Overview
In a sultry city such as Brisbane, a place where winter weather lasts for approximately a week each year, letting everyone cool down in public pools for less than the cost of a coffee — less than the cost of almost everything — was always going to be a hit. Accordingly, after its first-ever run from December 2023–February 2024, Brisbane City Council's $2 Summer Dips scheme might return at the end of 2024.
Announced in June 2023, and running for the entire three months of summer, $2 Summer Dips slashed entry fee at all 22 of Brisbane City Council's public pools around the River City. During its debut season, more than 660,000 Brisbanites took advantage of it, with over 88,000 of those folks heading to Newmarket's pool alone — increasing its summer attendance by 85 percent from 2022–23.
Brisbane City Council via Flickr
Love swimming laps? Prefer a leisurely soak as your favourite way to cool down? Does nothing could say summer to you quite like hanging out poolside? Whichever category fits, you may be able to live the pool life for cheap at Brisbane City Council's public venues — again — between Sunday, December 1, 2024–Friday, February 28, 2025. And yes, having a splash will only cost you $2, with that discounted price applying to everyone, adults and kids alike.
The saving drops the adult entry price from $6.40 to $2. The reduced rate covers every single day across the period, too, which includes all of the Christmas and New Year public holidays.
Cieran Murphy
The return of the scheme has been promised by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner as part of Brisbane's local government elections. So, it may depend on who wins — or it could be the kind of initiative that returns no matter who emerges victorious.
There's no other catches — including no limit on how many times you can take advantage of the deal. Fancy going for a swim at your local every day during summer? Working your way around Brisbane's public pools, diving into a different one daily? Both are options.
Across the summer of 2023–24, Jindalee, Carole Park and the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre also saw a doubling of attendance rates — and entry numbers across the full 22 overall doubled in the month of December alone.
Brisbane City Council via Flickr
Brisbane City Council's public pools include Centenary Pool, Spring Hill Baths and the Valley Pool, plus Musgrave Park Swimming Centre, the Colmslie Aquatic Centre in Morningside, Ithaca Pool in Paddington, Dunlop Park Memorial Swimming Pool in Corinda and Hibiscus Sports Complex Pool in Upper Mount Gravatt.
Chermside Pool, Bellbowrie Pool and Manly Pool are all covered as well, as are Yeronga Park Memorial Swimming Pool, Mt Gravatt East Swimming Pool and Sandgate Aquatic Centre — and more.
Brisbane City Council
Brisbane City Council via Flickr
Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons
Brisbane City Council via Flickr
If Brisbane City Council's $2 Summer Dips program returns, it will run from Sunday, December 1, 2024–Friday, February 28, 2025. To find your closest public pool, head to the council website.
Check out our list of the best outdoor swimming pools in Brisbane for 2024.
Top image: Cieran Murphy.