St Mary's Bay Pontoon is a small waterside park on Westhaven Drive in Saint Marys Bay, right on Auckland's central harbour edge, and it holds a 5.0 Google rating.
Pontoon swim spots live and die by the tide: time a visit to high water, when there's depth enough to swim or jump clean off, while low tide leaves shallows and mudflats. After heavy rain, check Auckland Council's Safeswim listings before getting in, as harbour water quality can dip. Mornings are usually calmest before the sea breeze arrives, and expect to share the deck with fishers, kayakers and paddleboarders. Hot sun makes the planks slippery underfoot, so a towel and grip-soled sandals earn their keep.
Sitting on the Westhaven waterfront with the Harbour Bridge close by, this highly rated pontoon gives locals an easy way to catch the harbour at its best.