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Newcastle is fortunate enough to have two ocean baths facilities, Newcastle and Merewether, that sit on its pristine coastline and are open year round for the community to enjoy. Newcastle Ocean and Merewether Baths both have a long history as popular swimming spots. Newcastle Ocean Baths was opened in 1922 and Merewether Baths in 1935.
The baths are open all year round, subject to maintenance and cleaning. We clean, manage and maintain these facilities and always try to find the balance between availability and cleanliness. At present, both Newcastle and Merewether are cleaned weekly and the cleaning schedule is available under Documents. Newcastle Ocean Baths, due to its age, is closed for three to four weeks in winter for scheduled maintenance.
Merewether Baths
Cleaning Schedule
Merewether Baths are cleaned every 2nd Monday and every Thursday during the season.
Lifeguard Hours
9am to 5.30pm - 28 September 2019 to 26 April 2020
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Newcastle Ocean Baths
Current Maintenance
Following scheduled annual sand removal, Newcastle Ocean Baths will remain closed for maintenance and is expected to reopen later this month. Lifeguards will be at Merewether Ocean Baths during the shutdown period.
Cleaning Schedule
Newcastle Ocean Baths are cleaned every Wednesday.
Lifeguard Hours
- 9am to 5.30pm - 28 September 2019 to 26 April 2020
- 8am to 4.30pm - 29 April 2019 to 27 September 2019
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If you have any requests or concerns regarding the cleaning of Newcastle's Beaches and Ocean Baths facilities please contact us on (02) 4974 2000.
Water Quality
We routinely monitor four ocean baths throughout the year for water quality; these are Merewether Main Pool, Merewether Learners Pool, Canoe Pool and Newcastle Ocean Baths.
The cleanliness of the facility is heavily influenced by the water temperature and usage. During summer, warmer water accelerates algae growth resulting in an unsightly build up on the walls in the splash zone. While this results in the appearance of an unclean pool, regular testing indicates that the water quality is acceptable for public swimming. It should be noted that the water quality is heavily influenced by the naturally occurring water quality of the ocean and the debris present.
There is a balance between the need to flush out the water in the pool, keeping the water at an acceptable level and the risk of introducing discoloured water from the ocean. Council staff continuously monitor the cleanliness of both Ocean Baths facilities and work within the numerous constraints to achieve a balance between availability and cleanliness.
Event Bookings
Newcastle beaches and ocean baths are regularly used for:
- Major sporting and social events
- Motion picture filming
- Swimwear and other fashion shoots
- Artists
- Swimming carnivals
- Wedding parties
- Family and social functions.
You need to get an event licence from City of Newcastle to hold any event at Newcastle's Beaches or Ocean Baths (excluding small informal events).
Please contact Customer Service on 02 4974 2000 to enquire about your booking.
Winter Swimming Clubs
Winter Swimming Clubs train and compete at both Ocean Baths. The 'Merewether Mackerels' and 'Dixon Park Coldies' swim all year round, even during the cooler winter water temperatures.
For more information on getting involved with either of these clubs, please contact the lifeguard on duty at Merewether Ocean Baths or Newcastle Ocean Baths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Replacement of the water and cleaning is programmed to occur weekly. The time and date of the cleaning is displayed at the facility and are available.
See the cleaning schedules listed at the top of this page.
The basic tasks performed during the weekly cleaning process are:
• Emptying of the pool to remove dirty water
• Removal of debris from pool floor such as seaweed
• Cleaning and whitewashing walls
• Removal of oysters
• Maintenance on gates, pumps, etc
• Pool refill
Due to weather and other environmental conditions some or all of the clean cannot be achieved. Staff will either defer the clean until the following scheduled cleaning day or conduct the clean on an unscheduled cleaning day such as the following Monday. Whilst conducting the clean on an unscheduled day is disruptive to regular users, staff always aim to minimise disruption and have the baths cleaned.
The cleaning occurs weekly to achieve a balance between making the facility available to the public and providing a clean facility to users. The clean is generally on a Thursday in warmer months and Wednesday in cooler months.
Cleaning of the pool is highly dependent on surf conditions and weather. In particular in high seas it is not possible to empty the pool or safely perform work within the pool. Whitewashing the walls cannot be performed when water is entering the pool over the walls, in rain or if rain is forecast as the coating has to dry before the pool can be refilled.
See the cleaning schedules listed at the top of this page.
While the walls are painted in whitewash on a weekly basis, the cleanliness of the walls is heavily influenced by the water temperature and usage of the facility. During summer, warmer water accelerates algae growth, resulting in an unsightly build up on the walls in the splash zone. Reapplying whitewash outside of the regular cleans would require closing the pool.
Merewether Baths was opened in 1935 and is one of the largest ocean baths in the southern hemisphere. It should be noted that the water quality is heavily influenced by the naturally occurring water quality of the ocean and the debris present. While this can be partially controlled by pumping water in at selective times, there is a limit to the effectiveness of this process. There is a balance between the need to flush out the water in the pool, keeping the water at an acceptable level and the risk of introducing discoloured water from the ocean.
The facilities are closed to enable high pressure cleaning of shower walls, floors etc. This is completed while facility is closed for safety reasons for our employees and the public. Cleaning of the pool deck requires the use of machinery which requires the lower deck to be closed to ensure the safety of staff and the public.
As it is not connected to a pump, the pool is refilled by the next high seas or tide event. The water quality is monitored and removed as necessary.