Fremantle Leisure Centre is a brilliant all‑round family aquatic centre right on the edge of Fremantle’s buzzing town centre, just a short stroll from Fremantle Train Station with the free CAT bus stopping out the front. It’s an easy one to tag onto a day in Freo – think morning swim, lunch in town and a wander around the port – or simply visit as your regular local pool.
For families with little ones, the undercover leisure Playground pool is the star. Heated to a cosy 29 degrees and ranging from beach‑style entry through to around 1.1 metres deep, it’s ideal for babies, toddlers and young children who want to splash with confidence. The super cute green frog slide is a huge hit, joined by a yellow slide, a mushroom fountain, spray cannons and plenty of shallow water to potter in. A connected section at about 0.9 metres deep offers a fun turbo whirlpool and seated jet area where kids (and parents!) can enjoy the bubbles.
Older kids, teens and adults are well catered for with multiple pools. Undercover you’ll find a heated 25 metre lap pool with eight lanes, kept at around 28–29 degrees. This pool is used for Swim School, aqua aerobics, squads and recreational lap swimming, and has a wheelchair ramp for easy access.
Outside, the 50 metre Olympic‑size pool is open year‑round, also heated (around 27–28 degrees), with eight lanes and both shallow and deep sections from 1.05 to 1.8 metres. Serious swimmers, training squads and families who love outdoor laps on a sunny day will all feel at home here.
A big plus is the program/hydrotherapy pool. This warmer pool sits between 32 and 34 degrees and is about 1.2 metres deep, making it ideal for gentle rehab, therapeutic exercise and families who prefer warmer water. It’s also used for Swim School. A hoist is available here for patrons who need extra assistance, adding to the centre’s strong focus on accessibility.
Around the pools, there’s plenty of space to spread out. Beside the undercover pools is a generous grassy area shaded by sails, perfect for a post‑swim play, picnic or just stretching out with a coffee while the kids run around. Another shaded lawn area runs along the outdoor pool, giving families more room to set up towels, prams and bags without feeling cramped.
For parents looking to fit in a proper workout or some child‑free laps, the on‑site crèche is a huge bonus. Catering for children from three months to six years, it offers a fun indoor play area and shaded outdoor space. You can book the kids in, head for the gym or pools, and know they’re being supervised and entertained. The crèche has set operating hours across the week (including Saturday mornings), with closures on Sundays and public holidays and a short shutdown over Christmas/New Year, so it’s worth checking times before you go.
The gym and health club side of the centre has been modernised into a proper fitness hub, with a good range of equipment and both wet and dry group fitness classes. From the official site you can also see that there are swim squads, a structured Swim School program, memberships and multi‑visit passes, lane availability information and even venue and lane hire options – all useful for local families who might want regular lessons or a consistent lap‑swimming routine.
Accessibility is another area where Fremantle Leisure Centre really stands out. All main pools – the 25 m, 50 m and leisure Playground pool – have wheelchair ramps and ladders for easy entry, and there are junior and senior aquatic wheelchairs available. Hoists can be set up for those who need extra support getting into the program or main pools, and there are three inclusive change rooms, including one with a battery‑operated hoist/sling for showering and changing. Staff and lifeguards are on hand to help if required, making this a genuinely inclusive facility for families with disability or mobility needs.
Parking can be a headache around Fremantle, but here it’s been thought through. Car park 14 is designated for leisure centre patrons with ACROD, bus and general bays. Non‑members pay for parking, but you can have your parking cost in car park 14 reimbursed up to the value of your entry when you show the copy side of your ticket at reception. Members, multi‑visit holders and Swim School families can apply for permits valid for the length of their membership or pass. If the main car park is full, permit holders can use car park 12B on Beach Street, and there’s also free street parking a little further away on Quarry Street, Finnerty Street and Ord Street.
Safety‑wise, Fremantle Leisure Centre is a Watch Around Water facility, which is especially important for families with young children. Kids aged five and under must wear a Watch Around Water wristband and be in the water within arm’s reach of an adult (17+) at all times, with a maximum of one adult to four under‑fives. Nappy‑wearing children need to be in aqua nappies. Children aged five to ten must be actively supervised by an adult and can’t enter the centre on their own, and staff will remove unsupervised kids from the water until a parent or guardian takes over. Children under 17 aren’t permitted at the centre during school hours unless it’s a pupil‑free day. These rules may feel strict, but they make the busy family pools much safer and more relaxed.
To keep everyone comfortable, the centre also asks that all visitors bring a towel (no towel, no entry) and stay away if they’re unwell – handy points to know before you arrive with a car full of kids and gear. During school holidays, an inflatable is sometimes set up in the pool; this carries a small extra charge and children must be able to swim 15 metres unaided in the deep end to use it, so it’s best suited to confident swimmers and older kids.
When hunger hits, families can head to the Leisure Café, which serves sandwiches, hot food, juices, protein drinks, coffee and ice creams. It’s easy to refuel between swims or sit down for a quick bite while the kids have one last play on the lawn. At reception you’ll also find a well‑stocked swim shop with a wide range of swimwear and accessories, from tiny toddler bathers through to adult sizes, with popular brands such as Speedo, Zoggs, Funkita and more. Members and swim school families receive discounts on full‑priced items, which is handy if you’re there regularly.
With its mix of play pools, serious lap swimming, a warm hydrotherapy pool, modern gym, crèche, strong accessibility features and proximity to everything Fremantle has to offer, Fremantle Leisure Centre remains an excellent choice for families. Whether you’re visiting for a holiday swim with the kids or looking for a well‑equipped local to join long‑term, it’s a welcoming, family‑friendly spot that makes it easy to combine fitness, fun and a day out in Freo.
Fremantle Leisure Centre
Address: 10 Shuffrey Street, Fremantle WA 6160
Opening hours:
Pool & gym:
Monday to Friday: 5.30am – 8.30pm
Saturday: 6am – 6pm
Sunday: 6am – 6pm
Public holidays: 6am – 6pm (closed Good Friday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day; early close Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve)
Crèche:
Monday – Friday: 8.45am – 12.45pm
Saturday: 8am – 11.30am
Sunday & public holidays: Closed
Official website: Fremantle Leisure Centre – City of Fremantle
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Jennie McNichol is on a mission to prove there is always something fun to do in Perth. After 11 years in London working in the television industry for the BBC, Jennie moved to Perth in 2010 and founded Buggybuddys to silence the “nothing to do” crowd. Fifteen years later, it is the city’s number one guide for families, packed with daily inspiration and a huge focus on free local activities.
As a mum of two daughters, Jennie has evolved the site right alongside her own family—growing from a toddler-focused resource into a guide that supports parents through every stage, from the early years through to the teens. A passionate advocate for the WA lifestyle, Jennie loves helping families discover the best playgrounds, hidden gems, and budget-friendly days out in the most family-friendly city in the world.
