You don't need to spend thousands to give your family a pool area they'll use all summer. A decent inflatable pool, some shade, and a couple of smart additions can turn a patch of lawn into the best spot in the neighbourhood. Most families can get a solid setup going for somewhere between $150 and $500, depending on how far they want to take it.
This guide covers how to do it properly, from choosing the right pool and finding the best spot in your yard to the practical stuff like water maintenance and ground protection that most guides skip over.
What You Can Expect to Spend
Before diving into the details, here's a realistic breakdown of what a backyard pool area costs in New Zealand. You don't need everything at once. Start with the essentials and add to it over time.
Starter setup (under $150): A wading pool, a ground mat or old blanket underneath, and sunscreen. This is all you really need to keep young kids happy on a hot day.
Mid-range setup ($200 to $350): A family-sized pool, a pop-up gazebo or shade sail, and a couple of outdoor chairs or bean bags. This gives you a proper pool area that the whole family can enjoy.
Full setup ($400 to $600+): A larger frame pool with a filter pump, shade structure, outdoor furniture, festoon lights, and a storage box. This is the "summer headquarters" setup that lasts the whole season.
The key is buying what matters most first and building from there. A good pool and some shade will get you 80% of the enjoyment. Everything else is a bonus.
How to Choose the Right Pool
The right pool depends on three things: the ages of your kids, the size of your backyard, and how much setup you want to deal with.
For toddlers and young kids (under 5), a shallow wading pool is the safest and simplest option. They fill quickly, use less water, and are easy to empty and store. Look for one that's at least 1.3m across so there's room to actually play, not just sit. The Bestway Kids Wading Pool (1.40m x 1.30m) is a good starting size. If you have two or three little ones, the larger 2.39m x 2.06m version is worth the step up so they're not on top of each other.
For families with mixed ages, you want something deeper and bigger so older kids and adults can enjoy it too. A family pool with a built-in canopy like the Bestway Family Pool with Canopy (2.13m x 1.55m) solves two problems at once: pool and shade in a single purchase. The Bestway Dunk n' Splash Family Pool is another option that adds interactive features to keep older kids entertained for longer.
For anyone wanting a proper swimming experience, a steel frame pool is the way to go. The Bestway Steel Pro Max (4.27m x 1.22m) comes with a filter pump included, which means you fill it once and maintain the water all summer rather than draining and refilling every few days. It's a bigger investment up front, but the cost per use over a full summer makes it excellent value.
Quick tip: Many of the Bestway pools come in bundles with water toys like the Family Pool with ZURU X-Shot Hydro Cannon or the Dunk n' Splash with ZURU Shark Slide and Bunch O' Balloons. These bundles save you buying pool toys separately.
Finding the Right Spot in Your Backyard
Where you put your pool matters more than most people realise. A bad spot means more cleaning, colder water, and a pool area nobody wants to use. A good spot means warm water, easy supervision, and less maintenance.
Choose flat ground. Even a slight slope causes uneven water levels that put extra strain on inflatable pools and can eventually cause them to fail. If your yard slopes, find the flattest section. You can check with a spirit level or simply place a bucket of water on the ground and see if it sits even.
Face north for warmth. In New Zealand, north-facing areas get the most direct sunlight. This makes a noticeable difference to water temperature. A pool in full sun can be 5 to 8 degrees warmer than one in shade, which means the kids will actually want to get in rather than complaining that it's too cold.
Stay away from trees. Overhanging branches mean leaves, sap, insects, and bird droppings in your pool. Even a tree a few metres away can cause problems on windy days. The cleaner your pool location, the less time you'll spend fishing debris out with a net.
Keep it visible from inside. Being able to see the pool from your kitchen or living room window makes supervision easier and means you're more likely to use it yourself. A pool hidden in a back corner gets forgotten surprisingly quickly.
Think about drainage. When you eventually empty the pool, that water needs to go somewhere. Aim it towards garden beds or a drain rather than against the house or into a neighbour's yard. For frame pools that hold thousands of litres, this is especially important to plan ahead.
What to Put Under Your Pool (and Why It Matters)
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that causes the most regret. Placing a pool directly on grass or dirt leads to punctures from stones and sticks, an uneven base that's uncomfortable to stand on, and dead grass that takes weeks to recover.
At minimum, lay down a ground sheet or old tarp underneath the pool. This protects the pool base from sharp objects and makes cleanup easier at the end of summer.
Even better, use interlocking foam floor tiles (the kind sold for home gyms and garages). They cushion the base, protect against punctures, and insulate the bottom of the pool from cold ground so the water stays warmer for longer.
For frame pools, consider laying down a layer of sand (about 2cm deep) over the area first, then a ground sheet on top. This creates a smooth, level base that distributes the weight of the water evenly and feels much more comfortable underfoot.
Whatever you use, make sure it extends at least 30cm beyond the pool walls in every direction. This protects the edges and gives you a cleaner surface to step onto when getting in and out.
Adding Shade Without Spending a Fortune
Sun protection isn't optional in New Zealand. Our UV levels are among the highest in the world, and kids playing in and around water for hours need proper shade to retreat to. Shade also stops the pool water from getting uncomfortably hot in the middle of the day, which sounds like a good problem to have until you try sitting in a 35-degree inflatable pool.
Pop-up gazebos are the most versatile option. They go up in minutes, provide instant shade, and can be used for birthdays, barbecues, and market days the rest of the year. Position one next to the pool rather than over it so you have a shaded area to dry off and rest without blocking the sun from the water entirely. The Gazebo with Silver-Coated Roof (3m x 3m) reflects heat as well as blocking UV, which keeps the shaded area noticeably cooler.
Shade sails are a more permanent solution that look great in any backyard. A 4m x 5m Shade Sail covers enough area for the pool and a seating spot beside it. They take a bit more effort to install (you'll need mounting points on a fence, house wall, or posts), but once they're up, they're low maintenance and won't blow away in the wind like a gazebo might.
The free option: If you're on a tight budget, reposition an existing patio umbrella beside the pool. It's not ideal for large areas, but it gives you a shaded spot to sit while supervising the kids and costs nothing extra.
Keeping the Water Clean Between Uses
Nobody wants to swim in murky green water, and draining and refilling an entire pool every couple of days gets expensive and wasteful quickly. Here's how to get more use out of each fill.
For wading pools and small inflatables, empty and refill every two to three days in hot weather. The smaller volume of water warms up and breeds bacteria faster than a larger pool. In between uses, cover the pool with a tarp or old sheet to keep bugs and debris out.
For family-sized inflatable pools, invest in a small pool skimmer net (a few dollars from any hardware store) and skim the surface daily. Adding a capful of plain pool chlorine after each use keeps the water safe for several days. Change the water fully once a week.
For frame pools with filter pumps, the pump does most of the work. Run it for at least 6 to 8 hours a day during heavy use periods. Test and adjust the chlorine levels once a week using test strips (available cheaply online or at pool shops). A pool cover between uses dramatically reduces debris and slows chemical evaporation, keeping the water cleaner for longer. The Swimming Pool Cover Roller makes covering and uncovering a larger pool quick and easy.
Water-saving tip: When you do need to change pool water, use it to water the garden instead of sending it down the drain. As long as the chlorine levels are low (wait a day or two after the last chlorine dose), it's perfectly fine for lawns and garden beds.
Creating a Comfortable Poolside Area
A few chairs and a bit of shade turn a pool into a pool "area." This is where the experience goes from "the kids have a pool" to "we have a backyard oasis."
The most important thing is having somewhere for adults to sit comfortably while supervising. It doesn't need to be fancy. A couple of camping chairs work fine in the short term. But if you want something that looks good and lasts multiple summers, an outdoor furniture set designed for weather resistance is the better investment.
The 4-Piece Outdoor Sofa Set in PE Rattan gives you a full lounge setup that handles moisture and sun without deteriorating. PE rattan won't rust, peel, or absorb water the way natural materials can. For a more casual vibe, Outdoor Foam Bag Chairs are lightweight, comfortable, and a hit with kids and adults alike.
Layout tip: Position your seating so you can see the entire pool from where you're sitting. This sounds obvious, but many people set up chairs facing the house or angled away from the water. Safety first, comfort second.
Extending into the Evenings
Summer evenings in New Zealand are too good to spend inside. A few simple additions turn your pool area from a daytime spot into an all-evening hangout.
Festoon lights with LED bulbs (12m) strung above the pool area create instant atmosphere. Hang them at about 2.5 to 3 metres high in a zigzag pattern between the fence and the house. LED bulbs use minimal power, so you can leave them on all evening without worrying about the electricity bill.
For larger areas, the 17m version gives you more length to play with.
Keeping Everything Tidy
Pool toys, inflatables, towels, goggles, and sunscreen accumulate fast. Without a storage solution, your pool area quickly looks like a mess, and wet items left on the grass create mould and damage the lawn.
An 80L Outdoor Storage Box next to the pool gives everything a home. It's waterproof, so you can throw damp pool toys straight in without drying them first. At the end of summer, it doubles as off-season storage for your pool accessories.
Organisation tip: Use separate mesh bags inside the storage box for different categories (pool toys in one, towels in another, sunscreen and goggles in a third). This stops the box becoming a jumbled mess where you can never find anything.
What to Buy First (and What Can Wait)
If you're setting up from scratch and don't want to buy everything at once, here's the order that gives you the most enjoyment for the least money.
Buy first: A pool that suits your family, and something to put underneath it (ground sheet, tarp, or foam tiles). This alone gives you a functional pool area.
Buy second: Shade. Whether that's a gazebo, shade sail, or umbrella, sun protection is essential for extended use and safety.
Buy third: Seating. Even basic outdoor chairs make a huge difference to how much time adults spend at the pool area rather than watching from inside.
Buy when you're ready: Festoon lights, outdoor storage, and extras like basketball hoops or soccer rebounders. These are the upgrades that take your pool area from good to great, but they're not essential to get started.
Ready to Set Up Your Summer Pool Area?
The best backyard pool areas aren't built in a day. Start with the basics, use them, and figure out what you actually want to add based on how your family uses the space. You might find that a simple wading pool with a shade sail is all you need. Or you might end up with a full Steel Pro Max setup with festoon lights and a rattan lounge set. Either way, starting simple and building up is the smartest way to stay on budget.
Browse the full range of pools, outdoor furniture, and gazebos at TSB Living. With Afterpay and Zip available, you can spread the cost and start enjoying your backyard sooner.
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