Lido Aquatic Centre product reviews

The Lido, well it has its positives and the negatives and I for one am looking forward to the two million dollar upgrade that is scheduled to be completed by the Christmas Holidays 2014. I think that is wishful thinking but time will tell.

Anyway I'll start with the toddlers pool, warm enough for the little ones which is great but isn't much room especially in holidays as there are a lot more kids around and not a lot of room, it features a water fall, a frog that has water spouting out and a dividing wall that is also a fish tank which is pretty cool for the little ones, my two year old does love being there. There are spa's which are only accessible to people 15 and over, no toddlers allowed, these are often also out of order.

The "main" pool features a "river loop", and a waterfall also. There is a learning pool that is for people wanting to swim lengths and do aqua aerobics and the like then there is the teaching pool which is used for lessons. In all the time I have ever been to The Lido the Outdoor area has been closed to the public. There are two hydro slides, that are indoors, a Sauna and a Gym on site.

The Cafe is okay quality but don't expect much for the money you spend. There is also vending machines located throughout The Lido, you can almost guarantee at least one of these will not be working or will eat your money. There are pay to use lockers if you have valuables as well as open spaces where you can store your belongings. The changing rooms are large, with showers and there are private changing rooms and showers too. There is also two family change rooms if you take the whole family which I find fantastic!

The price is ok for what you get access to, paying extra for use of the slides, sauna and gym. Overall not a bad place for a day out, the kids do enjoy it, my gripe, that even spectators are charged to get in the door!

Well, if you like swimming, in Palmy north, this is probably going to be in your Top 3 list. With a playpark next door, a huge rose garden and recreation park right behind it, and plenty of easily accessible parking, it has a lot going for it.

After a few years of being partly out of action due to major renovations and upgrades, it now boasts an outdoor diving pool, scuba pool, and interestingly-shaped liesure pool with water cannons for the kids.

Add to that the indoor hydroslides (two rather basic ones), the 'active' and 'passive' pools (I have no idea why they are called that), a heated kiddies paddling pool (often slipped into by freezing adults 'so I can keep an eye on my toddler, honest'), snack bar, and swimming-lesson pool, plus the original Boldt Memorial swimming-lanes pool... there sure sounds like plenty to do.

That's where it ends however. Plagued by often-out-of-order-or-stock vending machines, a glass-walled kiddies playarea devoid of toys (so it's more a glass prison), and flakey water cannons that sometimes fire, sometime dribble, sometimes nothing... all in all it's not the greatest.

I was shocked to see a number of people bringing cameras into the pool areas, (even a couple of teenagers with waterproof ones IN the pool itself, completely ignored by the staff despite complaints from pool users), food in the pool, and a constant supply of used soggy bandaids in and around the pools. The big upside, and the main reason I keep taking my son there... unlimited hot, high-pressure water in the showers, and family changing rooms allowing couples and families to stay together.

overall, even taking into account the inexpensive entry fees (the slides are extra, so remember not to use them without your wristband in plain sight), I am glad I have a discount card that gives me cheap access. Not really all that great shakes, but it is the pool closest to home worth using.