At a glance
- Now to 19 March 2027
- From Saturday 31 October 2026, the council’s freshwater pools at Berkeley, Corrimal, Dapto, Helensburgh and Western Suburbs open 6am to 7pm daily, and Thirroul and Port Kembla saltwater pools also open 6am to 7pm. Closed Christmas Day
- Free or paid
- Entry fees apply only to the heated pools. The three saltwater pools are free
- Rock pools
- Nine rock pools, open at all times except when being cleaned or during works. There is no lifeguard service at them
- Who it’s for
- Families, lap swimmers and visitors choosing a pool this summer
- What to do now
- Leave the pool area 15 minutes before closing time, and check the pool’s own page for the day you plan to go
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against Wollongong City Council’s Pools and Swim Season Hours pages
- Not yet confirmed
- The council says hours are a guide only and can change due to emergencies, weather, maintenance or other events. Entry prices are not on the pages this brief uses
Wollongong City Council runs six freshwater pools and three saltwater pools, and from Saturday 31 October 2026 most of them open 6am to 7pm daily until 19 March 2027. This brief sets out the hours from the council’s Pools page and Swim Season Hours page. For the beaches, see our brief on Wollongong’s patrolled beaches.
Which freshwater pools are heated, and what do they cost?
The council says all its freshwater pools are supervised by council lifeguards, and entry fees apply only to the heated pools. Three of the freshwater pools are heated: Beaton Park, Corrimal and Dapto. The council’s pages in this brief do not list the entry prices.
| Pool | Address | Hours on the Pools page |
|---|---|---|
| Beaton Park Heated Pool | Foleys Rd, Gwynneville | 5:45am to 8pm Monday to Thursday; 5:45am to 6:30pm Friday; 6:30am to 5:30pm weekends; 6:30am to 11:30am public holidays. Closed New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day |
| Corrimal Heated Pool | Short St, Corrimal | 6am to 6pm daily; toddlers pool 9am to 1pm daily |
| Dapto Heated Pool | Bangaroo Ave, Dapto | 6am to 6pm daily |
| Berkeley Pool | Winnima Way, Berkeley | 6am to 6pm daily |
| Helensburgh Pool | Walker St, Helensburgh | 6am to 6pm daily |
| Western Suburbs Pool | Chapman St, Unanderra | 6am to 6pm daily |
The hours above are the ones shown on the Pools page. The Swim Season Hours page, which breaks the year into periods, gives later closing times for the summer, as the next table shows.
What are the summer hours for each pool?
| Pool | 26 Sep to 30 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 to 19 Mar 2027 | 20 Mar to 24 Apr 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | 6am to 6pm daily | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
| Corrimal | 6am to 6pm daily; toddlers pool 9am to 1pm | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
| Dapto | 6am to 6pm daily | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
| Helensburgh | 6am to 6pm daily | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
| Western Suburbs | 6am to 6pm daily | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
From 25 April to 31 May 2027, Corrimal and Dapto open 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 2pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, and are closed on Anzac Day. Berkeley, Helensburgh and Western Suburbs close for winter. Corrimal and Dapto keep the Monday to Friday and weekend hours through the winter from 1 June.
Are the saltwater pools free, and when do they open?
Yes. The council says its three saltwater pools are supervised by council lifeguards and entry is free. It warns that water quality at the saltwater pools can be affected by weather and ocean conditions, and suggests the freshwater pools if your favourite is closed.
| Pool | Address | 26 Sep to 30 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 to 19 Mar 2027 | 20 Mar to 24 Apr 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Pool | Cliff Rd, North Wollongong | 6am to 6pm Thursday to Tuesday; 6am to 9am Wednesday | 6am to 7pm Thursday to Tuesday; 6am to 9am Wednesday; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm Thursday to Tuesday; 6am to 2pm Wednesday; 6am to 2pm Good Friday (26 Mar) |
| Port Kembla Pool | Olympic Blvd, Port Kembla | 6am to 6pm daily | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
| Thirroul Pool | Bath St, Thirroul | 6am to 6pm daily | 6am to 7pm daily; closed Christmas Day | 6am to 6pm daily; closed Good Friday (26 Mar) |
After 25 April 2027 the Continental Pool opens 6am to 2pm Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Mondays for cleaning, with 6am to 2pm on Anzac Day. Thirroul and Port Kembla pools shorten to mornings only after Anzac Day (Thirroul 6am to 1pm Saturday to Thursday, closed Friday for cleaning; Port Kembla 6am to 1pm Thursday to Tuesday, closed Wednesday for cleaning), and close on Anzac Day.
Where are the rock pools?
The council has nine rock pools. They are set in rock shelf locations and most are best at low tide. They are open at all times except when being cleaned or during works, and the council says there is no lifeguard service at any of them. Austinmer, Towradgi and Woonona have toilets, change rooms and showers.
| Rock pool | Location |
|---|---|
| Austinmer | Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Austinmer |
| Bellambi | Off Robert Cram Dr, Bellambi |
| Bulli | Farrell Rd, Bulli |
| Coalcliff | Paterson Rd, Coalcliff |
| Coledale | Northcote St, Coledale |
| Gentlemen’s Pool | Cliff Rd, North Wollongong |
| Towradgi | Towradgi Rd, Towradgi |
| Wombarra | Reef Ave, Wombarra |
| Woonona | Kurraba Rd, Woonona |
What else should I know before I go?
At the council’s chlorinated and saltwater pools, people must leave the pool area 15 minutes before closing time. The council’s pool pages also link to its swimwear guidelines, swimming carnivals and learn-to-swim information at Beaton Park. The council’s earliest pool is the Continental Pool, opened in 1928; the newest is Berkeley, opened in 1980. Questions can go to the council on (02) 4227 7111.
Sources
Featured image: Beaton Park Leisure Centre, Gwynneville, photographed in December 2025 (photo: DaHuzyBru / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added).
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Wollongong City Council. Hours can change at any time; check the council’s pages before you go.