Swingbridge Pool as the name suggests, is located near a swing bridge. It’s also known as Ford Pool due to its proximity to a ford that provides passage across the Wainuiomata River.
Swingbridge Pool, also known as Ford Pool, is situated along the Gums Loop Track, close to the swing bridge and a ford. The Mackay Cottage site is also closeby. The pool offers a pleasant spot for swimming with a grass path leading from the Gums Loop Track directly to the location. There’s is a wooden bench (seats and table) at the end of the track, making it an ideal location for a picnic on the river’s edge.
In the early 1970s, children from nearby streets such as Sunny Grove and Hine Road would occasionally swim here, usually in a discreet manner. The water board discouraged swimming near the catchment, which at that time included the lower dam area. Beside the pool, Mackay’s Cottage served as a weekend or holiday retreat. As a result, anyone swimming needed to be cautious, as being discovered meant being told to leave immediately.
Today, public access extends up to Lower Dam, making the pool accessible to all. However, it remains relatively unpopular for swimming, possibly due to the small bank required to enter the water. Nonetheless, it remains a pleasant area for swimming and you often have it all to yourself.
