Splash-tastic! ellaslist Gets Soaked At The Epic Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre

By: Amanda Lieber, ellaslist explorer

We love finding out about new places to explore, especially with an active and sometimes very loud, excitable 6-year-old. We were thrilled to experience the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in Sydney Olympic Park: don’t let the distance put you off, it was well worth our 45-minute drive to get there!

We were welcomed by friendly staff, who pointed us in the direction we needed to go and were happy to answer any questions I had.

The Different Pools

All the pool areas are joined and merge together either by water or steps and bridges.

• For babies and up: there is a flat low level water area with water spouts that leads into a shallow pool which gradually gets deeper to about 1 metre. There is also a water fountain and water spouts.
• 1-7 years:  next to this is a fantastic play area which is brightly coloured and inviting for the young ones, it includes: steps, 3 slides, water fountains, a large bucket which tips water out every 15 minutes or so and water wheels.
• 1-90 years: there is a strong current pool which pulls you round an island. It is quite strong so parental supervision is needed at all times!
• There is a large enclosed waterslide, you must be over 140cm tall and a confident swimmer.
• There are some family spa pools which are lovely and warm.
• 16 years and older, you can use the sauna and steam room.

Dining At Cafe Aqua

Here you'll find all the usual suspects- fast, canteen-style food including chicken schnitzel burgers, hot dogs, beef pies, tempura fish, nuggets and chips, ranging in price from $5.10-$9.50. Healthy options include pre-made sandwiches and wraps for around $7.00. For vegetarians, there was fruit salad ($7.50), yoghurt or a falafel wrap. Dining at Cafe Aqua is super convenient, otherwise you can take a picnic and eat it outside if the weather is good.

The Best Bits

As we got there we could barely hold our excited 6-year-old back, he lurched into the play area with such exuberance, heading straight for the slides and fountains of water. He absolutely loved the current pool, I think we splashed around in it about 50 times. There is a lot of space and 4 different areas/pools for children and adults. You can share the larger pool if you want to practice laps. Our day truly was a lot of fun, a great place for the young ones to use up excess energy. All of us loved the spa pool, who doesn’t love a good Jacuzzi?!

A highlight for me was the hilarious moment when I went down the water slide- apparently, everyone stopped to see who was squealing so much! The kids particularly adored the large bucket tipping over, there is a bell which sounds and everyone rushes to sit at the bottom of the bucket, which then tips a large amount of water over everyone. One thing is for sure: we will be back!

Top Tips

• Plan your journey to avoid traffic on the way there!
• Go as early as possible
• Check opening hours as times differ Summer and Winter
• The bathrooms and change rooms can get super busy, especially in school holiday periods! Our child got a bit chilly during the wait.

What You Need To Know

Where: Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Olympic Blvd, Sydney Olympic Park

Cost: Adult- $8, Child (4-15rs)- $6, Family Pass- $27.50

Opening Hours: See their website for more. 

Parking: There is a lot of parking available, the first 4 hours are free, take your ticket to the reception desk for them to validate it.

For more information, visit their website or call (02) 9714 7500.