Continental Pool is a lifeguarded saltwater pool on Wollongong's Blue Mile, between the harbour and North Beach, with a 50 m pool, a 45 m pool with ramp entry and a toddlers pool. It opened in 1926 and is free.
Key facts
- Type
- Ocean pool or baths
- Length
- 50 m
- Good to know
- Kids area, Step-free or ramp access, Lifeguards
- Facilities and access
- 50 m and 45 m pools and a toddlers pool; ramp entry to the 45 m pool; between Wollongong Harbour and North Beach on the Blue Mile
- Managed by
- City of Wollongong
- Cost
- Free
- Lifeguards
- Yes, during opening hours
- Public transport
- Wollongong station, 15 to 20 minutes' walk
- Best time to go
- Any day but Wednesday
- Water quality
- GoodNorth Wollongong Beach, 0.5 km away. Sampled 24 Oct. Source: NSW Beachwatch.
- Cleaning
- Closes at 9am on Wednesdays for cleaning
- Town
- North Wollongong, NSW
What it's like
This is Wollongong's city pool by the sea: three saltwater pools set on the foreshore, with lifeguards, lane swimming and plenty of space for families. The 45 m pool has a ramp entry, which makes getting in easier. Next door is the much older rock pool once known as the Men's Baths.
The Continental Baths opened in 1926, built after a public meeting and volunteer work, with council finishing the job. The name came from continental, or mixed, bathing, which was still a novelty at the time. The pools were extended to their current layout in the 1960s and the pavilion was rebuilt in the mid-1980s.
When to go
Council hours are 6am to 6pm Thursday to Tuesday, and 6am to 9am on Wednesdays, when the pool closes for cleaning. Swimmers are asked to leave 15 minutes before closing. A storm in late 2025 damaged the pump and intake system, so refilling after cleaning is slower and hours can change at short notice.
Getting there and facilities
The pool is on Cliff Road, North Wollongong, on the Blue Mile foreshore path. There are change rooms and toilets in the pavilion. Wollongong station is about 15 to 20 minutes' walk.
Good to know
Lifeguards are on duty in opening hours. Entry is free.