Feature image: Playford Hotel
For someone arriving in Adelaide from the Riverland, Eyre Peninsula or the South East for a conference, it can provide a quiet hour between a full day of sessions and dinner in the city. For parents planning a family staycation, it can turn a standard night in a hotel into something the children talk about for weeks. Sometimes, the pool is not simply another amenity. It is the reason the room is booked.
That becomes particularly important during an Adelaide winter. Rain, cold mornings and early sunsets can quickly disrupt plans, especially when travelling with children. Adelaide offers a handful of indoor hotel pools, giving families an activity that does not depend on the forecast, while business travellers can swim, use the sauna or unwind in the spa without needing to leave the hotel. There is no need to rush back before the pool closes or hope the weather clears. Families can fit in an early swim before breakfast, while conference delegates can return for a late-night dip, spa or sauna after their final event.
Other South Australian hotels offer pools with skyline views, Mediterranean-inspired surrounds, riverside settings and spring-fed hot pools. Some are designed for long summer afternoons, while others suit lap swimmers, couples or travellers looking for a luxury wellness escape.
Whether you are travelling to Adelaide for work, bringing the family into the city for a weekend or planning a longer regional getaway, these are the hotel pools worth considering when choosing where to stay.
The Playford Hotel
Some hotel pools are a convenient addition to a stay. The Playford’s can be one of the main reasons to book.
Tucked beneath the hotel, the 12.5-metre pool is completely indoors and heated to 26 degrees, making it an especially appealing option through Adelaide’s colder months. Soft lighting, detailed interiors and the hotel’s Art Nouveau influence give the space considerably more character than a typical hotel leisure centre.
The pool is accompanied by a separate spa, sauna and fully equipped gym, with the entire health club open 24 hours exclusively to hotel guests. That flexibility makes it particularly useful for travellers attending conferences or events along North Terrace, who may be keeping irregular hours.
It is also one of the most practical city options for families. Parents can confidently promise the children a swim without checking the weather, while its central location places guests within easy walking distance of Adelaide Oval, the Convention Centre, Festival Centre, Rundle Mall and the Riverbank precinct.
Art Nouveau-inspired details and soft lighting create a peaceful place to unwind while still being in the heart of the city. The health club is open 24 hours exclusively for hotel guests, offering the flexibility to relax and recharge whenever it suits.
Where: 120 North Terrace, Adelaide
For more information, click here.
Marriott Hotel
Set within Adelaide’s historic General Post Office building, the Adelaide Marriott combines heritage architecture with a polished and contemporary indoor pool area.
Its 18-metre heated pool is one of the longer hotel pools in the city, making it a strong choice for guests who want to maintain their swimming routine while travelling. There is room for a proper morning swim, while loungers positioned around the water provide somewhere to slow down afterwards.
The atmosphere is sleek and restrained, suiting couples, business travellers and families with older children who are likely to make use of the pool for more than a quick splash. Its position near Victoria Square also places guests within easy reach of restaurants, the Central Market and the free city tram.
As another fully indoor option, the Marriott remains a good winter choice, although its experience is more focused on contemporary fitness and lap swimming.
When: 6am to 10pm.
Where: 141 King William Street, Adelaide
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Crowne Plaza
The pool at Crowne Plaza Adelaide is designed around the view.
Positioned on Level 10, the heated outdoor infinity pool looks across the Adelaide CBD, Adelaide Oval and towards the Adelaide Hills. It is an impressive place to cool down after exploring the East End or to watch the changing light across the city at the end of the day.
Luna10 sits beside the pool, serving drinks, comfort food and Japanese-inspired small plates, allowing guests to move easily from an afternoon swim into an evening overlooking the skyline.
Because the pool is outdoors, it is most appealing during Adelaide’s warmer months or on a clear winter day. For summer city breaks, festival weekends and couples looking for a rooftop atmosphere, however, it offers one of the most memorable poolside outlooks in the CBD.
Where: 27 Frome St, Adelaide
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Eos by SkyCity
Eos by SkyCity offers a pool experience aimed firmly at travellers seeking a luxury city escape.
Positioned above the River Torrens, the outdoor pool deck opens towards views of Adelaide Oval and the riverbank precinct. The heated pool is complemented by a spa pool and wellness facilities, allowing guests to move from sightseeing or dining into a slower afternoon without leaving the hotel.
The location is a major part of its appeal. Guests are within walking distance of Adelaide Oval, the Festival Centre, Convention Centre, North Terrace and some of the city’s best-known restaurants, yet the elevated pool deck feels removed from the activity below.
It is best suited to couples, special occasions and luxury weekends, particularly when the weather allows guests to spend time outside enjoying the river and city views.
Where: Level 1/1 Festival Dr, Adelaide
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Hotel Indigo
Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets places guests above one of the city’s most energetic food precincts.
Its heated outdoor infinity pool is located on Level 4, with views stretching across the surrounding city buildings. Open year-round from 6am to 9pm, it gives in-house guests somewhere to begin the morning or recharge after visiting the Adelaide Central Market, Chinatown and nearby restaurants.
On clear days, it is an appealing choice for couples or friends planning a food-focused city weekend, with the Central Market precinct waiting just beyond the hotel doors.
Where: Adelaide Markets, 23 – 29 Market Street
For more information, click here.
Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
At Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge, the appeal of the pool is closely connected to its peaceful natural setting.
The outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by native bushland, with the lodge overlooking American River Bay. After a day spent driving between beaches, wildlife experiences and walking trails, guests can return to the property for an uncomplicated afternoon beside the water.
Some rooms look towards the pool, while others offer views across the bay, making the lodge an easy base for couples and families exploring the eastern side of Kangaroo Island.
The pool itself is most useful during the warmer months, but it adds another relaxed activity to an island stay where the focus is less on formal luxury and more on slowing down, spending time outdoors and enjoying the landscape.
Where: 73 Scenic Dr, American River
For more information, click here.
Sequoia Lodge
High above the Piccadilly Valley, Sequoia Lodge offers one of South Australia’s most distinctive pool and wellness experiences.
The adults-only lodge has an outdoor infinity pool positioned to capture uninterrupted views across the Adelaide Hills. Rather than being surrounded by city buildings or a busy resort deck, guests swim with the valley unfolding below them.
The strongest winter attraction, however, is the lodge’s collection of naturally spring-fed thermal hot pools. Guests can soak in the warm mineral water while surrounded by the cool Hills air, turning the contrast between the temperature and the landscape into part of the experience.
This is not a family swimming destination. It is a high-end retreat designed for couples, anniversaries and special occasions, where the pool and hot pools form part of a broader stay built around privacy, nature, food and quiet.
Where: 1 Mawson Drive, Crafers
For more information, click here.
Berri Hotel
The Berri Hotel offers the kind of pool that suits a relaxed Riverland family holiday.
Located behind the riverfront hotel, the modern outdoor pool gives guests somewhere to cool off between regional drives, river activities and long lunches. Several accommodation options overlook the pool, while the hotel also has two-bedroom poolside villas with direct access, kitchen facilities and additional space for families or groups.
The pool is naturally at its best during the Riverland’s warmer months, when children can spend the afternoon swimming while adults settle into the slower pace of a riverside break.
Combined with the hotel’s Murray River views, waterfront dining and central Berri location, it provides a convenient base for families exploring the region or regional residents looking for an easy staycation close to home.
Where: 31 Riverview Dr, Berri
For more information, click here.
Hotel Alba
Hotel Alba brings a Mediterranean-inspired poolside atmosphere to the southern edge of the CBD.
The outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by pastel tones, greenery and loungers, creating a resort-style setting that feels noticeably different from the city streets beyond the hotel. Guests can begin the day with a swim or spend a slower afternoon beside the water with a book or drink.
The adjoining ela restaurant and bar continues the Mediterranean theme, allowing the pool area to become part of a longer lunch, weekend celebration or relaxed city stay.
As an outdoor pool, it is strongest during spring and summer rather than the middle of winter. When the weather warms, however, Hotel Alba is an appealing choice for friends, couples and groups wanting a city staycation with a more holiday-like atmosphere.
Where: 226 South Terrace, Adelaide
For more information, click here.
