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The Moorhouse Avenue entrance is flat. The other two entrances have a low-gradient ramp. The main doors have sensors and open automatically

Reception has a lowered desk area.

Poolside

Pool access is through an automatic entrance gate with the scanner at desk height. Please ask staff to help you if you need assistance.

Wet wheelchairs – there are a range of wheelchairs poolside – tilting, wide-seat and standard. You can find these at convenient locations around the pool and near the Sensory Aqua Centre.

All pools have ramps into the water except for the dive pool. The dive pool uses a platform that lowers the wet wheelchair into the water. Staff can assist if required.

The steam rooms and saunas are accessible, however assistance may be needed with the doors.

The hydroslides have stairs with railings but are not wheelchair accessible.  

Gym

The gym is located on level one. You can use the elevators opposite reception or the stairs to the left of reception. The gym is well sign-posted.

Entry to the gym has gym gates, with the scanner near the gates at desk height. The gates open automatically when you tap your card.  

Please ask fitness instructors on the gym floor if you need assistance.

Group fitness

Group fitness classes are located on level one. You can use the elevators opposite reception or the stairs to the left of reception. The studios are well sign-posted.

There are inward facing doors to the Group Fitness, Mind Body and Spin studios, with the card scanners near the doors at desk height.

Please ask staff if you require assistance with the doors.

Move, Sport House, High Performance Sport, Active Health and the Café

Directions to these tenants in Parakiore are well sign-posted from reception.  

Show courts and pool hall wheelchair accessible seating 

Show courts – Wheelchair spaces are on the first row of the tiered seating.  

Pool hall – Take the elevator to level one. Near the stairwell is the entrance to the pool hall and the accessible seating. There are eight spaces available with seating for carers.   

Poolside

There are two fully accessible change rooms in the pool changing area.  These have a hoist and adjustable change table.  They are located towards the Sensory Aqua Centre.  Wet wheelchairs will be located nearby to transfer to.
Please bring your own slings for the hoist, they are not available to hire.
In the change village there are five smaller accessible change rooms with toilets, showers and handrails and 10 family change rooms with showers and baby change tables.

Sports hall and level one changing rooms

There are accessible changing rooms, next to or in, all of the change facilities with a shower and toilet.

Toilets can be found throughout the building and at least two accessible toilets in each area that are well sign-posted.  

There are 26 accessible carparks, all near the two main entrances within the carpark. Please display the appropriate parking permit in your car.  

The first two hours of parking is free. Parking fees apply from 8am to 9.30pm weekdays and 8am to 8pm on weekends and public holidays. More information on fees and parking. 

Taxis can drive into the carpark and drop you off near the entrances.

Parakiore has a hearing loop.

You can use the the Hāpai Access Card to get discount entry to our Centres.

Visit the Hāpai Access Card website to see responses to access barriers and a walk-through video of the centre.  

Support workers are welcome in our centres.

• If a support person is required to assist you, they will be granted free entry on presentation of a Hāpai Access Card with a +1 highlighted.
• Support people that come in as spectators when you are in the pool, get free entry.
• The role of the support person is to help you with communication and any personal care needed. This includes assistance through the centre and ensuring your safety during an emergency.
• If you need help in the pool, your support person will need to assist you in the pool or actively monitor from the poolside, depending on your need.

If you have special requirements, please speak to a staff member for additional assistance.

Braille is featured on key signage throughout the building, translating both te reo Māori (at the top) and English.  

Mobility Equipment can be left poolside as long as it is not blocking a walkway or emergency exit. Lifeguards can help you to find a suitable location if needed and can bring your equipment to you when you are ready to leave the pool.

Assistance dogs are welcome and can wait beside the pool. Speak to a lifeguard if you have any questions or you need help. There are no grass areas on site, however Hagley Park is a five minute walk away.

The multi-sensory environment uses a range of lighting effects. These effects are unlikely to bring on seizures.

If you struggle with the busy nature of Parakiore, you are welcome to use the Moorhouse Avenue entrance and use the Reset Space to the left of the entrance. This low-arousal entry point allows customers to reset and / or alert Customer Experience at reception or the Sensory Aqua Centre staff of their arrival either by phone or by pre-arrangement. You can then be supported through the building either by staff through staff access points or unsupported once you have had an opportunity to reset and continue. This may be useful for customers wishing to use the Sensory Aqua Centre.

There is a sliding door to the centre which can only be opened by staff, so you may need to wait outside for your appointment.  

Visit the Sensory Aqua Centre page to find out more.

If you would like to visit Parakiore when it is quiet, we recommend coming before 9am or between 10am and 2.30pm on weekdays. However it can be dependent on events in the centre, so can’t be guaranteed.  

Weekends are usually busy all day with events and sports however this does change depending on the season.

Visit the events page to find out what's on at Parakiore.  

There are baby change tables located throughout the facility in the main toilets and in the accessible toilet/change areas.  

• Leisure pool - temperatures range from 30 to 32  degrees
• Lane pool - temperatures range from 26.5 to 27.5 degrees
• Dive well - temperatures range from 26.5 to 27.5 degrees
• Spa pool - temperatures range from 38 to 40 degrees
• Teach pool - temperatures range from 31 to 33 degrees