Swim with us

Swimmers of all levels of swimming ability and confidence are welcome to join us.  Our coached sessions always have at least two lanes – faster and slower – and you can slot in the lane that suits you best.

If you’re an absolute total beginner though – you might like to go to a learn to swim class first.   (Wellington City Council and Cityswim both run classes for all ages.)

We welcome people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.  Both pools we swim at have male and female designated changing areas.  In addition there are private non-gendered family change cubicles at Kilbirnie, and individual self-contained changing/toilet cubicles at the Aquadome.   While swimming you can wear a swimsuit (in any of the many different styles available), bikini or tankini (bikini with tank top) or shorts ending above the knee.  Pools do not allow underwear, cotton or denim clothing or loose-fitting clothing.

Swimmers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult (18+).

Swimming Locations

Mondays are at Kilbirnie Pool (Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre: WRAC)
Location: Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre

Parking is available in the pool car park on on the street.
There are regular buses from town – Routes 2, 12e, 14 and 36 stop at the pool.


Thursdays are at the Aquadome (at Wellington East Girls’ College)
Location: The Aquadome
Go up the drive from the entrance on Paterson St (the driveway goes to the right of all the buildings).  The pool is the second to last building on the left – it’s a big white tent-like building:

At the time we swim in the evening there is parking is available at the end of the drive near the pool.
If coming by bus take the 1, 12, 23 or 29 and get off on Cambridge Terrace just before the Basin Reserve Cricket Ground.  It’s a short walk up the hill from there.

[Note the pin in the map below and the photo above show the entrance to the School – the pool itself is right up the drive towards the south end of the grounds]

Important note: Unlike Kilbirnie Pool, there are no lifeguards on duty at the Aquadome.  The coach will keep a watch on all swimmers from the poolside, but swimmers should be aware that they swim at their own risk. 

Alternative access to the Aquadome – December 2025 – see the images at the end of this page

Exclusion Dates

These are the exclusion dates when the pool is not available due to holidays or other bookings.  We will aim to remind swimmers of these dates via Facebook.  Some sessions may be rescheduled to an alternative swim location.

2025 dates: Last swim Thursday 18 December (Aquadome), resume Monday 12 January 2026 (Kilbirnie)

2026 dates: First swim Monday 12 January (Kilbirnie), last swim Thursday 17 December (Aquadome), resume Monday 11 January 2027 (Kilbirnie)

2026 Exclusion dates: no sessions on these dates

Mon 19 January (Wellington Anniversary Day)
Mon 6 April (Easter Monday)
Mon 27 April (ANZAC Day holiday)
Mon 1 June (King’s Birthday)
Mon 26 October (Labour Day)

2026 Variations: sessions are not in the usual place on these dates

Thu 15 Jan – WRAC at 7pm
Thu 22 Jan – WRAC at 6pm
Thu 29 Jan – WRAC at 6pm

NZ Masters Swimming

Our club is “Different Strokes Wellington”, code DS4.  There is an annual individual fee to join NZ Masters Swimming: membership is not required to be part of DSW, and you will need to join only if you’re wanting to participate in national or international masters competitions.

Registration has to be done through the club: so contact the club admin admin@dsw.org.nz if you’d like to register.

Seed Times for competitions

If you’re entering an event, like the Gay Games, here’s a helpful spreadsheet to assist in specifying your seed times.

Alternative Access to the Aquadome – December 2025

From 8-31 December 2025 we need to access the Aquadome from the field above the pool: there is a car park up there: please see the diagrams below