement Cove, Redcliffe
Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe, free
This 95-metre-long swimming spot is like a tropical resort, but free. Settlement Cove’s sandy bays have shallow water that gets deeper as you go along, till you get to the centre of the lagoon with its island. A fenced-off pool for littlies has mushroom and lizard fountains and the end of the lagoon is a miniature river to wade in.
Splashy playgrounds
The Mill Petrie Water Park and PlaygroundCredit: City of Moreton Bay
The Mill Petrie Water Park and Playground
1 Moreton Parade, Petrie, free
The park boasts a large, colourful water park with ‘crab’ fountains and one of those large tipping buckets designed to douse delirious children – along with the odd unsuspecting adult.
Wynnum Whale Park
137 Wynnum Esplanade, Wynnum, free
That pod of friendly blue whales spouting water keeps kids cool in hot weather in the playground that also boasts a tipping bucket and water trail with mini-dams. The park is next to a toilet/changing block and the Wading Pool.
Ferny Grove Aqua Park
Upper Kedron Rd, Keperra, free
Opened in 2020, this one has tipping buckets, water cannons, a spray tunnel, misters and fountains galore for the little ones.
Logan Gardens Water ParkCredit: City of Logan
Logan Gardens Water Park
12 Civic Parade, Logan Central, free
The park has four water-play zones with a large tipping bucket, pond, spray forest, water jets, waterfalls, mist sprayers, bubblers and fountains. Concrete surfaces have a special coating to prevent excitable kids having falls.
Flagstone Water Play Park
Flagstonian Drive, Undullah, free
Families will find it’s worth the journey down Jimboomba way for three massive tree-like structures that spurt, jet, tip, shower and splash water in every conceivable way. Much of it is shaded, and there’s a cafe nearby.
Rocks Riverside Park
531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks, free
The former cement quarry is now an extensive park and playground with waterplay featuring rockpool, paddling pools and fountains.
Water holes
Stony Creek Swimming Hole, WoodfordCredit: City of Moreton Bay
Stony Creek Swimming Hole
Fletcher Road, Woodford, free
This beautiful natural swimming hole has a number of boulders to traverse, rock pools and small waterfalls, and a nearby picnic area with toilets.
Cedar Creek Falls
973 Cedar Creek Road, Cedar Creek, free
You’ll find this shady series of family-friendly rock pools just outside of Samford. As always, a visit after the rain is best, and pack a picnic to enjoy in nearby Andy Williams Park. Not to be confused with Cedar Creek Falls at Mount Tamborine.
Mount Mee Rocky Hole
Mount Mee Forest Drive, D’Aguilar National Park, free
Take the Mount Mee Forest Drive to the Rocky Hole car park, then a short walk down some steps to find the frigid rock pools ideal for a paddle in the middle of a eucalypt forest.
Simpson Falls
Mt Coot-tha, free
Follow the Eugenia Circuit from the car park alongside Ithaca Creek to find these impressive falls, and you can swim at the top.
Bunya Crossing ReserveCredit: City of Moreton Bay
Bunya Crossing Reserve Swimming Hole
87-89 Dugandan Road, Bunya, free
Located at the junction of Bergin Creek and South Pine River, this Hills District spot is good for swimming for all ages as well as kayaking and fishing.
Youngs Crossing Park
275 Youngs Crossing Rd, Joyner, free
This bit of the North Pine River, just behind Old Petrie Town, is popular for fishing and kayaking as well as swimming.
Mainland beaches
Suttons BeachCredit: City of Moreton Bay
Suttons Beach
Marine Parade, Redcliffe, free
A very popular part of Redcliffe, Suttons Beach is great for swimming among the shallow waves, playing in the sand, barbecues and bicycling.
Raby Bay Foreshore Park
90-110 Masthead Drive, Cleveland, free
Three sandy beaches with calm waters for paddling, plus large green spaces and a children’s playground, make this a pleasant summer hangout.
Scarborough Beach parkCredit: City of Moreton Bay
Scarborough Beach
Scarborough, free
Arguably the best swimming beach close to Brisbane, Scarborough is picturesque, lined with pine trees, and boasts two playgrounds and a jumping pillow.
Rusters Reserve
Esplanade & Moores Road, Redland Bay, free
This is a quiet reserve with nice views and has a netted enclosure meaning it’s safe from sharks and undertows.
Islands with beaches
Cylinder Beach, North Stradbroke Island.Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
Bribie Island
Sylvan Beach is a calm beach facing the mainland that is popular with families. Woorim Beach is patrolled and the closest surf beach north of Brisbane, with modest waves of under a metre. Banksia Beach is family-friendly and has toilets and picnic areas.
North Stradbroke Island
Your safest swimming option is the patrolled Cylinder Beach, but there is good swimming to be had at Flinders Beach, Home Beach, and the epic, 32-kilometre Main Beach (stay in the patrolled areas). Dunwich and Amity Point have enclosures, making them safer for kids and weak swimmers.
Coochiemudlo Island
The island is accessed via ferry from Victoria Point. Main Beach near the ferry terminal is patrolled in summer, and you can hire a kayak or paddleboard. Norfolk Beach (named after Matthew Flinders’ boat) and Morwong Beach are both good for a secluded dip at high tide.
Commercial water parks
Aqua Warrior RedcliffeCredit: Aqua Warrior Redcliffe
Aqua Warrior Redcliffe
Pelican Park, 101 Hornibrook Esplanade, Clontarf, $25-$30 (50 mins)
This inflatable water park set up in the bay offers splashy fun for everyone over the age of six in 50-minute sessions. Connected obstacles and slides form a course, and everyone must wear a life jacket.
Chermside Aquatic Centre & Water Park
375 Hamilton Rd, Chermside, $7.50-$18.50 (one day)
A cheaper and less manic alternative to the big water parks, this one has three big twisty slides, shotgun attractions and a lagoon pool.
Wet ‘n’ Wild Gold CoastCredit: Tourism and Events Queensland
Wet ‘n’ Wild
Pacific Mwy, Oxenford, $95-$105 (one day)
Experience tube slides, body slides, wave pools, raft rides, splash zones and more at this adrenaline-charged attraction perfect for summer excitement.
WhiteWater World
1 Dreamworld Pkwy, Coomera, $89-$109 (one day)
Many deals bundle up WhiteWater World with Dreamworld, but you can buy tickets for this water park alone. Attractions include the Cave of Waves, Pipeline Plunge, SuperTubes Hydrocoaster and The Little Rippers.
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