Wollongong Continental Pool
Wollongong City's Ocean Pool
In my opinion, this pool is Wollongong’s answer to Bondi’s Icebergs. Way more beautiful (especially with it’s brand new paint job), and way less pretentious. The Continental Pool in Wollongong is a lovely spot to dive in and swim some laps. Overlooking the ocean just outside Wollongong Harbour, the view encompassing both lighthouses is spectacular.
It always feels slightly colder here than the Gentlemen’s Pool next door, but is way better suited to doing laps, and you always get out of the water feeling amazing.
Visiting Wollongong's Ocean Baths
Not to be confused with The Continental Ocean Pool at Kiama. This one features in our Best of Wollongong’s Ocean Pool list 2025, and is right in the heart of Wollongong City. The full lap pool experience awaits you here, complete with a light blue paint job, lane ropes and black lines to help keep you on track.
The Continental Pool in Wollongong is actually three pools, rather than one. The more serious folk can punch out their laps at a cracking pace in the main pool, with the smaller pool usually featuring a few people who prefer to walk or swim at a slightly slower pace. The smaller of the big pools also features a ramp for access, as well as stairs. There’s also a fenced in toddler’s pool with a shadecloth to protect the little ones from that harsh Summer sun.
How big is the Continental Pool in Wollongong?
The Continental Pool in Wollongong is actually a complex that includes 3 pools. The largest lap pool measures 50m by 18m and features 8 marked lanes. Although it has 8 marked lanes, it is usually roped off into 4 big ones that you swim in a clockwise fashion rather than up and down. At it’s deepest, the big pool is 1.8m deep, and drops to 1.4m at it’s shallowest point.
The middle sized pool measures 44m by 15m and features 6 marked lanes, although this pool is often used by people doing walking laps as well as swimming. On my las visit (August 2025) this pool had 2 lane ropes marking the eastern most lanes, and no lane ropes on the western side. The depth of this pool varies from 0.7m to 1.3, with the deep end at the northern end.
The kids pool measures 14.5m by 4m.
Continental Pool Review
This pool is an absolute beauty! I always feel good after a few laps here and the vibe is pretty cool too. There’s always a few lap swimmers going hard, a few walkers in the middle pool, and always a few people hanging around like they’re not in a rush to be anywhere else.
My latest swim at the Conty was on a cracking sunny day in Winter 2025. After a few days of depressing rain, the sun reappeared and the swell was pumping! My favourite pool is the Gentlemen’s Baths right next door to the Continental Pool, but this particular day, The Genty’s looked a little soupy with the big swell. I’d been meaning to revisit the Continental, so this gave me the perfect reason.
I had a wander around, took a few photos and had a chat to the lfeguard on duty. He tried to scare me with promises of freezing cold water, but also took the time to explain the pumping system at the pool. I had always assumed that they only pump water into the pool to refill it after they have emptied it for cleaning. In this case, the pumps are often running, and the overflow spills out through those rectangular holes around the top of the pool.
I also learnt that the hoist things in the north west corner of both pools are for the pumps that they put in to drain the pools for cleaning. I always thought they were a hoist to help someone in a wheelchair into the water. You learn something every day!
I did a quick 500m. The first 400m, breast stroke then the last 100 freestyle. The water was 16 degrees, which, it turns out, is quite cold on the eyeballs when you forget your goggles! I also had some hair issues, because I forgot my cap as well. Felt lovely, getting out of the fresh salt water and sitting in the sun to warm up as I watched the waves crash beyond the eastern wall.
As I sat there in the sun, I was a bit smug, looking forward to the hot shower that would await me when I decided it was time to get changed. I made my way to the showers, and there’s a sign reminding you to be considerate of others and not spend too long in the cubicle. I hung my bag up, still blissfully unaware of the cold water rush that would hit me as I pressed the button. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a cold water shower-when I know it’s coming. Cold when you’re expecting that warm caress-bitterly disappointing!
Which swimming clubs call The Wollongong Continental Pool Home?
The Continental Pool in Wollongong is home to the Wollongong Whales Winter Swimming Club for the boys and the Floating Flamingos Winter Swimming Club for the ladies.
Despite the Continental name of the pool, the swim clubs are less “continental’ and prefer to hold their swim meets separately.
Is Wollongong's Continental Pool Wheelchair and Pram accessible?
One of the best ocean pools for people with access needs. It features a ramp to enter the pool complex and a ramp to enter the 45m pool. Parking is more difficult with limited spaces on Cliff Road.
When was the Continental Pool Wollongong opened?
Officially opened in 1926, the Continental Pool has seen plenty of changes over it’s lifetime. Previously known as Wollongong Continental Baths and Wollongong Central Baths. Turns out, in this instance, “continental” means mixed bathing, as in men, women and children all able to swim at the same place, at the same time. The Continental Pool is perhaps, not coincidentally located between the old Gentlemen’s Pool and the Ladies Baths.
The name Continental always made me think of Continental breakfasts, which according to the internet are “light breakfasts often associated with staying at a hotel”. Slightly different to my personal interpretation of “stuffing yourself silly with as many different breakfast foods as you can at the one meal, while staying at a hotel, and don’t forget to sneak an extra croissant or bagel in your back pocket on the way out”.
Perhaps I’ll alter my interpretation slightly to “a place where as many people as possible can swim laps at a spot with a cracking outlook, right in the middle of the city!” Just another reason why we love the Gong!
What is the water temperature at the Continental baths in Wollongong?
The Continental Pool in Wollongong always feels fresh, and by fresh I mean COLD! I usually swim in the Gentlemen’s Pool next door and that always feels a few degrees warmer. I will take Devereaux Duck next time to confirm.*
Ok, so on my next visit, I forgot my trusty duck thermometer, but luckily the life guards update the temperature on the sign as you walk through the entrance. On the sunny day that I visited in 2025, it was 16 degrees, which was refreshing, and only felt cold on my eyeballs because I forgot my goggles!
If you would like to get your own Devereaux to tell you the water temp of where ever you swim…you can get one here.
When is the Continental pool open?
6am-2pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Closed Monday for cleaning.
How much does it cost to swim at Wollongong ocean pool?
Free entry
Is there Car Parking near Wollongong ocean pool?
Limited free street parking on Cliff Rd, with a short walk down stairs to the pool.
Disabled parking south of the pool on Cliff Rd.
Are there BBQ Facilities near Wollongong's saltwater pool?
Gas BBQ facilities located in Stuart Park, 2kms north of the Continental pool.
Are Lifeguards on duty at Continental Baths ocean pool?
Lifeguards on duty at the Continental Pool during opening hours.
What are the changeroom and shower facilities like at Wollongong's Continental Ocean Pool?
Changerooms are available with good wheelchair accessibility.
Hot showers baby!!
Which is the best ocean pool in Wollongong?
This is a very interesting question, and I’m sure everyone who has a local pool favours their own. If I had to choose my favourite ocean pool for swimming laps, I think I would pick The Continental first, with Port Kembla Pool coming a very close second. I’m not going to lie, the hot showers are the thing that gets the Conty over the line here. Although Port is better for sunning yourself after your swim. Either way you can’t go wrong.
Fancy a night swim? Bellambi and Towradgi would be my suggestions.
My actual favourite, is the Genty’s next door. A great option for a fun swim vs doing some serious laps. and yes, I have swum here at night also, but it’s not very well lit so I wouldn’t really recommend it for after dark.
