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A retro-style swimming pool surrounded by palm trees has bright-coloured pool floats and accessible hoists.

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A retro-style swimming pool surrounded by palm trees has bright-coloured pool floats and accessible hoists.

Not just ramps: Swimming pools that go above and beyond accessibility

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By The D*List

Basic accessibility shouldn’t be a luxury. Here are five pools across Aotearoa with noteworthy accessibility features.

  • Not just ramps: Swimming pools that go above and beyond accessibility
    The D*List
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  • Auckland: Albany Stadium Pool

Image description: A corner of the spacious accessible changing room facility at Albany Stadium Pool shows sleek marble tiled walls. On the black marble side is a control panel for the automatic doors, and on the white marble side is a roll under sink under a long mirror. 

  • A corner of the spacious accessible changing room facility at Albany Stadium Pool shows sleek marble tiled walls. On the black marble side is a control panel for the automatic doors, and on the white marble side is a roll under sink under a long mirror.

  • While the Albany Stadium Pool originally did not have accessible changing rooms, it opened this new facility in 2023, six years after its opening. Albany Stadium Pool collaborated with Lifemark throughout the build, meeting Lifemark standards and endorsed by CCS Disability Action. 

    The spacious change room can accommodate a wheelchair and support person comfortably and has a privacy curtain around the toilet. So much of it is adjustable, including the toilet height, shower seat, flat change bed, hoist and basin, and you can transfer between them using the ceiling track hoist. A thorough review of this facility (and many other aquatic centres) has been done by Kimberly Graham. No bookings are needed, and all you need is a swipe card from the front desk to open the automatic doors.

  • Tauranga: Mount Hot Pools

Image description: Steam rises from a large pool with crystal clear water. A spotless blue sky is above head and the sun is blocked by a large umbrella over the pool. Trees and apartments are dotted around the pool complex.

  • Steam rises from a large pool with crystal clear water. A spotless blue sky is above head and the sun is blocked by a large umbrella over the pool. Trees and apartments are dotted around the pool complex.

  • While spas have great therapeutic benefits, many of them are not fully accessible. However, not only does the Mount Hot Pools offer what you'd expect for basic accessibility - such as hoists and water wheelchairs - it’s also a rarity in that it’s an open air salt water pool right at the foot of Mauao so you can also enjoy the proximity to natural elements. All five Tauranga public pools are free to Tauranga residents who live with a permanent disability.

  • Hastings: Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre

Image description: A removable wheelchair is loaded into the Pool Pod which has sturdy, curved, black hinges either side and is installed to the side of the swimming pool.

  • A removable wheelchair is loaded into the Pool Pod which has sturdy, curved, black hinges either side and is installed to the side of the swimming pool.

  • Despite it seeming to go in and out of action, Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre has one of the country’s first Pool Pods. This nifty submersible platform lift is user-operated using a wristband with a scannable chip so you can operate it independently. You can get onto it either by stepping onto the platform or rolling in on the submersible wheelchair. Then when you’re ready, you can gently lower yourself into the pool by scanning the wristband on the control panel. The Pool Pod is currently out of action while it awaits new parts from overseas.

  • Upper Hutt: The New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport

Image description: A T-shaped rail overhead reaches over four small recovery pools in NZCIS’ pool room.

  • A T-shaped rail overhead reaches over four small recovery pools in NZCIS’ pool room.

  • Designed with consultation from Dsport, the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport boasts four recovery pools: a cold plunge, hot plunge, hydrotherapy with underwater treadmill, and plyometrics pool. But the best part? It has a world-first Accessible Pool Railing System attached to the ceiling that reaches the hoist into all pools. The hoist holds up to 400 kilograms and the pools are designed for rehab for athletes and those with disabilities. 

    To book the pool, you need to call the Institute at 04 9743600.

  • Christchurch: Pioneer

Image description: In the reflection of a circular hand-held mirror, a woman smiles while they enjoy a swim. A structure made of pool noodles floats in the background.

  • In the reflection of a circular hand-held mirror, a woman smiles while they enjoy a swim. A structure made of pool noodles floats in the background.

  • Between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday afternoons, sensory water equipment and toys are made available in the Teach Pool at Pioneer reserved for sensory swimming where it will be quieter, with low lighting and no music. People of all ages can enjoy a leisure swim in a calming and welcoming environment and use dedicated changing rooms. Bookings are essential as each session takes a maximum of 15 people. In the same building is a Sensory Room run by Southern Centre.

    And a special shout out to Christchurch City Council for great online accessibility information about all of their pools, many of which have great accessibility features.

  • Where do you go for a swim in your community and what accessibility features does it have? Flick us an email to let us know and we can update this list!

     

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