North Sydney Olympic Pool reopens Friday, free all weekend: everything you need to know.
North Sydney Olympic Pool reopens Friday 7 August after five years of renovation struggles, cost blow outs and community fury.
By ANNA USHER
The moment Sydney has been waiting for is finally here. After five years of delays and cost blowouts, North Sydney Olympic Pool reopens on Friday, and council is providing free access all weekend, with no tickets and no bookings.
This is a party for the whole community. Whether you are a former pool user, a local family, a fitness fan or simply curious to see inside, everyone is invited to celebrate the return of the city’s iconic harbourside landmark in its 90th year.
The gates open at 2:30pm on Friday, with free admission offered until Sunday. Image: North Sydney Pool.
Free all weekend
Entry is free and no bookings are needed. The gates open at 2.30pm Friday and close at 6.30pm, then run 10am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.
It is first come, first served. Once the pool fills you wait for someone to leave before you get in, so the council is asking swimmers to keep your visit to about an hour.
The free ride ends on Monday. From 10 August, casual entry is $11 for adults, $8.80 for children aged 3 to 15, and $8.25 for concession holders.
The pool has been painstakingly renovated and is now ready for another 90 years of enjoyment. Image: North Sydney Pool.
Pick your day for a swim
The timing could hardly be better. The Bureau of Meteorology has Friday sunny at 18 degrees and Saturday mostly sunny at 19, so the opening lands on clear winter skies.
The outdoor 50-metre pool is heated, so the winter chill is no reason to stay dry.
The pool opened in 1938 and has been the place where generations of Sydneysiders learned to swim. Image: State Library NSW.
Food and fun
Face painting and roving entertainment run across the weekend, with three raffle draws on Saturday and Sunday.
The grandstand kiosk opens from 2.30pm Friday with hot and cold food and hot and iced drinks.
A six-flavour gelato bar runs Saturday and Sunday on the Sun Deck, with panoramic views over the harbour. Please note the venue is cashless.
North Sydney Pool in the 1980s.
The iconic pool is affectionately known as the “Wonder Pool”.
What’s accessible?
Swimmers get access to the heated 50-metre outdoor pool, the indoor lap pool, and an indoor program pool. The spa, steam room and sauna are open to guests aged 16 and over, and there is a children’s pool and splash pad for the little ones.
The gym, group fitness studio, Reformer Pilates studio and crèche open for use from Monday 10 August.
Staff will be on hand all weekend, and you can take a self-guided tour through those spaces for a look.
The pool turns 90 this year, first opened in April 1936 between the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park at Milsons Point. For parking, accessibility and membership details, North Sydney Council points visitors to its website.
Entry is free from Friday to Sunday. Image: North Sydney Pool.
Quick answers: North Sydney Olympic Pool
When does North Sydney Olympic Pool reopen?
Friday 7 August 2026, after a long five years! Entry is free all opening weekend, to Sunday 9 August.
How much is entry to North Sydney Olympic Pool?
Entry is free during the opening weekend, Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August. From Monday 10 August, casual entry is $11.00 for adults, $8.80 for children aged 3 to 15, and $8.25 for concession holders.
Do I need to book?
No. There are no bookings or tickets for the opening weekend. Entry is first come, first served, and you may have to wait if the pool is full.
What are the opening hours?
Opening weekend: Friday 2.30pm to 6.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 7pm. From 10 August, standard hours are Monday to Friday 5.30am to 9.30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 7am to 7pm.
What is open at the pool?
The heated 50-metre outdoor pool, an indoor lap pool and a program pool, and a children’s pool and splash pad. The spa, steam room and sauna are for guests aged 16 and over. The gym, group fitness studio, Reformer Pilates studio and crèche open from Monday 10 August.
Is there a membership?
Yes. There are no joining or cancellation fees. Legends is $37 a week and Legends Plus is $65 a week, and anyone who joins by 10 August gets four weeks free.
Where is North Sydney Olympic Pool?
At Milsons Point, between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. The street address is 4 Alfred St South, Milsons Point.
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