Find the right swimming lesson programme for you or your child

All children under 4 are required to wear a swim nappy in the water.

These baby and infant classes have the parent/guardian as the primary teacher under the careful guidance of the swimming instructor. 

Fundamentals that are developed through toys, games and activities include:

• Safe entries and exits
• Balance
• Floatation
• Orientation
• Propulsion
• Submersion
• Breath Control
• Fun!

Little Blue Penguins

For children 6-12months 

Introduce your baby to the water in a safe, nurturing, and playful environment. Through songs, games, and guided movement, you’ll learn how to confidently support your baby as they explore floating, gentle kicking, and basic water comfort. This class is designed to build water confidence, strengthen the parent-child bond, and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of swimming. Advancement is by age.

Turtles

For children 12-24 months 

This level builds on early water familiarity by encouraging toddlers to move more independently through the water with caregiver support. Through playful songs, games, and guided activities, children begin to develop confidence with assisted swims, kicking, and paddling. The focus is on fun, safety, and strengthening the bond between parent and child while laying the groundwork for future swimming skills. Advancement is by age.

Whistling Frogs

For children 2 – 3 years 

Watch your child grow into a little water explorer! With your support, they’ll learn to kick, paddle, and float while gaining confidence both above and below the surface. Through fun and gentle guidance, they’ll start to trust their instructor, try independent submersions, and take their first splashes toward swimming independence. Advancement is by age.

Seahorses

For children 3 years old

This class bridges the gap between toddler-parent classes and independent preschool swim lessons. With your support, your child will continue to build water confidence while learning to follow instructions and engage more directly with their instructor. Through fun, play-based activities, they’ll practise floating, kicking, paddling, and exploring underwater. The focus is on developing trust, independence, and essential water safety skills in a nurturing environment. Advancement is by age or by achieving key skills.

Whitebait

This invitation-only class is designed for confident three year olds ready to be in a class without a caregiver. To join, your child must have graduated from Seahorses and should be able to follow simple instructions, demonstrate full breath control, and feel comfortable going underwater independently. 

With instructor guidance in the water, children will continue developing independence and safety awareness. They'll practise floating and gliding on both front and back, learn to regain their footing, and explore underwater movement. The class also introduces essential safety skills like floating and signaling for help, and duck diving—all in a fun, supportive environment. 

Our preschool levels are for 4 year olds and help to build confidence and independence in the water without a parent/guardian.

Inanga

This class is the perfect starting point for 4-year-olds who are ready to begin their independent swimming journey. Through songs, games, and playful activities, children will build confidence in the water while learning essential safety and foundational skills. They'll practice safe entries and exits, blowing bubbles, kicking, and floating - all while learning to trust the water and their instructor. The focus is on fun, comfort, and developing the ability to participate in a structured lesson without a parent. 

Kokopu

Kokopu is for four-year olds who have mastered submerging their face in the water and are ready to take the next step in their swimming journey. 
With a focus on floating and kicking, children will practice safe pool entry and exit, front and back independent starfish floats, and will begin to develop key movement skills like streamlined kicking on their front, back kicking with arms by their side, and rolling from front to back—all while having fun in a supportive, structured environment. 

Koaru

Koaru is for four-year-olds who can fully submerge, rotate, glide, and change direction while swimming.  

This level is designed for confident 4-year-olds who are ready to begin learning formal stroke techniques. With a focus on propulsion and coordination, children will practice kicking and arm movements on both their front and back, while continuing to build safety awareness and independence in the water. They'll be introduced to basic freestyle arm actions and develop the skills needed to transition into school-age swimming programs. 

Our school-aged lessons cater for all abilities, whether your child has been in lessons before or is new to swimming, we have a level for them. 

Orange Roughy

Orange Roughy is our beginner class for school-age children, focused on building comfort and confidence in the water. Swimmers will learn to submerge, float on their front and back, and begin developing a strong kick. The class also introduces streamlining and essential water safety skills. .

Kahawai

For Swimmers who can fully submerge and independently float on front and back.   

Kahawai students build on previously learned skills, focusing on developing a long bodyline, freestyle arms, and improved body control. This level introduces streamlining, body roll, side kick, and freestyle arm technique, along with rolling from back to front and back again

Tarakihi

For those who can glide front and back with a long body and show long legged kicking. A basic level of freestyle arm technique is a must before entering this class. Through a sequence of targeted drills, swimmers focus on correct positioning and timing for freestyle breathing on both sides. Swimmers also develop fluid backstroke arm technique and are introduced to breaststroke kick. This level incorporates more complex body movements and guided practice of correct arm strokes, along with simulated water safety scenarios to build confidence and awareness. 

Hapuku

For children who have strong propulsive skill and a competent level of freestyle and backstroke arm movement.

Hapuku swimmers build on the freestyle breathing drills introduced in the Tarakihi level, aiming to master bilateral breathing and develop strong stroke mechanics. They continue refining accurate arm strokes and sequencing skills, with a focus on fluid backstroke arms and a deeper understanding of the breaststroke kick. This level also introduces breaststroke arm action, integrates breaststroke kick into treading water, and develops sculling ability while building confidence with underwater experiences. 

Marlins

Marlins build on the freestyle breathing skills developed in the Hapuku level while transitioning into the main pool (Coastlands Aquatic Centre only). Swimmers work toward mastering bilateral freestyle breathing, developing fluid backstroke arm technique, and gaining a strong understanding of the breaststroke kick. 

Broadbills

Broadbill swimmers focus on refining the full strokes of freestyle and backstroke with consistent form over 25 meters. They work on developing breaststroke coordination and breathing over half a length, along with early diving skills. The level also introduces dolphin kick and key water safety elements, including reach and throw rescue techniques. 

Moray Eels

Moray Eels is a 45-minute class where swimmers consolidate their skills and build fitness, working towards swimming 100 meters continuously. The focus is on developing controlled distance with precise freestyle and backstroke technique, while refining breaststroke over longer distances. Swimmers will master tumble turns, improve diving and underwater skills, and begin learning survival strokes. Strong water safety skills are encouraged through distance swimming and experience using lifejackets. 

For students 9 years+ that need the fundamentals taught in an age appropriate environment:

Tiger Sharks

For beginner swimmers aged 9 and above. 

Tiger Sharks is a supportive, age-appropriate class designed for older learners to build essential swimming and water safety skills together. The focus is on developing confidence in submersion, floating, and the foundations of freestyle and backstroke, including flutter kick and swimming arms. 

Hammer Heads

For swimmers aged 9 and above that have the fundamentals of swimming including freestyle and backstroke. 

Hammerheads builds on the foundational skills developed in Tiger Sharks, with a focus on mastering freestyle breathing, developing fluid backstroke, and introducing breaststroke kick. Swimmers will also begin learning survival strokes to build confidence and increase awareness of water safety drills. 

Stingrays - 45 minutes

Stingrays focus on building sustainable stroke technique through precise instruction, with an emphasis on 25m and 50m swims using correct form. Swimmers continue to build fitness with the goal of swimming 200 meters continuously. This level introduces butterfly arm action, medley swimming, breaststroke turns, and advanced underwater skills.  

Diving is developed toward competitive standards, and water safety knowledge is reinforced through sequenced scenarios and Water Safety NZ’s 200-meter survival swim assessment.  

Orca - 60 minutes

Orcas is our top swim school level, designed for swimmers who can confidently swim in a lane with others and complete multiple lengths in all four strokes. The focus is on developing fitness, speed, and strong stroke mechanics through coached training sessions. Swimmers work towards goals such as swimming 400m continuously and treading water for 3 minutes. The program includes timed swims, relay teamwork, distance and speed challenges, as well as an introduction to lifesaving and lifeguarding skills. 

We offer adult learn to swim and water safety classes for both beginners and improvers.

Whether you are learning to swim or wanting to refine your skills to become more efficient, we can help.

We can also coach you for an event such as triathlons, open water swims, swim test for your career, etc.

Find out more by talking to our Reception team today!