Learn to swim

First lesson free, kids swim free

Enrol your child in swimming lessons and receive the first lesson free. Enrolled children can swim anytime for free!

Customer portal

Families enrolled in our learn to swim program can use our customer portal to:

  • advise of class absences
  • book make-up lessons
  • make payments
  • update payment and student details.
Two children sitting on the side of the pool ready to dive in with a learn to swim instructor

Southport

Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
Broadwater Parklands, Marine Parade, Southport
Phone: 07 5582 8282
Email: learntoswim@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

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Three children with a female adult in the pool ready for their swimming lesson

Pimpama

Pimpama Sports Hub Aquatic Centre
139 Rifle Range Road, Pimpama
Phone: 07 5581 7940
Email: plts@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

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Two little girls in the pool ready for learn to swim lessons

Palm Beach

Palm Beach Aquatic & Community Centre
Thrower Drive, Palm Beach
Phone: 07 5582 8200
Email: pbaclearntoswim@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

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Our program

Learning to swim should be an enjoyable, informative, and enriching experience. At City of Gold Coast learn to swim we provide students with essential water safety and swimming skills that will benefit them throughout their lives, especially here on the Gold Coast.

Our aquatic programs run year-round, with small class sizes to ensure each individual gets the attention they deserve. Our passionate team of AUSTSWIM and Swim Australia qualified instructors are committed to teaching all aspects of swimming from water safety to stroke development, ensuring the best possible outcomes for every student.

We offer group lessons, casual lessons, and one-on-one private lessons, catering to all ages and skill levels.

View our fees and charges.

Little Ripplers (free for babies 3–6 months old)

Babies have a fascination with the water which starts early. After all, it's an amazing sensory experience for them full of sights, sounds, and the feel of water. Little Ripplers is the perfect way to explore your baby's curiosity in a safe and welcoming environment.

Located in our heated indoor learn to swim pool, this FREE program is filled with games, colour, and songs, covering fundamental skills that builds your child's confidence and awareness in the water. It's also a great bonding time for mums and dads in a fun and friendly social setting.

Children that start swimming early become more comfortable in the water, giving them the ability to learn quickly. By the end of the program, you'll be amazed by the skills and confidence your little one has developed, giving them a head start for the next stage of the learn to swim program.

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Infant aquatic program (6–36 months)

Infant aquatic program

This four-stage infant program is a fun and friendly introduction to the aquatic environment for children aged 6 months to 3 years. We focus on conditioning infants to accept and feel comfortable in the water, introducing breath control, buoyancy skills, and mobility as they grow.

By the end of the program, students will be able to comfortably submerge with propulsion, move with confidence, while also learning essential water safety skills.

Squirts, 6–12 months

Water introduction

During the Squirts program, your little one will start their water journey with engaging songs, activities, and colourful toys. We introduce breath control through enjoyable activities, progressing to submersions as they are ready, incorporating gripping skills. Floating skills are developed to ensure comfort and safety.

Paddlers, 12 – 36 months

Water confidence

Designed for toddlers with limited to no breath control or swimming experience, Paddlers focuses on building water confidence and skills through fun songs and activities. Students will work towards confident underwater submersions while holding their breath.

Rockers, 12–24 months

Water familiarisation Advanced 1

For toddlers who are confident and have strong submersion skills, Rockers aims to enhance these abilities. Students will work on increasing their breath control, mobility, and independence, preparing to swim longer distances and perform safety activities with confidence.

Wrigglers, 24–36 months

Water confidence Advanced 2

Advanced toddlers will further improve their breath control and propulsion skills independently during Wrigglers. They will learn to kick with a board, introduce the foundation of streamlines, and engage in safety activities. This class prepares them for the transition to a teacher-child class, focusing on extending their swimming distances through propulsion and breath control skills.

Enrol now, get your first lesson free

Learn to swim program (from 3 years)

Learn to swim program

Catering for ages from 3 years, our 7-level learn to swim program covers a diverse range of skills, focusing on water safety, independence, technique, and further development.

Throughout these levels, our instructors provide encouragement to ensure all participants are feeling safe and confident in order to progress their skills.

Breath control is a big focus on beginner levels, with buoyancy and mobility becoming the main focus as we concentrate on forming the correct technique in all four strokes.

  • Heated indoor and outdoor pools
  • Year-round program
  • Structured progression pathways
  • Small classes
  • Qualified instructors that care about your little one's success

Enrol now, get your first lesson free

Learn to swim – Added benefits for you and your child

Students enrolled in recurring learn to swim lessons at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Palm Beach Aquatic Centre or Pimpama Sports Hub can swim for free anytime they visit. 

Learn to swim benefits include:

  • First lesson free
  • Stay and play – students can swim before or after their lesson, with attending parents or guardians entering the centre for free.
  • Free pool entry – to any pool including our kid-friendly splash zones. The accompanying parent or guardian is still required to pay adult entry fees outside of lesson times
  • Priority access to our school holiday intensive programs
  • 12 make-up classes per calendar year
  • Enjoy free access to our Little Ripplers program for infants 3–6 months

Fees and charges

The more you swim, the more you save.

Our learn to swim program offers discounts for multiple siblings and multiple lessons per week, meaning the more you swim, the more you save. See below for the lesson fees and charges for our infant aquatic and learn to swim program.

Payments are made in advance by fortnightly direct debit from a nominated bank account, credit or debit card.

Pro-rata lesson fees plus an administration fee of $25 per student are payable before the first direct debit takes place.

Private lessons are also available for $70 for 30 minutes.

Lesson First Student Second student Third student
One lesson per week
(Fortnightly direct debit amount)
$22.00
($44.00)
$17.60
($79.20)
$17.60
($114.40)
Two lessons per week
(Fortnightly direct debit amount)
$38.50
($77.00)
$30.80
($138.60)
$30.80
($200.20)
Three lessons per week
(Fortnightly direct debit amount)
$55.00
($110.00)
$44.00
($198.00)
$44.00
($286.00)

A discount of 20% is applicable to the second and subsequent siblings that are booked into a lesson each week, with the discount being applied to the sibling with the least amount of lessons booked in a week.

Squad

A comprehensive junior, senior through to adult squad program is available at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre and Pimpama Sports Hub. Programs are suitable for all abilities and cater for general fitness right through to competitive pool, surf and triathlon swimming. The squad program is delivered by BE Swim Coaching.

For information about swim squads, including squad timetables, contact:

Website: BE Swim Coaching

Phone: 0438 366 090 or 0403 757 821

Palm Beach Aquatic Centre will be commencing squad in early to mid 2025.

Booking enquiries

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Learn to swim instructors needed

If you are interested in becoming a Learn to swim instructor, contact us today.