Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre
Information about Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre
Opening hours
- sunday: 8:30-18h
- monday: 6h-21h
- tuesday: 6h-21h
- wednesday: 6h-21h
- thursday: 6h-21h
- friday: 6h-21h
- saturday: 8:30-18h
Find hours, contact details and information on the pools, gym and fitness, climbing wall and outdoor programmes and activities at Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre.
From indoor rock climbing gym to outdoor heated pool, from fitness centre with a 'bash-a-giant-tyre' difference to a high ropes course, there's nothing run-of-the-mill about this centre.
Need even more good times? We're also custodians of a skate park and a pump track — and we're proud to be home base to a fully mobile Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) team and service.
All ages, levels and abilities are welcome. Our awesome instructors will make sure you know what to do and that you’re completely comfortable before you set off on the walls.
Our lead wall is for advanced climbers with their own equipment. All climbers must have their skill level assessed by our staff to obtain a lead licence (free of charge) to climb on the lead wall. We have space for 10 climbers at a time, with up to 50 different routes.
Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre can host sports teams and groups who facilitate their own training and programmes at the centre. North Harbour Tri Squad frequently use our pool and gym.
Please note that hours may change due to staff availability. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website alerts for any changes or give us a call before your visit.
Winter hours (current hours)Monday-Fridays, 6am-11am and 3.30pm-8pm**During non-daylight savings our pools close at 7pm on Tuesdays and ThursdaysWeekends, 8.30am-6pm
Winter hours (current hours)Monday-Fridays, 6am-11am and 3.30pm-8pm**During non-daylight savings our pools close at 7pm on Tuesdays and ThursdaysWeekends, 8.30am-6pm
For our Osborne (outdoor) Pool and Learner Pool availability please click the button below and select either Birkenhead - Outdoor Pool or Birkenhead - Learner Pool.
Young people across Auckland have free access to all council-owned pools. This initiative, for Aucklanders aged 16 years and under, means more of our region’s children and young people can be fit, healthy, and waterwise.*
Get into it – full membership across multiple centres
Swim it – unlimited access to pools, spa and sauna at your chosen centre
Our facility accommodates family members of all ages. We have a shallower, warmer indoor Learner Pool and a bigger outdoor heated 33m Lane Pool for deep water confidence and greater distance.
Here at Birkenhead Learn to Swim, we are beginning our journey towards a more inclusive centre. We are working to ensure that our staff are considering the individual needs of students and are learning how to modify their practices to cater to more young people with disabilities or impairments. Our team are happy to talk about how we can create a better opportunity and experience for your child.
Term 1: Tuesday 30 January - Sunday 14 AprilTerm 2: Monday 29 April - Sunday 7 JulyTerm 3: Monday 22 July - Sunday 29 SeptemberTerm 4: Monday 14 October - Friday 20 December
Youth classes are designed for older children who haven’t been learning for long, or who would benefit from extra development before they progress to adult classes.
Some of our Learn to Swim schools offer a squad beyond Stroke for children who want to continue swimming to keep their fitness up, independently of a swimming club.
If you have had lessons before or time has lapsed since your last lesson, we recommend you get an assessment. An assessment can be booked through the link below.
If you know what class to enrol in, come into the centre and have a chat with our friendly staff at reception or sign up online using the button below.
Our Learn to Swim intensive lessons run over five consecutive half days (four if there is a public holiday) from Monday to Friday. Lessons may be in the morning or the afternoon.
If your child is a bit stuck on an element of their swimming, by coming every day for five days they'll normally crack it. Conquer that learning to breathe, breaststroke, or butterfly!
Contact us using the details on this page, or talk to the Learn to Swim team at the centre. A free assessment may be required to determine your child's level.
There's all the cardio gear, functional equipment and free weights you'd expect, and there's also an open area for our group fitness classes or for your own personal functional training outside of class times.
We know that everyone's needs are different so when you become a member, in consultation with you, we tailor a support programme to best serve you while you're getting (fit and) active your way!
Get into it – full membership across multiple centres
Gym it – full gym access at your chosen centre
Group fitness classes get you off the couch and interacting with our community. They also harness the group's energy to create a motivating, challenging, and totally addictive workout experience.
Get into it – full membership across multiple centres
Gym it – full gym access at your chosen centre
This six-week course is held during school terms and teaches the basics of archery. Watch your kids improve their stance, hand-eye coordination, technique and strength and become more confident as their skills grow.
Our high ropes course is one of only three in Auckland. Groups of six people or more can book the high ropes course for two hour sessions, subject to staff availability. Participants must be at least 8 years old. Belayers (the participants who hold the ropes) must be at least 16 years old.
If you have been top roping for a while and think it might be a good time to learn to lead climb look no further than our Adult Lead Climbing Course. Our course is run as a 4-week block course, where we will set you up with the skills and know-how to get you started on your lead climbing journey.
Join the Outdoor Adventures Club and explore the great outdoors with like-minded 8-14 year olds. Our varied six week adventure course includes archery, kayaking, high ropes, exploring the bush and learning rock climbing techniques!
Swim outside, even in the middle of winter! The Osborne Pool is a 33.3m outdoor heated pool that never closes for the off-season. Train, work on your swimming fitness or just splash around – all year round!
All ages, levels and abilities are welcome. Our awesome instructors will make sure you know what to do and that you’re completely comfortable before you set off on the walls.
Do your children enjoy climbing? This program is perfect for them! Enrol your kids in a well-organized and enjoyable after-school program. Certified climbing coaches from Birkenhead will lead the program, teaching your children essential climbing techniques, enhancing their strength and confidence, and helping them make new friends who share their love for climbing.
If you enjoy climbing for the social and recreational aspect, this program is ideal for you. Certified climbing coaches from Birkenhead will lead the program and teach you advanced climbing techniques and skills to improve your own climbing abilities. Moreover, you will develop teamwork skills, gain self-confidence, and most importantly, have a great time!
Are you a current or aspiring rock climbing enthusiast seeking to enhance your technical skills in a range of climbing disciplines? Youth development climbing is designed for individuals who are dedicated to improving their climbing abilities through rigorous training and development. This class is suitable for those aged between 13 and 18 years, who possess prior experience or an interest in participating in lead climbing.
If there are available spots, applicants under 13 years old may also be considered for enrolment,following an assessment to determine if they meet the necessary criteria.
Some of our Learn to Swim schools offer a squad beyond Stroke for children who want to continue swimming to keep their fitness up, independently of a swimming club.
At Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that caters to individuals of all abilities. While we have implemented certain accessibility features, we acknowledge that we have limitations. We want to assure you that we are continuously working towards enhancing accessibility throughout our facility.
Wheelchair Access: Our facility has 2 levels. The reception area and practice rock wall is on the Ground level. The rock walls and gym are on the Lower level. The pools are outside the facility, accessible by a ramp. The accessible toilets and showers are located by the rock wall on the Lower level, and by the pools accessible by ramp. We have a wheelchair-accessible lift between the Ground and Lower levels.
Access: The 33-metre outdoor pool and Learner Pool is located outdoors and is accessible by ramp from outside reception with hand railing. The Lap Pool is accessible by a pool hoist (weight limit is 200kg), which staff can assist with. The Learner Pool has steps into the pool with hand railing.
Gym equipment: The gym has enough space between equipment and machines for those in wheelchairs to move around. Cable machines are free weights are available for those in wheelchairs.
Accessible Changing Rooms: The closest accessible toilet to the gym is located by the rock wall next to the gym. Our friendly staff are available to show you where they are.
Many of our recreation programmes can be adjusted to suit the needs of the individual and/or group. Contact us to organise an activity for you or your group. We are happy to assist.
Our Swim School offers private lessons for those with accessibility needs. It is $32.20 per lesson per student. Call us on 09 484 7290 or email [email protected] for availability.
We're the only Auckland Council centre which runs both outdoor education and school holiday programmes – this means you get to choose from a huge range of activities!
We offer an extensive, cost-effective range of activities for schools and community groups, either onsite in Birkenhead, at your school or at your local park or beach.
For our Classroom and Rock wall party space availability please click the button below. Please note, availability is visible up to a week in advance. For availability beyond one week, please email our centre.
We offer a 20 per cent discount off the standard hourly rate to regular hirers.Regular hirers are individuals or organisations who hire a venue we manage 10 times or more over the calendar year (1 January to 31 December)
We offer a 30 per cent discount to community groups.For groups that meet certain criteria, community groups can get 30 per cent off the standard hourly rate.
Get into it – full membership across multiple centres
Gym it – full gym access at your chosen centre
Swim it – unlimited access to pools, spa and sauna at your chosen centre
Our comment from Gimnasios Fitness about Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre:
Welcome to the Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre, a fantastic community hub located in Auckland, New Zealand. This centre is known for its friendly and helpful staff, including standout team members like Liam, who ensure every visit is enjoyable.
The facilities at Birkenhead include:
- Heated Outdoor Pool: Enjoy a warm swim in a clean and tidy environment. Many users appreciate the serene atmosphere compared to indoor pools.
- Rock Climbing: A diverse climbing wall suitable for all ages and skill levels, proving to be a fun challenge for kids and adults alike.
- Kids Facilities: A dedicated kids pool that is well-heated, making it a great place for young children and families to spend quality time together.
- Cleanliness: Users consistently note the cleanliness of the pool and changing area, although some have suggested improvements in the maintenance frequency of certain facilities.
While the centre enjoys high ratings for its friendly service and welcoming atmosphere, some visitors have raised concerns about the management of the kiddies pool schedules and the need for updates in certain facilities. However, overall, the positive feedback highlights it as a great spot for families, swimmers, and climbers alike.
The Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre is more than just a place to swim; it’s a place to connect with the community, enjoy recreational activities, and make lasting memories.
Birkenhead Pool and Leisure Centre: Opinions
Fantastic experience: Friendly Staff. Clean and tidy. Water is warm. Kids are always having fun. Very multi cultural and diverse. Birkenhead Swimming Pool is sort of a Community Hub. Liam is a Champ :)
Positive experience: A nice, open-air heated pool! It is so quiet compared to indoor pools.
Fantastic experience: Very friendly and super helpful staff at the desk and around the pool. Lovely place to have a swim. Thank you Birkenhead team.
Fantastic experience: The climbing wall area is totally great! friendly, helpful staff and quite affordable
Positive experience: Great swimming. Very friendly staff
Fantastic experience: Great indoor pool for kids under 7 years old.
Fantastic experience: Great rock climbing for all ability levels. Helpful friendly staff.
Fantastic experience: Nicely refurbished. Will return when the weather is a bit warmer. Good service on reception always
Negative experience: It seems Birkenhead staff make up times for the kiddies pool. It is so frustrating that everytime we call, the staff advise us it is open and were able to use until swim school. However, when we arrive, it is a different story and different times each time. Whats the deal? We need to know proper schedule times for the kiddies pool. Weve been misinformed via phone too many times and each time the story and times shift. Frustrating
Fantastic experience: There for ANZAC Day.
Positive experience: Great pool
Positive experience: Great play area with swimming pool,, and a lot more
Negative experience: Attempted to visit told no spa or sauna just a pool? waste of time and gas beware go elsewhere others nearby if u want to use spa and sauna etc just like me
Negative experience: It's closed
Fantastic experience: It is a great family place and lovely people
Positive experience: Not a bad operation, could tone down on all that 'pride' nonsense, that was the only that put me off.
Positive experience: Place is always in need of clean. Changing rooms smell bad, toilets look like they get cleaned once a day if that.
Fantastic experience: We were guided by very friendly staff at reception. It was our first rock climbing experience, and it went very well. Thanks to the wonderful team at Birkenhead Leisure and pool center.
Positive experience: I took my grandsons there, and they had a lovely time .
Fantastic experience: Great open air pool which was clean and not too busy. Good service at the front desk also.
Fantastic experience: Clean and nice facilities! Went around 5-6pm on friday afternoon and it was well organised, clean. The staff at the reception, Liam, was super friendly and very helpful in trying to help us sign up for swimming lessons! :)
Positive experience: Clean, staff are polite. Just a regular, safe, neighborhood outdoor public pool. Nothing flash, not diving boards or anything, just a nice place for a swim or relax with the kids.
Positive experience: The pool is fine, although not a lot of space for the kids to play as 3/4 of pool is used for lane swimmers. There is a hoist if you need it for accessing the pool, but you need to request it be brought out. No seatbelt on the hoist and little support, so wouldnt work for a lot of people with limited mobility. The disability bathroom is pretty average, very small, no where to lie a person down that needed to be changed in that manner. The toilet was also out of order. The staff were helpful, just the facilities need an upgrade.
Fantastic experience: Helpful staff and good facilities. The pool is now open again during the day.
Positive experience: You really need to get a check in at the pool. Waited over 10 minutes while someone dealt with an issue. I just want to swipe my card and swim like other North Shore pools. Otherwise this is a sweet little (33m) outdoor pool. NZ how it used to be.
Fantastic experience: Staff are outstanding
Fantastic experience: Best place in my area
Positive experience: Pool always looks great
Fantastic experience: Good rock climbing gym
Fantastic experience: Friendly service and good facilities
Negative experience: The instructor is so rud and the pool outside is cold
Fantastic experience: Great pool. Take your picnic or snacks and watch the kids have a ball in the solar heated pool.
Negative experience: Anyone else feel like when they take their kids to this pool, the staff make up some story that the pool is closed or busy. Why have a pool if no one can use it
Fantastic experience: I had a good swim all tho the lanes a very small for my liking but it’s really good no water problems yeah it’s good
Fantastic experience: We used the outdoor pool as a change from our usual in Glenfield. Deepest part of the pool was in the middle 100cm- 120cm. Not very deep. Good for lane swimming.
Negative experience: I slipped on a slimy tile on the edge of the pool and broke my wrist and damaged my spine. Be super careful when you go to this swimming pool, the edge overflow is very dangerous.
Positive experience: Pools are great, especially on a sunny day. They have a pool undercover for the preschool kids. The showers are hot, great temperature. Lifeguards will tell you off for jumping in the pool and splashing etc. - great for a relaxing dip, though it would be nice if they provided a space for the kids to jump and do all that - rather than not allow it completely.
Positive experience: Heated outdoor pool, it's a pretty standard affair. The covered picnic area is awesome for when it rains or the sun is scorching, but gets overcrowded very quickly. Indoor kids pool is very hot and can get really crowded. Changing rooms seem to have been renovated, but still only three shower stalls which is just not enough when the pool gets really busy.
Positive experience: Even the outside pool,happy still full of heart ️❤️☝️
Fantastic experience: Great venue and staff
Fantastic experience: love this place but man the lifeguards can be a little authoritarian sometimes
Positive experience: Friendly staff, keep prices to reasonable levels.
Fantastic experience: Clean, well serviced, fab outdoor pool.
Fantastic experience: Great location, sports park and skate park handy, bike track and highbury shopping centre
Positive experience: Not a great pool but awesome rock climbing experience
Positive experience: Good for a local pool but still. This has been a great local pool but it always is quite disappointing as it only has two pools. I would highly recommend going to Glenfield pools as it's a five min drive and has much better facility's.
Fantastic experience: Amazing pool. It’s nice and warm plus as it’s outdoors even on really hot days it’s not too busy. Staff are also really friendly.
Positive experience: Not enough parking
Positive experience: Cool
Fantastic experience: Great Saturday morning aqua class
Fantastic experience: Great services, amazingly friendly staff.
Fantastic experience: Very warm pools and shower is in the individual room.
Fantastic experience: Great place pools parks and sports fields. Public toilets.
Positive experience: The leisure centre is good and the rock climbing is a good place to train, the pool is okay
Positive experience: I bumped into Garth Barfoot so it made my day. Still out there with a Coliope club colleague at 83. Last running event just on Sat
Positive experience: Did rock climbing here. It was quite difficult. Allow time to learn the equipment.
Fantastic experience: Fun, energetic and challenging - high ropes, outdoor swimming and rock climbing is a fantastic mix
Fantastic experience: Great pool. Heated, if your early on a friday maybe can have a lane to yourself.
Positive experience: Nice pool, love the heater in the womans changing room, although wonder why the men's changing room doesnt have the same
Positive experience: Too many lanes for swimmers (4) on a hot day. Not enough space for fun swimmers. Lane swimmers need to be restricted to morning and according to numbers.
Fantastic experience: Best pool in the area (33m). Really warm (26) and always plenty of lanes for training. Little kids pool inside also popular and v well heated for the ones.
Fantastic experience: Love Birkenhead pools. So refreshing on a hot day, clean pool and water, wasnt too busy on a hot day after school, will come again :)
Fantastic experience: Clean
Fantastic experience: 야외 수영장
Fantastic experience: Great local pool
Fantastic experience: Calliope running club is down here too
Fantastic experience: Very clean pool, nice temperature
Positive experience: Great place for a swim and the best showers
Fantastic experience: The kids love it here, so for me that's a win win.
Fantastic experience: Great place on a hot day! Alot of space.
Positive experience: Cheap and good quality. Just a pool, no slides
Fantastic experience: Lovely clean warm pool and not too crowded
Fantastic experience: Its It's really great lifeguards and staff are lovely people. Just great when not many people are around,
Positive experience: Huge number of climbing walls. Quite challenging for young kids though. Good for 6 and up
Fantastic experience: Great pool, nice temperature, really cheap, only $1
Fantastic experience: Fantastic pool for a quick swim... often very quiet... great for 60 min cooling down in a hot day
Fantastic experience: Many activities to do here, kids played on the playground while I ran around the track. They also enjoyed the heated kids pool and the BMX track.
Fantastic experience: Quite huge centre that you can enjoy the rock climbing! The staff are very kindly teach you if you’re first time in climbing :) It also has a student discount!
Fantastic experience: Love our local pool. Water is warm, staff helpful and kind. Teachers compassionate. Lots to love!
Positive experience: great pools
Positive experience: Good pool and climbing
Fantastic experience: Great little gym
Fantastic experience: My favorite place
Fantastic experience: Dont drown
Positive experience: Handy pool for my grandson.
Fantastic experience: Great staff and facilities
Positive experience: Water was very warm
Fantastic experience: Good outdoor pool
Fantastic experience: Awesome re opening for the site and locals.
Fantastic experience: 10/10 from me as my son loves it
Fantastic experience: Fantastic facility for kids and adults and family.
Fantastic experience: Recently renovated - it the kids favourite pool to visit.
Fantastic experience: Always great service, pools and bathrooms always clean so well done!
Positive experience: A little dated but good change facilities and still a good pool for lane swimming
Fantastic experience: Awesome water temperature for a long training. Nice outdoor pool.
Fantastic experience: Great facility. Fun climbing with staff who are experienced in climbing, nice gym, and a really pleasant outdoor pool, heated.
Positive experience: Leisure Centre closed at the moment: Dec 2018-Jan 2019 (under renovations perhaps??)... but staff are very friendly. Good pool facilities for all
Fantastic experience: Awesome pools, usually a great place to go to when all other pools are packed. Recommended to all!
Fantastic experience: Good skate park and pump track for those who like wheels. Outdoor swimming and an indoor kids pool for those with gills. Rock climbing indoors as well
Negative experience: disappointing the renovation of the main pool as still many broken or worn out tiles on both ends, half patched job. On top of that the pools are now closed from 10am to 3.30pm which is when I used to go. Considering that we still pay the same monthly fee it feels ridiculous. Please go back to old opening hours as like me many others were training a midday.
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