All pools can be fun for kids but these are the pools and water parks where the kids come to expect slides, waterspouts and extra fun, just for them.
Newmarket pool
It's easy for the family to spend the whole day at Newmarket pool. Bring food for the barbeques, have a picnic under the pine trees, and swing the littlies at the playground.
But what about the pools? There's a shaded toddler pool, with spouting caterpillars, baby slide and shallow water. Older kids will enjoy the pool with bigger slides, mushroom fountains and waterfall caves. The 50 metre pool is the place for big kids to use floating tyres, the largest slide or do laps. There's even a covered, heated pool where swimming lessons are held. It is like a mini water theme park, with only a few dollars entry price.
Chandler Aquatic Centre
This enormous pool complex was the site for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. There is a 50 metre pool, diving pool with all types of diving boards and platforms, a 25 metre pool plus a leisure pool where the kids can have fun with a slide and floating inflatable playground. Check their timetable for dates and times for the slides. There are also dive in discos for under 12 year olds, swimming lessons, birthday parties, a shop, café and childminding. Open all year, all weather. Perfect sun-safe swimming too since it's all inside.
Yeronga Pool
Yeronga Pool has everything to make a fun day with the kids. There's a toddlers' pool and another with all sorts of waterspouts. There's also a heated lesson pool and a 25 metre pool for doing laps. With good grass and shade around the pools too it's a beaut local pool.
Chermside Aquatic Centre
The good thing about Chermside pool is that you can choose to take the kids for a simple swim or else pay a little more and let them loose on the enormous tube ride or other adventures of the Splash Water Park. The water playground suits older kids who are competent swimmers.
South Bank and Aquativity
Aquativity at South Bank isn't a pool but it's still great fun, especially for younger kids who don't want to swim in deep water and love to simply splash and get wet. Or there is the beach at South Bank, where entry is always free and lifeguards keep an eye on the swimmers. Take a bucket and spade for inner-city sand castles.
Settlement Cove lagoon, Redcliffe
A fabulous free swimming spot that is wonderful for young children, with a pirate ship themed playground.
There are dozens of other pools in Brisbane. Most of them offer swimming lessons for children too. Find a public pool near you.
Or have a splashing good time at the water-based theme parks of Wet ‘n' Wild Water World or WhiteWater World between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
