MyCityKids Auckland

LocationTe wāhi

Goodwood Heights

90 Wairere Road, The Gardens, Auckland 2105, New Zealand

What it is

Tucked inside the 216-hectare Tōtara Park in Manurewa, Tōtara Park Pools offers a classic outdoor summer swimming experience surrounded by native bush. The complex runs a lap and leisure pool alongside a toddlers' pool — both unheated and sitting at around 21–22°C — so the water keeps things brisk and refreshing.

The broader park setting means a swim can stretch into a full day out: playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and picnic areas are all within reach. A disability hoist serves the main pool, and supervision wristbands are issued at the gate to help lifeguards keep track of younger swimmers. Swimming is free for Aucklanders aged 16 and under at all Auckland Council-owned pools.

The pool complex can also be hired outside regular hours for private events, accommodating up to 200 people — handy for birthday parties or community gatherings. It opens for the summer season from mid-December through to the end of February each year.

What other parents say

Praise T4 months ago
Love the changes made here great clean family friendly pram friendly and alot of shade nostalgic place
Marcial Webb3 years ago
It's always a pleasure enjoying some family time at Totara park pools during the summer periods. Especially being an open outdoor pool, within a large park that is blanketed around trees and bush. It has a huge walkway throughout the park for people wanting to stroll through the park. It has a small park for the children and large fields so that you can set up your volleyball net or play relays with friends and family. There is lots of BBQ areas with loads of shade and has toilets that guest can use. If you haven't been and would like to swim it is also FREE so you don't have to worry about paying an entry fee only to purchase the swim nappies for your baby which at the moment cost $2.50 or you could take your own. Make sure to pack a large picnic and enjoy your time.
Read 3 more reviews
Emma-Jane Sperling7 years ago
Awesome playground, and picnic area, and walks through the bush. Easy walks with pushchair suitable tracks, some stairs in other places. Dogs are welcome but on leash only. Lots of picnic tables and rubbish bins.
Lisa 12344 years ago
I love going for a walk around totara park theres so many different tracks to walk through and it's for beginners up to advance walker/runners they also have a bike track and the views from the top of the hill are amazing 👏
Natasha Jack4 years ago
Even though facilities are looking a bit old and outdated (nothing a touch of paint couldn't fix) this location is an asset to the community. Working bbq, lots of shady trees and seating. Entry requires vaccine pass for 12 and up currently. Have definitely noticed less crowds here which is nice as it used to get quite packed

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