Charlestown Swim Centre, run by Lake Macquarie City Council, is especially good for families with toddlers and preschoolers, though there’s plenty for older kids and confident swimmers too. It’s open all year round.
The centre has three pools, an outdoor heated 25m pool, an outdoor heated 50m pool, and a dedicated heated indoor Learn to Swim pool, plus a fenced toddler splash pad.
The splash pad is the main event for younger kids. A large water ring in the centre squirts water from all directions, and dome-shaped water fountains create little waterfalls perfect for toddlers to duck under.
Ground-level water jets spurt up in random spots, a fun way for toddlers to figure out cause and effect.
Older kids tend to gravitate towards the hose-like water feature mounted on a pole, which is fair warning to keep your distance if you’re not in your swimmers, since siblings and parents are prime targets.
At the far end, three tipping buckets fill and empty on a rotating cycle. It’s a hit with kids old enough to see it coming, but worth watching younger toddlers who might get caught by surprise.
Water on the splash pad runs on a timer and will occasionally stop to conserve water. If that happens, press the button on the nearby pole to start it again.
The splash pad is fully fenced off from the rest of the pool complex, which parents appreciate, and it’s covered by a shade sail with bench seating around the edges. Large umbrellas on the grassed area next door make a good picnic spot.
The 25m and 50m outdoor pools suit older kids and confident swimmers, with a lane always reserved for recreational swimming.
The 25m pool is shallower than the 50m pool but still a minimum of 1.1 metres deep, so younger kids will need an adult in the water with them. The indoor Learn to Swim pool is used mainly for lessons and programs.
There’s a grassy area behind the 50m pool with picnic tables and free barbecues. Café Baaduka is on-site, serving coffee, ice cream and hot food if you’d rather not pack your own. Yellowbox smart lockers are also available if you’d rather not carry valuables poolside.
Best Age Groups
- Toddlers and preschoolers: the fenced splash pad is the standout feature, with shade and seating close by for supervising.
- School-age kids: old enough to enjoy the splash pad’s tipping buckets and hose feature, plus the 25m pool.
- Confident swimmers: the 50m pool and dedicated recreational lane suit older kids and adults after some laps.
Parking and Getting There
Charlestown Swim Centre has an on-site car park, with street parking also available nearby on Dickinson Street.
Find on map
Good to Know
Address: Dickinson Street, Charlestown
Phone: (02) 4921 0782
Season: Open all year round, closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday and Christmas Day
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 5am–7pm, Saturday 6am–5pm, Sunday 8am–4pm
Picnic facilities: Picnic benches and sheltered picnic tables
BBQ: Yes, free
Nearby café: Café Baaduka, on-site
Public toilets: Yes
Water fountain: Taps available on-site to fill water bottles
Parking: On-site car park, plus street parking
Cost: Under 5s free, ages 5-17 or concession $4.50, adults $7.10
For more information, visit the Charlestown Swim Centre website.
FAQs
Yes, it’s open all year round, closing only on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday and Christmas Day.
Yes, it’s a separate, fully fenced area from the main pool complex.
Yes, there are picnic tables and free barbecues, or you can buy food from Café Baaduka.
The 25m outdoor pool has a minimum depth of 1.1 metres, and the 50m pool is deeper, so younger kids will need an adult with them.
Where are other places you can take your kids to splash around? How about Lambton Pool, Grannies’ Pool, Canoe Pool or Merewether Baths or check out our Best Beaches for Families guide.
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