The Grant McBride Baths, still widely called The Entrance Ocean Baths, are a heritage-listed group of three ocean pools: a 50 m lap pool, a 22 m pool and a children's wading pool. Built in stages from 1938 to 1965, they are free all year and next to a patrolled beach.
Key facts
- Type
- Ocean pool or baths
- Good to know
- Lifeguards
- Facilities and access
- Patrolled beach with lifeguards; swimming enclosure
- Managed by
- Central Coast Council
- Cost
- Free
- Lifeguards
- Beach patrolled in season
- Best time to go
- Calm mornings; check council status
- Water quality
- GoodThe Entrance Ocean Baths, 0.0 km away. Sampled 26 Oct. Source: NSW Beachwatch.
- Cleaning
- Each pool closed once a week for cleaning, typically Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on tides and weatherCouncil roster entry: Tue/Wed (weekly pattern). Times change with weather and tides.
- Town
- The Entrance, NSW
What it's like
The baths sit on the rocks at The Entrance on the Central Coast, with three separate pools to choose from: a full-length lap pool, a smaller pool and a shallow wading pool for children. They have been a centre for swimming lessons and competition since 1938.
They started as a simple rock pool and were built up in stages between 1938 and 1965. In 2002 a local campaign led by Grant McBride, then the state member for The Entrance, gathered more than 9,000 signatures to save them from closure, and they were placed on the NSW Heritage List in 2003. In 2018 they were renamed in his honour.
When to go
Each pool closes once a week for cleaning, usually Tuesday or Wednesday depending on tides and weather, and they can close after big storms. Council publishes the status on its website.
Getting there and facilities
The baths are at 88 Ocean Parade, The Entrance. The beach beside them is patrolled by lifeguards in season.
Good to know
Entry is free. The Friends of Grant McBride Baths Facebook group posts community updates.