Cotton Tree Aquatic Centre

Head an hour or so north from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast for a couple of days, staying at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort before flying down to Sydney for a conference. The place feels like an Australian safari. Kangaroos everywhere!

Not thrilled with the first room they give me, it's in desperate need of some TLC, so while the upgrade gets sorted, head for the nearest 50 m pool to finish the daily 3.2 km after a great morning swim at Valley Pool in Brisbane.

Cotton Tree Aquatic Centre is about 15 minutes from the hotel and looks perfect: an outdoor 50 m, eight lane pool right on the Maroochy River, where the river meets the South Pacific. Pay a very reasonable AU$7.29, head to the changing rooms, and layer on sunscreen. Second time this week turning up to a pool without a towel. It's a bit warmer up here, so drip-dry should be quick.

Reception suggests the near four lanes as swim club training will take the far four in 30 minutes. The sun is turned up to 11. With the pool in full sun, on goes the trusty Ullswater Chillswim 2024 cap for a bit of head protection. Jump in and get going.

The pool is advertised as heated to 26 degrees. Under this sun it hardly needs it, and it feels a couple of degrees warmer than recent swims. For me, 26 is a touch warm. The water is crystal clear; with the sun high and the surface a little choppy, every leaf and bug casts a dancing shadow. Over the first couple of lengths I nearly convince myself those cigar-shaped leaves are chlorine-tolerant fish!

About six lengths in, sunscreen on the dome and a silicone cap do not mix. Pull up at 400 m and adjust. Only after a mile today (1600 m) to take the daily total to a more respectable 3.2 km, so break it down with some decreasing sets, then 100s to the finish.

Swim done, back to the changing rooms to rinse off, drip dry for a few minutes, then wander to the waterfront. The Boat Shed bar sits right behind the pool. Ice cold beer in a fridge chilled glass, with excellent views of the Maroochy.

Back at the hotel and it now seems to be housing swim squads in full matching kit — spotted a couple of guys in Swimaus (The Australian swimming governing body) shirts. A quick Google shows the Australian Open Water Cup, Queensland leg, is this Saturday (25th October 2025), just up the coast in Coolum.

Arrive to the new room to find a slight ant issue, so move to a third. Adventure continues.