Pools & Spas

Forget in-ground and inflatable spas with their hidden, costly negatives – here, Hot Spring Spas shares six key benefits of quality portable spa pools

The owners wanted to achieve a flat lawn with swimming pool sitting flush with the living areas of the house on what is almost a one-in-three slope beneath a cliff

How long ago did our biological precursors drag themselves out of water onto land? Now all we want to do is return to it – this tucked in pool a case in point

Transparency is a great word – at Cascade Pools integrity, straight-up communications and no hidden surprises are the backbone of their reliable pool building service

Want gorgeous sea views from your pool but not the onshore winds that come with them? There's another way, as this high-end home reflects

Opening up at the back to connect with an existing pool area, this home's open-plan interior has plenty of warm natural wood accents, the floors included

Salt water meets fresh water, at least to the eye, with this infinity pool in a large, spacious luxury home with a resort sensibility

What does luxury living mean for you? Well, this home by Urbane Projects probably has it covered. Sea views from everywhere, two garages, a cinema room and a wing for the grandchildren are just the start ...

Water circulates through the centre of this family home by architect Clinton Cole, helping create a sense of separation between its two wings

Pools aren't just for swimming in, they're for looking at, too. This house makes the most of its water feature, situating it right under the nose of the entertainment spaces. See other design decisions that inform the home

With heaters tucked into soffits, blinds tucked into the ceiling and floor-to-ceiling glass, this harbourside home’s clean-lined design means nothing gets between you and the views

With deep, deep foundations, great street presence and a build height respectful of rear neighbours, this home responds to its environment in several ways

A pool and connected spa radiate brilliant blues while a change in mosaic tile creates a subtle, pleasing difference

This pool and surrounds are not just pleasing in their own right – they also serve to complement the dramatic architecture right behind 

Well, at the very least, your views of your pool could go on forever – spied from the accompanying pavilion, this pool's infinity edge merges with the ocean

It's not just the water's soft tone (white pebbles in a clear glass pool interior) that evokes a beachscape, there's the naturalistic 'shoreline' too

With dense scrub cleared and fountain, firepit and small lawn added – plus pool revamped – this landscaping project aligns with the home it connects to

Only a small passing cloud breaks up the inviting blue of this pool and spa – the result of a vibrant blue tile-lined pool interior

Pools are usually reserved for the backyard but here the watering hole is pushed up front, separated from the entry by a fence

Just because your older, much-loved pool isn't cutting edge doesn't mean it can't deliver up-to-the minute functionality – Covers 4 Pools offers two styles ideal for retrofitting 

Family fun, architectural extension, exercise resource, thing of beauty – there are many reasons to get a pool; here are some great watering holes to inspire

Don't want to fight the traffic to the local pool? Sea too far or too cold? Swim Spas offer something better at home. Here, HotSpring Spas talks running costs

... or even a cloudy day, transparent pool balustrading keeps things safe and here allows for reflections from pool to circular skylight

A poured concrete surround forms this pool terrace – the tone of the concrete selected to tie in with the pool's granite coping tiles

Au contraire – this outdoor setting benefits from a nearly 13m-long pool with infinity edge – just 1692 laps and you're across Cook Strait

Your backyard pool is an oasis of fun – Covers 4 Pools NZ has several options to keep it warm and safe – here we focus on two favourites

A pool set high on the property set the landscape agenda for surrounding entertaining spaces complete with a pergola dripping in Boston ivy

This pool is slotted in beside the home – bamboo and timber fencing creates an in-touch-with-nature vibe while deck chairs add vibrancy

Nothing makes a thing stand out more than something different next to it –  these brilliant blue pool mosaics make the garden look all the more verdant

A drone's eye view shows just how symmetrical and appealing this entertainment pit is – part of a grand pool in keeping with its lodge setting

White outdoor kitchen, glowing red al fresco fire coals and sparkling blue swimming pool – this outdoor space waves a flag to relaxation

Just like summer bodies are made in the cooler months, so are summer gardens – now is the time to start planning your backyard pool, says Landart director Matt Leacy

This sculptural, clean-lined pergola mitigates the impact of the midday sun for in-pool lounging – and looks pretty spectacular doing it

This pool's tilework ties with black accents on the home while the infinity edge seems to go on forever, requiring skilled craftsmanship to achieve

This contemporary plunge-pool-meets-spa-pool is built for relaxation in more ways than one – large tiled steps make for ideal in-pool seating

This family swimming pool achieves a relaxed, organic feel with substantial rocks helping delineate the diving area from the main pool area

This outdoor space merges pool, pool safety, vibrant full sun plantings and year-round al fresco living in a design that flows into its rural surround

This pool has competition in terms of drawing the eye – the backyard watering hole is surrounded by sculptures in tune with the natural setting

The calmness, the colours, the elegant lines – we're not sure how the pool designers connected with the home's Grecian feel, but connect they did

Reinvented by Poolco, this now smooth-surfaced pool – with an Aqua Bright Eco Finish – requires almost no upkeep and will last for decades

Inviting plunge pool over the hot summer months and a warming spa come winter, this pool is popular whatever the time of year

This backyard oasis beside a generous pavilion home spells fun under the sun while an in-pool spa adds welcoming winter functionality 

For this al fresco project, elements include a 12m pool, a pool house, half basketball court and gym – along with low-upkeep lawns and seating/dining options 

This pool would give its house a run for its money in the luxury stakes – check out these gold-winning pools as judged by the NZ Swimming Pool Industry Association

This linear, angular pool seems a natural pairing with its companion contemporary architectural home – plantings mitigate the pool's crisp lines

With as much to do as there is to look at, this multi-faceted backyard pool project includes a swim lane, child's pool beach, a diving board and two spas

The brief for an upmarket pool and landscaping was standard enough but the teetering clifftop location and scale of the pool made it exceptional

This understated pool, on sunny Waiheke island, responds to its idyllic setting – making the most of solar power and with glass fencing that doesn't impede the spectacular outlooks

For this pool, the designer introduced an elevated wet edge pool as the main feature – this allowed the pool's wet edge to act as the safety barrier – eliminating the need for a pool fence in that area

A rooftop pool in mosaic and glass is crossed by plays of light and reflections, echoing the colours of the sky and letting the occupant feel like they're almost flying

Summer's not the time to think about a pool – now is – and choosing someone in the Master Pool Builders Association makes the process seamless 

The setting is perfect, the existing in-ground pool nestles into its sandy location – but the pool itself is tired – enter Pool Co for an award-winning make over

Why wouldn't you make the back of your new home a wall of glass when this inviting pool is captured in the picture? 

Here, the pool and pool house spaces are in proportion with the sizeable home – just one aspect of marrying a new pool to an 1880s residence

This Silver-winning rectangular pool offers a welcoming backyard oasis for the owners and has more safety features than meet the eye 

Barestone panels were selected for this garden wall for their lightweight durable properties and design aesthetic – hidden planter boxes will soften the look over time

This spectacular Gold-winning pool pulls out all the stops, with an infinity edge, safety/swim trough, spa, sculptures and a cabana

Your swimming pool may need maintenance even over the winter months and Cascade Pools & Cascade Refurbishments can help with that

This Gold award-winning pool by Acacia Pools dovetails with other needs on the property while making the most of its rural outlooks

Check out these gold-winning pools from Builder Members of the New Zealand Swimming Pool Industry Association

The architect built this seaside home with sustainability in mind – as part of this, rainwater is stored and then used to top up the accompanying pool

Pool construction today takes a few short weeks – but planning and design options are best looked at ahead – Cascade Pools makes this easy 

Cascade Pools delivers in terms of versatility, professionalism, friendliness – oh, and spectacular pools, as these client testimonials reflect

With the joy of having a family pool comes the all important responsibility to keep it safe – another area where NZ Pool Industry Association makes life easy

For this renovation outdoor living project, a new cool and shady cabana provides extra privacy from neighbours who overlook the property

Social, healthy, and no screen time involved – as well as being the best gift a family can have, these pools also add design weight to the homes they accompany

The New Zealand Pool Industry Association is a one stop shop when sourcing reliable contacts to address all aspects of your pool – from install to upkeep – but there's warmth as well as professionalism

This brand new home looks out on an existing, if upgraded, pool – the greenest building is one already built, and that goes for backyard oases, too

Tilt-panel shuttered concrete was used to form this front-yard pool as well as the house, which is built with a focus on semi-industrial materials

Pool design has come a long way in recent years – and build versatility is a key part of that. Is your site, small, tricky, unusable? Cascade Pools has a solution

While your pool is a fresh joy every day, pool upkeep – through modern technologies – has gone from arduous to easy. Find companies offering the latest and best options on the NZ Pool Industry Association website 

Pools take forever to build and cost the earth – wrong and wrong! A budget Cascade is built in a few short weeks at an achievable cost

Summer is on its way and bringing your dormant pool up to scratch with Cascade Pools is easier and more economical than you think

With pool care and upkeep, it's great to have a range of options all sourced in one highly reputable place – and that place is the NZ Pool Industry Association website 

Well if you did, you certainly wouldn't be roughing it in this two-storey pool house, larger and grander than most people's homes

So you've created the most lavish interior for an upmarket Padua, Italy residence – how exactly do you follow that up on the roof? 

So you’re introducing a backyard pool for fun and a healthy family lifestyle – with Cascade Pools, that means the water you swim and play in is healthy too

With your sparkling new backyard oasis there comes protecting the safety of your family, guests and others – the NZ Pool Industry Association has you covered (and fenced)

A sparkling backyard pool spells family fun and Cascade Pools makes the process easy – right from choosing a design through to that first joyful splash 

It's always nice when your pool complements your home rather than fights it – this pool looks like it unfolded from the house it accompanies

So your family wants a backyard oasis, your next step is connecting with the NZ Pool Industry Association – here are some great reasons why

Pools are a thing of joy for any family but before embarking on one, it's good to know the NZ Pool Industry Association has your back

Not all pools are created equally. The makeup of a pool by Cascade Pools addresses heating costs head on – trapping the sun's rays and utilising this free heat source to warm your pool.

A pool is a major undertaking – one that your family will thank you for every day – so do it once, do it right and involve a Master Pool Builder right from the outset

A leading feature in a home awash with features, this expansive rear pool area glitters like diamonds thanks to its lining of tiny mosaics

Adding a pool to your new home or renovation project is a big commitment. While pools add a lot of value to your home, they generally require considerable maintenance. Until now

Actually the addition of an inviting pool was only one aspect of this transformative renovation of a home with its own interesting history

A modernising redesign at the rear of this traditional house opens it up to a large covered deck, with steps down to a swimming pool

So, you haven’t been blessed with a large outdoor space. That’s okay! There are plenty of ways around this. Here are some landscaping ideas for small garden spaces

In this major renovation project, a narrow single storey addition sitting at right angles to the existing home, terminates in a large window framing the view of the pool and garden beyond

Amantea Architects modernised a lush and casual urban residential landscape with a Mondrianesque composition of deftly planned spaces

Contemporary extension to traditional Californian bungalow in major renovation project provides large open-plan family living area, lap pool

This indoor-outdoor entertaining space meets pool house features a semi-industrial palette and a rooftop terrace, while the new pool alongside has an eye-catching feature of its own

This home was designed to be an oasis – the massive pool certainly helps

It's summer which means it's time to make the most of the outdoors. We've gathered some insta worthy images from recent projects that celebrate pools, plantings and the great outdoors generally. Enjoy!

Don't let lack of room stop you from getting the outdoor area that fits your needs. Here are some ways to make the most of your outdoor space

This home came out tops as our most popular renovation story of 2020. Step inside to see why. 

Along with a new guest house, this home has been comprehensively reinvented with only accents and the original floor slab retained. The new home boasts space, light and a character all its own

Surrounded by green space on a steep plot of land, this contemporary home opens up to the views

You might not expect to find a pool pavilion shaded with a rusting Corten steel tree canopy on your African safari. But at Cheetah Plains resort, Kruger National Park, not all surprises are waiting out in the bush

This modern desert home hugs nature, and is totally immersed in the surrounding canyon environment

This unique space successfully merges indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly to great effect

A three storey addition and dramatic rear garden architectural spaces all work well together in this far-sighted and sustainable project

Not-so-little moves like appropriating and demolishing the next door house along with tucking another floor in under the existing roofline, were just two aspects of this makeover which has brought a grand-looking manor house back into its rightful glory. Another design move has future-proofed the house well into the future

Sheltered from on-shore wind by the home itself, this pool and entertainer's space still enjoys full, uninterrupted views of the sea via a generous vista right through the interior of the home

The home's kitchen, dining and living spaces spill out to a covered alfresco which in turn overlooks the pool

Some home designs just spell fun and relaxation from the outset. This new home's kitchen, dining and living spaces spill out to a covered alfresco which overlooks the generous-sized pool.

Soak the stress away in your very own outdoor bath tub! Here, we've rounded up five of our favourite designs from Pinterest to inspire your own secret outdoor sanctuary

Located on the sheltered side of the waterfront home, the pool still takes in the sea views thanks to an open vista right through the interior. The spa pool has direct sea views down the side of the home

The view out from the top level of this modern Italian home is good enough to frame twice - once with the windows and again with an external concrete framing element

Taking the plunge in the heart of Sydney couldn't be more other-worldly than in the pool at Arc by Crown Group. The new crowning penthouse includes access to water views 

A raised bedroom wing in this sharply architectural home design creates a perfect spot for sheltered outdoor living underneath – with the pool just a step away.

When it comes to pool and garden design there's making a splash and then there's really making a splash. Check this bird's eye view of modern Italian home Casa B's top-level attraction

This inviting spa pool – and in fact part of the home itself – is cantilevered over the driveway that heads down to the three-car garage. Several heavy-duty behind the scenes engineering feats were required for this home to be the best that it could be

Pool, spa, covered outdoor dining and kitchen, and plenty of lawn for family games – with all of these out the back of this home, why would you ever leave?

If stunning harbour views weren't enough, the pool tiles on this home are matched to the colour of the ocean – bringing the essence of the water even closer\

Repeating elements on areas of your home adds continuity and flare. On this home, the spa pool is in the same Turkish marble as the wall behind while the cantilevered pool echoes part of the architecture of the house above it

Trellis running alongside the two wings of this new home throws patterns onto its surroundings just like the lichen draped on the oak trees at the front of the house. So while the pool fencing is in clear glass, the trellis provides a wider, more decorative surround

Maybe this gleaming oasis wouldn't fit the scale and tone of your project – but great ideas don't come from a vacuum, they come from inspiration. This pool and pool house are rich in ideas, some on a slightly less flamboyant scale

The owners moved Heaven and Earth (well garage and earth) to make way for this inviting oasis – we think it was more than worth it.

Instead of a substantial secondary living space, an indoor saltwater pool in this home is used extensively as a family activity area. The noise of six kids and friends playing in the pool room is dampened by acoustic panels above the perforated, corrugated aluminium ceiling panels.

This new hunting lodge by ARRCC architecture firm creates a more immersive experience for visitors - making them more than just disengaged spectators in the Kruger National Park setting

Concrete pools can be any shape you want. This one fits into one side of the Y-shape design of the home, giving a wide range of city and valley views from both in and out of the pool

LED lighting throughout this pool and spa creates a bright contrast to the myriad city lights in the distance

Your spa pool should take care of you not the other way round – Hot Springs Spas introduces a Fully Automated Water Testing System that does the work for you

A sloping ground plane was a leading influence for this design – inspiring an unconventional, site-specific approach for the placement of elements

Trying to sell your home but not having much luck? Your garden can be a huge asset. Here's how to update the landscaping to make your garden more appealing to buyers

A home office trained on a great river view may not be conducive to putting your head down. Still, maybe that view is worth a failed paper or two...

Floating rectangular soffits and edge lighting combine to quietly differentiate the various working and entertaining spaces in a home designed to make the most of the views

Don't do your home spa by halves! The Moss Spa at the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch includes a variety of options, including this double massage room

Surrounded by a mix of contemporary and heritage buildings on a tree-lined street, Elwood House certainly stands out