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After a long (long) wait, North Sydney Olympic Pool has officially reopened – and Sydneysiders have wasted no time getting back in the water. Sitting pretty under the arc of the Harbour Bridge, the iconic pool (we don’t use that word lightly) officially reopened on Friday, August 7, and it welcomed more than 10,000 visitors across its first weekend back in action.
For context, the heritage-listed North Sydney Olympic Pool first opened in 1936 – meaning it’s celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Perched on the northern edge of Sydney Harbour on Cammeraygal Country, it's long been one of Sydney's most beloved public pools – and a significant part of Australia's sporting history. The pool hosted the 1938 British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) and has witnessed an impressive 86 world records over the decades. Its latest chapter comes after an extensive (and pretty damn contentious) redevelopment that has aimed to give the space a new lease on life without losing the character that made it so special in the first place.
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According to the team, the pool's significant Art Deco heritage has been carefully restored, and original 1930s bricks were salvaged and reused wherever possible, while replacement bricks were individually hand-painted to match the originals. But while the old-school charm is still the defining vibe, the facilities have had a very 2026 upgrade.
The revamped complex now includes a refurbished outdoor 50-metre pool, with a boom that can divide the pool into halves or quarters for everything from competitions and school carnivals to extra lap swimming and birthday parties. There are also two indoor pools – a 25-metre lap pool and a program pool – plus a children's outdoor pool and splash pad. If you're more interested in unwinding than smashing out laps, there's a spa, sauna and steam room, alongside an upgraded sun deck, plus a state-of-the-art gym, group fitness studio and Reformer Pilates studio, as well as a revamped group fitness program. There's also a creche with indoor and outdoor play areas, and spaces available to hire for birthdays and corporate events.
Naturally, no Sydney pool day is complete without a snack stop. The redevelopment has brought a new café and – our favourite feature – an old-school gelato bar. On opening weekend, 818 coffees, 487 scoops of gelato and 282 cups of hot chips were served across the three days.
North Sydney Olympic Pool is now open from 5.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 7pm on weekends. On public holidays, it's open from 8am to 5.30pm. The pools close 30 minutes before the facility itself.
You can find out more and plan your dip over here.