The viaduct's latest attraction is 33m long and cost $500,000 to build. Video / Auckland Council
Auckland’s newest waterfront attraction, an open-air saltwater swimming pool, is opening this morning and the mayor has already taken a plunge and reckons it’s “really nice”.
The mayor shared a video of him diving into the pool in his board shorts and swimming three laps of the 33m-long pool, which he has dubbed Browny’s pool.
He gave the pool a big thumbs up and said it was only part of his “bigger piece of work” to make the most out of Auckland’s harbours.
The new attraction is set around the Karanga Plaza tidal steps and enclosed by floating pontoons to separate swimmers from the harbour’s navigation channel.
Karanga Plaza harbour pool is open to the public from 10am today. Photo / Auckland Council
The tidal steps are already a popular spot for swimming and the water quality is regularly monitored and tested and included on the council’s Safeswim website.
The new pool provides a larger area for swimmers with four 33m-long swimming lanes with lane ropes and ladders for access; a jumping platform with handrails and a grab rail; and changing sheds, showers and lockers in Karanga Plaza on the Wynyard Quarter side of the Viaduct Basin alongside the recently reopened Te Wero bridge.
Lifeguards will monitor the pool during peak swimming periods and it will be open during daylight hours over summer.
The Parnell baths further along the waterfront at Judges Bay are the country’s largest saltwater pool and have been a popular swimming spot for 110 years.
The mayor shared a video on social media of him trialling out the new pool before it opened, diving into it in his board shorts and swimming three lengths.
“I’m not Joe Biden, so I can probably survive swimming from one end to the other,” he joked.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said the Viaduct's latest attarction was "really nice".
Brown earlier said one of his five big priorities when he was elected was to “make the most” out of the harbours.
“As an avid surfer and boatie, I’ve spent a lot of time on the water, which is something our grandchildren and their children should be able to experience.”
He was also pleased the project was completed “fast and cheap”.
“The idea was to develop a safe, affordable, lightweight structure to test the appeal of lap swimming in the city centre harbour.
“Utilising existing pontoons helped keep the costs down and it’s a good example of doing things better, faster and cheaper.”
Brown said the pool water was tested regularly.
Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.
