Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about the Selwyn Aquatic Centre, and their answers

Pool and mushroom

What are your hours, costs, and benefits of membership?

6am - 9pm Monday to Friday
8am - 8pm Saturdays and Sundays and public holidays.

Our price list shows all current prices.

As a pool member you can use the pool during opening hours for the length of time you are a member. If you use the pool three or more times a week, then a membership is the best value for money.

For bookings for groups, please call (03) 347 2734 to discuss availability and your specific requirements.

What type of classes do you offer at the Aquatic Centre?

We offer aquafitness classes for a variety of fitness levels.

How do swimming lessons for children work?

Swimming lessons are during the school terms throughout the year, we also run holiday block lessons. No lessons are held on public holidays. For enquiries please email swimschool@selwyn.govt.nz

For more information, head to the Selwyn Swim School Page.

Register your child into swimming lessons by signing up here.

Supervision: We do have lifeguards on duty at all times but children under 8 must be actively supervised by a caregiver aged 16 or over. The caregiver must watch the child at all times and be able to provide immediate assistance to the child if they need it.

Children under 5 years of age must be within arm’s reach of their parent or caregiver at all times.
There is no charge for spectators, or for parents or caregivers who accompany pre-schoolers in the water.
Remember Lifeguards are not babysitters!

What times are the best for lane swimming in the 25m pool?

Weekdays: 6am - 10.00am, 2.00 - 3.30pm and 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Weekends: 8.00am - 10.00am and 5.00pm - 8.00pm

There are often quiet times during the day but this is dependent on school bookings. If you want to check the bookings please call the centre on (03) 347 2734. Or check our weekly lane availability calendar on the main page of our website.

Is it easy for people with disabilities to use the pools?

There is walk in access to the following pools:

Main pool
Hydrotherapy
Leisure pool

The centre has disability wheelchairs.

Our spa pool has a step but a disability hoist is available.

Do you have towels and swimwear for hire?

Swimwear can be hired and towels can be purchased from the centre reception.

Women and Girls Pool Session

Who is this for?

All women and girls of any ethnicity. We have designed the event to be culturally inclusive and supportive.

This includes transgender women, and anyone who identifies as being a woman, all are welcome. To enable the swimming session to be inclusive and a supportive environment we ask that everyone be respectful of each other’s sensitivities and behave and dress appropriately.

Women and girls choose to come to these sessions for all sorts of reasons — some feel more comfortable and confident in a women-only space, others appreciate the added privacy and sense of safety. It’s also a great opportunity to spend time with female friends or family, and for some, it aligns with their cultural or religious beliefs

What’s the purpose of the session?

Without a women’s only session, some local Selwyn women and girls would miss out from using our amazing facilities and the opportunity to gain more confidence being in the water. This is something that we’ve heard from attendees over the past three years that we have provided women and girls only pool sessions at the Selwyn Aquatic Centre.

When the community shares challenges or barriers to using council facilities, we’ll look for practical solutions to help make participation easier and more accessible. Dedicating time for women and girls only pool-use removes personal, cultural and religious barriers for those who wouldn’t normally enter or use a pool facility.

How do we know we need a women’s only space?

Through engagement with our local ethnic groups and research into the success of women’s only sessions at Te Pou Toetoe, Linwood and Te Matatiki, Hornby pools. Like a women-only gym, these sessions serve a similar purpose.

I have a young son, and I’d really like to attend.

Women with sons up to the age of 5 can bring them along to this session if childcare is a barrier. This allows women with young sons, who only have access to the pool during these sessions, a chance to attend. We ask that, where possible, boys wear a t-shirt or rashy.

Didn’t the rule used to be boys under 8yrs could attend?

We have reduced the age to remove ambiguity and align it with the other women and girls pool sessions in Greater Christchurch.

What time do men have to leave the pool?

On the day of the women and girls swim session men and boys will be asked to leave the pool area no later than 5pm. From 3.30pm, all men and boys entering the facility will be reminded about the women and girls pool session and that they need to exit the pool space and move to the changing rooms by 5pm.

All men and boys need to have left the facility before the session starts at 5.30pm. Entry into the facility will be restricted to women and girls only from 4.30pm.

What is the cost?

Normal pool admission costs apply to these sessions: Admission Price - SAC

Why not a men’s only session?

Currently we have not heard demand for a men’s only pool session, however, if you or your group think there are barriers that prevent males attending the pool facilities, please contact active@selwyn.govt.nz.

Some statistics

¹We have seen an increase in diverse nationalities in Selwyn since 2006 based on statics gathered by StatsNZ. Ethnic communities made up 9.1% of Selwyn District population in 2018, an increase from 6.1% in 2013. 2018 has also seen a doubling in Hinduism since 2013. Ethnic communities in this context are people who have migrated or immigrated from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

² In a Bicultural inclusion study carried out by SportNZ, swimming was one of the most favourable activities for Muslim women however access to this was limited. Muslim women in this study highlighted the importance of having safe spaces to carry out activities – whether that be women’s only and/or a space that is culturally welcoming, respectful, accepting, understanding and friendly.

³ Research from Sport New Zealand in 2018 shows that females are less likely than males to participate in sport and recreation after the age of 15. Providing a women-only session gives us the opportunity to take away some of those barriers.

⁴ Ethnic communities make up the third largest population in NZ.