We’re a well recognised organisation, with a proven programme and years of experience.
We have been building confident, capable swimmers at Swimgym since 1987. Our Learn to Swim programme supports swimmers of all ages and abilities, from their very first splash in the water through to squad level. We’re proud to be recognised by Swimming New Zealand and the New Zealand Swim Coaches and Teachers Association as a GOLD Quality Swim School. We’re also international members of the Australian Swim Schools Association and Swimming Australia, reflecting the high standard of our programme.
What started at one location has grown to multiple sites across East and South Auckland, delivering thousands of lessons each week, all while maintaining the strong community feel we’re known for. We’re also committed to giving back, working alongside schools like Pakuranga College, Howick Intermediate School, Te Huruhi School and Maraetai Beach School to support and improve local pool facilities. Swimgym also proudly provides the instructors for the not-for-profit charitable trust John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Program who are dedicated to ensuring all swimmers in East and South Aucklands can have access to free swimming lessons.
Our Learn to Swim programme is designed to suit every swimmer as an individual. Whether you get in touch, send us an email, or drop in for a chat, our team will help guide you. With over 140 qualified instructors, each with their own teaching style, we’ll match you with the right fit.
Our Approach
Our approach to our Learn to Swim programme is: Swim Well, Swim Fast & Swim Safe.
Swim Well
We focus on building strong technique, helping swimmers feel comfortable and capable in the water while mastering the key technical aspects of swimming. This allows them to move efficiently, understand how their body works in the water, and maintain a strong position on the surface rather than underneath it.
Swim Fast
We encourage swimmers to challenge themselves and see where swimming can take them. Through our links with HPK Swim Club, there is a clear pathway for those who want to progress further. For some, that leads to competitive swimming, triathlon, or water polo, while for others it’s about staying active, confident, and capable in the water.
Swim Safe
We prioritise water safety in every lesson, ensuring swimmers develop the awareness, decision-making, and practical skills they need for life. Our goal is for every swimmer to feel confident in and around the water.
Why learn to swim with us
With over 35 years of experience, our programme has been developed to support steady, confident progress. Today, we deliver over 12,000 lessons a week in peak periods, while still keeping things personal.
Gain Confidence In The Water
Let our experts guide you to Swim Well, Swim Fast, & Swim Safe.
From babies taking their first splash to advanced swimmers refining performance skills, our instructors guide each swimmer to build confidence and capability.
A Proven Programme
Our structured lesson plans are tailored to each level, supporting steady progression from foundational skills through to advanced swimming.
This programme has been refined over decades and continues to deliver results.
Four Handy Locations in Auckland
We operate across East and South Auckland, including Howick, Pakuranga, Papatoetoe, and Ōtara, with additional summer programmes in Waiheke Island and Maraetai.
Go further with our club swimming
For swimmers wanting to take the next step, Swimgym provides a clear pathway into club swimming through HPK Swim Club.
Swimmers progress from our final level in our Learn to Swim programme, Marlins, into the first HPK squad, Dolphins. Dolphin’s swimmers builds on the strong technical foundation developed in lessons, while introducing swimmers to a more structured squad environment and a deeper connection to the sport.
Swimgym was established by HPK Swim Club in the 1980s, recognising the need to develop and guide swimmers into its programme. Since then, Swimgym has grown into a comprehensive learn-to-swim programme that focuses on swimming safely, swimming well, and supporting swimmers to confidently progress if they choose to.
HPK consistently performs at the highest level both here in New Zealand and internationally. Our Squad structure is based around a long term athlete development plan however, we also understand that athletes grow and develop at their own pace.
Our goal is to ensure that every athlete leaves the HPK Swim squads at the end of their career with fond memories of great performances or great friendships.
Our training pools are the Pakuranga College Pool and the pool at Howick Intermediate School. We train here year-round in these heated pools.