Hilton Surfers Paradise

I'm in Surfers Paradise for two nights before heading into Brisbane then up the coast a bit. Not sure I realised there was a 'qualifying' pool here when I booked it, more that it's the only Hilton around and I'm in need of those Hhonors nights to keep my Hilton Diamond status. Anyway, there is a pool here as seen directly below my balcony. A quick Google and it's listed as a 40 m lap pool — that's a decent length, and you'd expect nothing less in the land of 50 m pools.

Did a quick recce yesterday morning before heading down to Byron Bay. Now up early(ish) again and keen for a quick swim before breakfast, and before the sun gets too high and hot. Head down to the level 2 pool deck, grab my complimentary towel and dump my kit on a sunbed at the far end. The pool is set among several high-rise buildings, all with balconies. You definitely feel like you're being watched.

Make a more controlled than usual entry via the steps — I was not expecting the water to be so cold. Probably a mix of warm air temp, slow entry and the fact that the water is bloody freezing! Set the watch to a custom 40 m length and make a start. I seem to say this often at the moment but this really will be a slow one. Woke up feeling not-so-limber after yesterday's pool hopping, plus the pool is a bit too fancy to bash out a sprint.

Check the watch after 200 m just to be sure the times look right for the length after yesterday's abandoned Gold Coast Aquatic Centre dive-pool experience. Plan is 1,200 m — that gets the pool on the list and removes any question if the length turns out to be wrong later. The 200 m time check is exactly what I expected. The pool is definitely 40 m.

There are very few pools on this list where I haven't flip-turned each lap. Icebergs in Sydney a few years ago is the only one that comes to mind due to waves flooding into the pool. But this full to the brim, edgeless pool was already rocking, even at my slow pace. It didn't feel like it warranted turns, and I didn't think the couple of people having a morning dip would appreciate them either.

Swim done. Time for a Hilton breakfast.