The September–October school holidays were packed with activity at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, with Water World, our holiday programme, and swim school clinics all making for a busy and exciting two weeks.

Water World Made a Splash

From 25–28 September, Water World returned with their huge inflatables, transforming the pool into a family fun zone. The four-day event was a hit with swimmers of all ages, and it was great to see families and friends enjoying time together in and on the water. A big thank you goes out to the Water World team and our lifeguards for helping ensure everything ran smoothly and safely throughout the event.

Holiday Programme Success

Across both weeks of the holidays (22–26 September and 29 September–3 October), the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust (HBCFCT) Holiday Programme was once again a big success. We saw great numbers throughout the fortnight, reaching a high of 41 participants in one day.

Children enjoyed a wide range of activities — including sessions on the inflatable, a brand-new CrossFit Games challenge, and a crowd favourite, badminton, which brought out plenty of friendly competition and fun. The programme offered a fantastic mix of movement, teamwork, and confidence-building activities, keeping kids active and engaged throughout the break.

Swim School Intensives and Clinics

Our Swim School team also ran a full schedule of Holiday Intensive lessons over both weeks, alongside focused Race Skills and Breaststroke Clinics. These sessions gave swimmers the opportunity to refine technique and build confidence, with many showing great progress over the short time.

Thank You

A huge thank you to all families, swimmers, and staff who took part or supported our holiday activities. It was fantastic to see the pools and facility buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for the next school holidays!

Article added: Monday 06 October 2025