wellness
Thomastown Swimmers Ditch Chlorine for Outdoor Pools and Rock Pools
With summer heat pushing locals outdoors, the town's open-water fitness spots are drawing serious swimmers who are ditching chlorinated lanes for something better.
How we reported this
Thomastown's outdoor aquatic options are getting a second look this July. Between the recently refurbished Kellerman Reserve Outdoor Pool on Hadley Street and the tidal rock pools at Craigmore Point, lap swimmers have two genuinely compelling alternatives to the municipal indoor centre, and wellness regulars are taking notice.
The timing matters. Temperatures across the region have been running above the July average for the third consecutive week, and public health messaging from the Thomastown Community Wellness Council has been explicit: sustained moderate exercise in natural environments delivers measurable benefits for cardiovascular health and stress regulation. That message has legs when the weather cooperates, and right now it does.
Two Spots, Two Very Different Experiences
Kellerman Reserve Outdoor Pool reopened on 1 June after a $340,000 upgrade that added a dedicated 25-metre lap lane, a new filtration system and accessible entry ramps on the northern end. Managed by the Thomastown Aquatics Association, the pool is open daily from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. through September, with adult lap swim sessions priced at $4.50, roughly half what the covered Northgate Leisure Centre charges for a casual swim. Early morning sessions between 6 and 8 a.m. are the quietest, usually drawing the committed regulars who treat the pool as a genuine training venue.
Craigmore Point is a different proposition entirely. The rock pools there, three natural formations at the base of the coastal path off Maritime Drive, hold water at a consistent depth of 1.2 metres at low tide and extend roughly 18 metres end to end. Local open-water swimmers have used them informally for years. The Thomastown Open Water Collective, which runs guided swims every Saturday morning at 7 a.m. from the Craigmore car park, estimates around 60 regular participants cycle through on any given weekend. No entry fee, no booking required, though the Collective asks newcomers to sign a simple liability waiver available on their website.
The rock pools require tide awareness. The Thomastown Harbourmaster's office publishes a free weekly tidal chart, and the sweet spot for swimming at Craigmore is the two hours either side of low tide on calm days. Strong southerly swells can make the pools unsafe, and the Collective posts conditions updates by 6 a.m. every Saturday via their community notice board on Brenham Lane.
What the Evidence Says About Open-Water Swimming
Research published in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education in 2024 found that swimmers who trained in natural water environments three or more times per week reported a 27 percent reduction in self-reported anxiety scores over an eight-week period, compared with matched indoor swimmers. The mechanism is still debated, but researchers pointed to cold-water immersion, variable sensory input and outdoor light exposure as likely contributors. Kellerman Pool sits in a partially shaded setting and runs slightly cooler than indoor pools, typically around 21 degrees Celsius in July, which puts it closer to open-water conditions than most municipal facilities.
The Thomastown Community Wellness Council's 2025 Active Residents Survey found that only 34 percent of residents who identified as regular swimmers had tried an outdoor aquatic venue in the past year, despite 71 percent expressing interest. The gap between intent and action largely came down to information, people didn't know the pools existed or weren't sure about safety conditions.
For anyone considering making the switch, the practical starting point is simple. Visit Kellerman Reserve on a weekday morning before 8 a.m. to get comfortable with outdoor lap swimming before committing to the rock pools. The Thomastown Aquatics Association runs a free Open Water Introduction session on the first Sunday of each month, the next one is 5 July, held at Kellerman before a short guided walk to Craigmore Point. Spots fill by Thursday each week. As always, consult your local GP or allied health professional before starting any new swim training program, particularly if you have cardiovascular or cold-sensitivity concerns.