Pioneer Recreation & Sport Centre

Fantastic experience: Great place for all kinds of sports, recreational and fitness. Kids enjoy the pool while adults enjoy the spa, sauna and steam

Fantastic experience: Such a nice place , has a gym , sauna , steam room , spa pool , toodler pool ,outdoor pools, diving board and 4 hydroslides

Negative experience: It used to have warm water for children, but now the water is almost cold and the children are shivering in it. It seems intentional, though I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because there are fewer people, less hassle, less cleaning, or less frequent water changes. Every time I take my children, they end up catching a cold or the flu.

Fantastic experience: Lovely pool. Lane pool,leisure pool,mini rapids,fountains,spa pool,sauna and steam room.Great Cafe too with friendly staff.

Negative experience: Under construction really noise and staff not welcoming and said it was to full

Positive experience: Great wee place , good pool ,massive recreation area , basketball courts, gymnastics area

Negative experience: Driven here twice now all the way from Ashburton, and both times we were kicked out within 20mins because someone had vomited/defecated in the pool. Will never be back.

Fantastic experience: I've been going to fitness classes for a few years and can't rate it high enough for quality, service and friendly staff

Fantastic experience: Great atmosphere, fantastic facilities, well heated and vented.

Fantastic experience: Great center its got it all only 2 things it needs ,are a bigger sauna and a bigger spa

Fantastic experience: I Love it

Fantastic experience: Great recreation centre. Recently refurbished. Parking can often be difficult, particularly in the weekend when there is sport in the adjacent Centennial Park. There is a café and a childcare centre on-site.

Fantastic experience: Great pool, sauna and steam room.

Positive experience: Nice little gym for starters, but i will not recommend it for serious training as it doesn't have many machines and gets real busy. It is the cheapest gym if you combo it with pool membership.

Fantastic experience: Great staff. Clean facilities

Negative experience: Again, pools closure for without notification. Meh

Fantastic experience: A place for exercise, foodie experience, meeting friends and sorting City Council subjects. Great staff over the three areas.

Negative experience: We are extremely disappointed. This is the third time in a row we visited Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre, only to be told that the Leisure Pool was closed — again. What makes it worse is that we checked their official website just before leaving, and it clearly showed the Leisure Pool as OPEN. We spent time, petrol, and built up our children's excitement, only to arrive and be told at the front desk that it was closed yet again. I even double-checked before we left, specifically to avoid this kind of disappointment — but it still happened. This lack of up-to-date information is unacceptable. Please fix your communication and ensure your online opening hours are accurate. Very, very disappointing experience.

Fantastic experience: Been here for the Kukkiwon TKD tournament, spacious and there’s a cafe inside if you want to grab a quick fix.

Negative experience: A well thought out and impressive facility for the local community with some great faces on the frontline and behind the scenes. Unfortunately there are serious issues that need addressing. Staffing seems to be a significant problem—I visited today hoping to use the sauna, only to find the entire aquatic section of the facility closed due to understaffing, on a long weekend, no less. There were approximately 15 people lined up at the front desk to discuss this. Whit no doubt this is frustrating for the local community as on top of the “code brown” occurring every other day it raises big questions: How and why does this happen? Are staff underpaid and therefore unwilling to work over long weekends? Is this a case of poor management and organizacional planning by senior staff? I must sincerely state that bad luck can’t justify all circumstances. Moving forward, other issues may as well be brought to light that are often discussed within the Pioneer community. The cleanliness and general maintenance of the facilities are also often disappointing. The changing rooms and sauna/steam room areas are on and off filthy with visitors often complaining about mold. Maintenance standards barely reach a 5/10 with noticeable metal structures throughout the facility rusting. This level of neglect undermines the potential of what should be a top-notch community resource. It’s probably best the the centre hires cleaning specialists and tradies to keep on top of this as I assume the lifeguards are much keener on protecting our lives than cleaning sludge out of drains. Some staff interactions are far from friendly. One notable example is Chris. A busy fitness instructor in the gym who enforces rules, such as wearing shoes while squatting. He seems to take on an unnecessarily rigid and dismissive manner when approaching gym users. While following council guidelines is most certainly understandable, his approach adds an unwelcome and discouraging atmosphere to the gym. Another astonishing staff mishap is the front desk, the face of the facility. The customer service is lacking in friendliness and a middle aged bloke and an older lady seem to genuinely not want to be there. I would like to note to management, that the younger staff on the front desk DO seem to genuinely want to be there and are consistently friendly and welcoming. Come on, Pioneer Recreation Centre! Please take on some of the feedback from the community, you guys can really make a difference. Improve your staffing situation, clean up your act, and create an environment that values both its patrons and its employees!

Negative experience: Rude staff

Negative experience: We’ve had our three children enrolled in swimming lessons at Pioneer for the past 18 months, and the swim instructors have been absolutely fantastic — consistently kind, patient, and attentive. They’ve created a really positive environment for our kids, and we’ve been so impressed with their professionalism and care. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the front desk experience. On multiple occasions, interactions with Steve in particular have been consistently disappointing. His attitude is unwelcoming, often marked by snarky remarks and a lack of basic courtesy. He is not accommodating and seems genuinely disinterested in providing helpful customer service. Every interaction leaves me feeling frustrated, which is a real shame given how excellent the rest of the team is. Pioneer is lucky to have such strong swim staff, but the front-of-house experience — especially with Steve — seriously lets the side down.

Fantastic experience: Newer multi leisure complex with a variety of things for the family, group or individual to be active in Today I enjoyed the gym, followed by steam room and sauna

Negative experience: I was at the pool with my kids today and, just like the first time we were there, I left my coat hanging up in the women's locker room because it's very hot in the pool area. I left my son's water bottle with it. When we were leaving, I went to get my things and only found the water bottle; the coat was gone. I was STOLEN. A new coat, one of those long ones with fur on the hood, for very cold days. I had no idea about this danger, because everyone always talks about how safe and reliable everything is. We filed an online police report because, regardless of the price, this is wrong and needs to be filed. Be warned: the locker rooms are not safe because the people are not trustworthy, unfortunately.

Positive experience: A very good pool for family and relaxation. I wish there weren't so many "Brown codes" because parents are not careful enough with their kids. Also lifeguards should be more hard with big lads playing rude games in the pool, and ruining the leisure time to everybody.

Fantastic experience: Good

Fantastic experience: Despite the 3 cell phone towers out front it's a great wee place

Positive experience: Nice, clean and tidy. Signs of continued maintenance upgrades in the family change shed shows commitment to further improve. Carpark flooded in heavy rain, need to sweep leaves prior to weather events. Needs a bigger spa

Fantastic experience: 非常棒的体育中心，设施完善

Fantastic experience: Wave pool

Fantastic experience: Great facility, perfect pool for kids.

Fantastic experience: Great place well done chch council. Good staff in classes gym and pool and good facilities. I would love to see a cold plunge pool there but that is the only thing missing

Fantastic experience: great staff great pool

Fantastic experience: Great place to take our son,, learning to swim so fast.. 100% great place

Positive experience: Pool is in a lot better condition. Needs a tog spinner

Fantastic experience: Good swimming and sport facilities. Annual book Fair a must.

Fantastic experience: Well managed Recreation center available to everyone

Fantastic experience: Great place for the book fair. Plenty of space. But I didn't find anything for me.

Fantastic experience: I watched my son's volleyball tournament here. Parking is great.

Negative experience: Closed, and no info online about it

Negative experience: The power tripping middle-aged female receptionist needs to calm down and have her attitude readjusted. There is no need for any rude and unprofessional tantrums.

Negative experience: Still closed

Fantastic experience: Great gym & staff,instructors love Coming

Fantastic experience: Best public pool for me in chc, affordable too. There's a wave simulation, you can do basketball on pool and volleyball too if you want, i like the loopy running water that's fun-very child friendly, probably don't like the strong chlorine smell much. Other than that, love coming here

Negative experience: The gym personal trainers esp the guy with a mo is rude and always on some kind of power trip.The gates to entry never work properly and it is an overall crappy vibe which could be better starting from management. I only go if I'm desperate and even then it's shocking.do not recommend

Fantastic experience: I’ve been a member of the CCC gym + pools for a bit now and I really love going here. The program updates are a fantastic way of changing things up and making working out fun and exciting. Love going to Pioneer, the staff are incredible as well, thanks Pioneer!

Fantastic experience: All of staff are so nice and friendly.thank for their service.

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff and fully equipped.

Fantastic experience: Cool place for indoor sports

Positive experience: It's in need of an upgrade. Still a good place to take young children.

Fantastic experience: Love coming here with the kids. The children's pool is large and has a lazy river and a wave area. There is a hot spa that children may also go into. If you come during school hours than you almost have the entire place to yourself, but even rush hour is manageable. The staff are friendly, and the cafe makes great coffee. I have also taken yoga and fitness classes here in the past and really enjoyed them. If I am gonna be picky then I would love if the water in the kids' pool could be warmer and the corridor to the changing rooms was redesigned because it's currently functioning as a wind corridor. However, I have gotten around this by dressing one son in a wetsuit. Also, the family changing rooms are regularly used by non-families so it's sad to see parents with cold babies waiting unnecessarily. However, considering how affordable and large this complex is, these are just quibbles. Moreover, Pioneer Pool is located inside Centennial Park which has a playground, free tennis courts, basketball court, sand volleyball area, and soccer classes on Saturday. I think there's even a BBQ people can use in the park, but I am not sure how that operates. I should also mention that Pioneer staff allow you to leave your wallet and phone with them so that you can avoid renting a locker, and they even lend hairdryers. These things may seem little, but they are in fact very helpful and convenient and mean that we are regulars at this complex. One more thing, Pioneer sits between Lyttelton St Playcentre and a BestStart Kindy. My kids happily attended both and we often went to the pool after kindy or Playcentre. Quite ideal!

Fantastic experience: A place of space well-being healing very healthy nice life guards Jim swana steam room first best experience 20 years ago very respectful

Positive experience: Went here for Tumble time with my 20 month old! Great atmosphere and lots of activities!

Fantastic experience: Great late night laps ‍♂️

Negative experience: I'm a regular swimmer and its great exercise. Sometimes wonder about the water quality in general . The male changing room floor is always filthy why? No one will read this from the ccc

Positive experience: Went for the sauna, it's small and overcrowded. Otherwise it's a nice facility with very friendly staff.

Fantastic experience: Pleasantly warm pools and beautifully clean changing rooms.

Negative experience: Facilities feel a bit past it and grubby, the sauna has had a broken seat for a few weeks and there was a code brown in the lazy river and kids pool last time I went, resulting in mass exodus into the already crowded spa pool. Opening up the learners pool for families to use would have been a better option. Spa pool is also very hot, a bit too much for me, which is the main thing I go for.

Fantastic experience: Great swim wasnt busy Very nice staff

Fantastic experience: Much Smaller than QEii. But it has gym

Fantastic experience: Fantastic recreation centre, great pools, great group exercise schedule and trainers.

Fantastic experience: Good pool pretty nice environment with swimming and basketball areas. The pool is nice and the coaches are nice too.

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff, great facilities, only bug bear is they turn hot showers off 5 minutes before closing time

Positive experience: Great facilities

Fantastic experience: Tumbletots is so good

Fantastic experience: We use / been to the pools mainly and also been to the mall area for community fair / show. It is an excellent venue

Fantastic experience: Took my Grandson to Tumble Times, what a great affordable activity for under 5’s (and nanas)

Fantastic experience: Staff superb, great vibe

Positive experience: As all government buissnes it is understaffed when needed and over staff when quiet. Staff work hard to give the best customer service possible. Gym trainers are okay. Half are very good and lots of experience and the other half can't talk to the customers this is why I left. Pool needs attention but good.

Fantastic experience: Amplo e seguro lugar! A programação para os pequeninos é super legal! Piscina e quadras bem cuidadas!

Negative experience: Very busy and crowded

Negative experience: Main pool closed. No notice out front, no mention of it from reception staff who happily took your money to not swim in the main pool. Poor poor service. Public do not deserve to be cheated like this.

Positive experience: Great place for a cycle ride to because it is just off the Sparks Road cycleway. Good place to stop for a coffee.

Fantastic experience: Mostly children loves this place. Lots of activities available for the kids.great Swimming pool.

Negative experience: If you’re going for a shower just don’t, best to try somewhere else. $3 each for a shower which is a comparable price to elsewhere. The water is a sort of mist system you have to push the button every 10-20 seconds. It was luke warm at best didn’t get the soap off, misted my clothes that were hanging up and every time someone flushed the toilet it went cold. I tested all 3 of the women’s showers and the disabled shower was slightly better as it has a proper shower head but still barely warm and I came out shivering. My partner used the men’s showers and sounds like they were warmer but still bad mist like pressure and awkward to use. Can’t speak for the other facilities but the staff are friendly and the place looked really clean, I just wouldn’t shower there again.

Positive experience: Hezký bazén,Whirpool a sauna za 7$ nenadchne, ale neurazí. Pro děti velmi hezké misto

Positive experience: Great pools for your swimming requirements. Friendly staff.

Fantastic experience: Love the vibe here the gym and pools are great and staff are very helpful highly recommend

Fantastic experience: The First Time I Visited Didn’t Enjoy My Experience Much But Had To Visit Again Because Our Local Gym Was Unavailable To Us. Absolutely Enjoyed It & Love The Outdoors The Most. Their Spa Is The Best & Changing Room & Showers Are Number 1. Looking At Changing Now From Our Local Gym To Pioneer. Staff Were Very Welcoming & Helpful & Made Our Stay Pleasant. Love Pioneer Pools…

Fantastic experience: Great pools and gym, also a great range of fitness classes.

Fantastic experience: Wave pools fun for the kids Friendly environment Saunas much hotter than qe2 Has a park with a bbq facility Community service gets you in cheaper

Positive experience: Nice sauna and steam room, option to go out in the fresh air to cool down is great.

Fantastic experience: Clean, easy access, lots of fun. Toddler enjoyed the pool and tumble time

Fantastic experience: Very nice swim pool Better than Jellie park swim pool

Fantastic experience: Steam and Sauna working, Sauna very busy sometimes uncomfortably... Outdoor pool was very nice ...

Fantastic experience: I go here 4 days a week. Great staff and good value for money. Friendly staff and great equipment. 7am Tuesday is a great Yoga class Leanne is great leads the class well. Been going to Pioneer since 2017, love it. Great for social, mental well being and physical fitness.

Fantastic experience: the gym is small, but as long as you dont go between 4-7pm theres definitely enough space and equipment to have a good workout! it does lack some equipment, but theres always alternatives with different machines or dumbells. theres lots of cables which is good and the leg press is better than any other ones ive tried the staff and other gym goers are all soo sweet and helpful its a very easy place to make friends as you end up seeing the same people every day if you go at the same time. overall its a really nice gym, especially if youre just starting out since it’s small and all the people there are very friendly and supportive!! - petition to get a hacksquat and hip thrust machine though please

Positive experience: Very Nice leisure pool with waves, the lanes are old and the soundproofing and lighting make the place unpleasant when packed in winter. The least fancy pool in CHCH but great courts and a gym too. The staff is great

Positive experience: Never enough car parks

Fantastic experience: I love using the spa, sauna, and, steam room.

Fantastic experience: I went there for the Encraftment Market before Christmas . Lovely place! They even have some food stalls on the lawn. I may go there for a swim some day.

Positive experience: I’m used to a newer council pool facility for the same price, so I was a bit unimpressive here. 5 lane swimming pool and I had a lane to myself which nice but the water was colder than I’m used to, no aqua jogging lane, and the spa wasn’t very hot on this articulate evening and had some kids splashing around in it.

Fantastic experience: Fees are cheap and are already inclusive of whole day fun in their pools. Parking is convenient and spacious. There's also a nearby playground at the Centennial Park if your kids would still like to burn more energy after swimming.

Positive experience: Dobre sprchy

Fantastic experience: Off street parking, great wee playground and lots of entertainment options as well as the pool

Fantastic experience: Great pool with lots of facilities including sports, sensory room, cafe and gym

Negative experience: 1. Poor communication by receptionist staff. 2. One reception staff suggests to warm up in court if it’s available other Reception staff suggest team to warm up outside in parking as not allowed to enter court before time or pay for extra 10 min warm up. 3. Court staff is very rude and not concentrating about safety of teams playing inside court as CENTRED net were pulled half way and volleyball from one court were going to basketball court. Luckily no one got hurt and she only pulled other half net after 1 hour. Recommend:- concentrate more to provide good service than just make money.

Positive experience: Facilities are a bit dated but still meets the purpose.

Fantastic experience: Great place to go swimming with the kids and us adults aswell

Fantastic experience: Great staff! For travellers: Hot showers available for 2$ there