If you love swimming and enjoy spending quality time with your family, a swim spa could be a great option. Even better, they’re generally a lot cheaper and easier to look after than swimming pools.
In this article, we’ve reviewed our pick of the best swim spas in New Zealand under $30k. We also cover the essential info to know when shopping for swim spas on a budget.
After reading this, you should have a good understanding of how much you need to spend on a swim spa to get value for money, and which swim spa might suit you best.
Swim spas are a combination of a swimming pool and therapeutic spa. Swim spas are similar to spa pools, but are much larger and deeper – generally 4m–8m in length and 1.3m-1.5m in depth.
With their powerful swim jets, they create a strong current or stream of moving water you can swim against. You could say they are like a treadmill for swimming – you ‘swim in place’, without moving forward.
Because you get all the benefits of swimming without needing a long lane to train in, swim spas are a great option for small spaces. They’re also portable and can be installed almost anywhere.
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The prices for swim spas vary according to the quality of the brand and features you want. But as a broad guideline, you can expect to spend around $21,000 for a basic, entry-level swim spa to over $99,000 for a premium model designed for serious swim fitness.
If you are on a budget and looking for a swim spa or plunge pool for fun, fitness and relaxation – you should be able to get what you need for between $20,000 to $30,000.
As a general rule of thumb, swim spas tend to cost more than plunge pools as they have additional swim jets and pumps.
Plunge pools, or swim spas without swim jets, are popular choices for those wanting more space for play while still enjoying hydrotherapy and aquafitness.
Plunge pool prices start at around $16,000 for entry-level models to up to $33,000 for more hi-tech options
When deciding how much to pay for a swim spa, you should also factor in the ongoing running costs. As a general rule, the cheaper the swim spa – the more you will likely pay in ongoing running costs.
The cost to run a swim spa varies depending on several factors, such as, the quality of your swim spa, how often you use it, how it was installed, how it’s heated, and the outdoor temperature.
Things that influence swim spa running costs:
Now you know all about swim spa prices and what to expect – it’s time to find out which are the best swim spas in your price range.
Listed below, in no particular order, are our pick of the top swim spas under $40,000 in New Zealand.
Our decision is based on a range of factors including design, build, durability and reliability – and of course, our 30 years of selling and servicing many different brands of spas and swim spas.
Vortex® Spas is one of the most popular spa brands in Australia, and is sold in more than 20 countries worldwide. They are designed in Australia and New Zealand, and manufactured in Australia and China.
Vortex® Spas is also known as the first brand to use UV sterilisation in spas and swim spas and is recognised for being a design lead, innovative company in the industry.
The Aquagym Max Pro+ is one of five in the Vortex™ swim spa range. With a spacious swim area at one end and hydrotherapy seating at the other, it ticks the boxes for swim fitness, family fun and hydrotherapy.
The Aquagym Max Pro+ is 4.49 x 2.31. It has 3 swim jets and 3 pump jets, so advanced swimmers can enjoy intense resistance swimming along with other aqua fitness workouts.
It also has three hydromassage seats and a cool down or toddler seat making it a good option for families with young children.
Price starts at $35,490 to $43,490 (NZD)
Sun & Soul™ Spas was launched in 2022 and is owned by Jacuzzi®, the first makers of hot tubs. Like Jacuzzi® spas, Sun & Soul™ Spas are designed to provide comfort and relaxation to bathers.
Sun & Soul™ Spas, like Vortex™, Alpine Spas™, and Oasis Spas™, is one of many spa brands that are manufactured in China.
Click the button below to read our detailed article about Chinese made spas.
Currently, there are two retail stores in New Zealand where you can buy Sun & Soul™ Spa pools and swim spas - Poolside Marsden Cove™ in Ruakaka and Poolwerx Otargo™ in Arrowtown.
The Sun & Soul™ SOUL4500™ swim spa is designed to keep you fit and enjoy a nice warm soak with your family and friends. With its 5 seating capacity, your loved ones can feel comfy on the hydromassage seats once they get tired of swimming.
Sun & Soul™ swim spas cost between $24,490 to $29,490. The Soul4500™ is one of two swim spas produced by Sun & Soul Spas.
At 4.5m x 2.3m, it is surprisingly spacious for a lower-priced swim spa. The extra space coupled with a starting price of $24,490, makes the Soul4500™ an affordable option for larger families wanting a space for play and fitness.
Price starts at $22, 490 (NZD)
Alpine Spas™ is a New Zealand-owned spa retailer that started selling spas in Australia in February 2022. Alpine Spas™ has been in the industry since 2014.
Alpine Spas™ are also manufactured in China. Their swim spas range in price from $19,995 to $73,995. Other products they offer include spa pools, saunas and gazebos – which are marketed under the Alpine Spas™ and Alpine Elite™ brands.
At 480 x 228 x 137cm dimensions, Alpine Spas™ Olympia Swim Spa™ might be a good model to consider if you are looking for a spacious swim area.
If you are looking for great hydromassage for the entire family, the Hydro Swim Spa™ might be a good fit. It comes with 5 seats and generates good current suitable for recreational swimmers.
Price starts at $27,995 (NZD)
Oasis Spas™ are sold in over 35 countries worldwide and are manufactured by Crystal Island™ spas in China.
Crystal Island™ manufactures good quality spas with good features and average levels of hydrotherapy.
Oasis Spas™ Aqua life 4.4M Hydro™ Swim Spa has 4400 x 2350 x 1290mm dimensions with four hydromassage seats including a recliner.
The Aqua life 4.4M Hydro™ can be another great option for your budget. It has a lounger seat for a full body hydromassage and three hydrotherapy seats which makes it ideal for small families. You can also play with its LED water level lighting and match your mood.
Price starts at $31,000 (NZD)
Before you commit to a swim spa, it pays to know what to expect. After all, when shopping for a big ticket item - it’s important to know both the benefits and the disadvantages before you commit to your purchase.
To help with your decision-making, we’ve listed what we think are the main pros and cons of swim spas.
Pros:
Cons:
One of the most basic but nonetheless important things to keep in mind when buying a swim spa is the reasons why you’re buying one.
Are you considering a swim spa because you want to have a pool but your yard couldn’t fit one? Or is it for fitness goals? Perhaps you need a swim spa for de-stressing and for the health benefits it offers? Or is it because you want to have the flexibility of swimming all year?
Whatever your reason is, understanding why you’re buying a swim spa should be front and centre on your list of concerns. This will help you narrow down the features you need to look for. For example, if you're buying a swim spa for the sole purpose of extending your swimming season, your primary concern should be whether the swim spa is well-insulated and efficient in pumping and heating the water rather than how many jets it has.
Understanding why you’re buying a swim spa will help you avoid buying one that isn’t ideal for you.
It’s absolutely essential to have an accurate understanding of your budget. You need to determine if you can afford the purchase on your own or need to look for financing. You'll also have to consider the other costs involved such as installation, monthly water and electric use, as well as the accessories and chemicals necessary. A low-priced unit may seem appealing; however, the longer-term cost might be more expensive than you expect.
The one piece of advice that's often overlooked by new buyers is to only buy a swim spa from a trusted source. This is often compromised in lieu of cheaper options.
A swim spa is a considerably large investment. So once you've made the decision to buy a swim spa, finding a reputable local swim spa dealer that is knowledgeable, that's been around for a long time, and who will answer any questions you may have should be at the top of your priority list.
In addition, find a company that has great customer feedback and after-sale support. If you purchase affordable units from less reliable brands, you might end up with an unusable swim spa after a few years, whereas if you buy from a trusted supplier, your unit will more than pay for itself if it serves your fitness and health goals for decades to come.
These are our top picks for mid-range swim spas based on our 35 years of experience in the industry. We hope this article helped you get one step closer to finding your dream spa.
Spa World’s product pages are available to help you find information on all of our spas, swim spas, and prices. You can also download our Ultimate Spa Buyers Guide below.
We still highly recommend checking out the products personally. Buying a swim spa is a very personal experience, and you’ll never truly know what feels best until you try it.
If you have any questions, reach out to us online or visit our showrooms and we’ll be ready to assist you.
In this article we’ve used brand names not affiliated with Spa World™, Sun & Soul™ or Vortex Leisure Pty Ltd, the parent company of Spa World™ All information including pricing and product details, was accurate at the time of writing and may change without notice.
The following registered trademarks are owned by companies not affiliated in any way with Spa World™ or Vortex Leisure Pty Ltd: Alpine Spas™ trademark is owned by Alpine Spas Limited. Oasis Spas™ trademark is owned by Oasis Leisure Products Pty Ltd.
This information is not intended to prescribe a particular diagnosis or course of action. We are not medical professionals. If you have any concerns about your current health or wellbeing, please contact your GP or other medical professional for advice.
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