It’s party time – again!

Jellie Park’s outdoor pools, Waltham Pool, Templeton Pool and The Norman Kirk Memorial Pool in Lyttelton all open on Saturday 15 November, with Te Hāpua Halswell Pool following a day later on Sunday 16 November at 11.30am. 

The paddling pools for younger visitors at Scarborough, New Brighton, the Botanic Gardens, Spencer Park in Spencerville, Edgar Macintosh Park in Bryndwr, Avebury Park in Richmond, Woodham Park in Linwood, and Abberley Park in St Albans open on 14 November. 

Head of Recreation, Sports and Events Nigel Cox says the summer pool season will also play host to the beloved pool party series. 

“What makes our outdoor pools such a great destination idea for the summer is the range of facilities we have available, including hydroslides, lane pools, toddler pools, BBQ hire and picnic areas,” Mr Cox says. 

“On top of that, we’re throwing our usual pool parties at each, which add inflatables, competitions, and things like ice cream scavenger hunts to the mix. If you have a lot of people looking for a lot of fun, we think this is the best value option in town this summer.” 

See the full schedule of pool parties here.

Mr Cox says the Council is once again holding Manu Competitions, where keen manu-lovers from every age group can compete to make the biggest manu, or splash, and win prizes. 

“Competitors will be in eight divisions this year, including a freestyle division where you can try out stuff like Te Korirā (The Gorilla), Te Pōpo Repo (The Cannonball), Te Tēpara (The Staple), and Te Kāwhena (The Coffin),” Mr Cox says. 

“The competition will include four heats across the city, building up to the grand final at Jellie Park on 24 January.” 

See the full Manu Competition schedule here.

All summer pools and paddling pools will be open until 29 March 2026. 

The outdoor pools in Templeton and Lyttelton operate on a paid membership basis. Members can bring guests as long as they leave payment in the honesty box. 

Everything you need to know about the outdoor pools can be found here.