St Kilda Sea Baths Complex — Attraction in Melbourne

The hygiene of the showers is lacking, with little flies flying all over the place and even grime on the walls. Soap empty often. The lockers often get stuck, and you have to get a master key to open. You can always hear a member complain about something in the locker rooms or steam room, which is, by the way, often malfunctioning.

A staff member dared telling me, and I quote: "Why do you always have to come when we are about to close" when there were still 35 minutes left on the clock and closed behind me with chains with a bad mood. I decided to ignore her attitude, as she might be having a day and said I was going to be quick. Then I even joked around trying to be funny when she and the other staff member passed on the gym floor to try to cheer them up.

I worked out and when drying myself from showering, still within opening time as there were 7 minutes left on the clock, the other staff member turned off the lights while I was changing, to which I shouted "I am still here please turn on the lights as I am changing", 3 times, the first time she said OK, and didn't do anything and went back down. As nothing happened, I hurried up and went down in a rush, leaving my 55 AUD water bottle due to the stress and lights off situation, thinking they were going to lock me inside. When I get down they were patiently waiting against the wall. They knew all along I was changing still, they just wanted to pressure me in an immature and unprofessional manner.

When confronted about it, they gaslighted me about the experience saying they didn't know I was still upstairs (inconsistency number one, as they were waiting for me when I went back down), the other one denied saying anything when I came into the gym, but then (inconsistency number 2), said she was saying it in a joking tone, which was definitely not the case.

Then proceeded to act as victims and called me an aggressor over complaining to them and the reactive aggressive tone that came out of me after being gaslighted and denied the reality of what had happened. And I had been assertive in the past, but that was the limit that had me go into establishing boundaries to borderline behaviour from these staff members. They were resorting to narcissistic abusive tactics, blaming and shame shifting the experience towards me, victim blaming me. All to avoid accountability for their actions.

I complained to the manager and even though he acknowledged the inconsistencies in their version of how things occurred, he didn't assume the responsibility for the lost water bottle that I had to purchase again due to these staff members that were having a temper tantrum and impacted my life with their unproffesional behaviour.

The only one affected was me,as I had to assume the cost of the lost water bottle and they dare tell me that if I go back I need to behave respectfully towards the staff members, as if I was the one doing anything wrong here.

These people believe that passive aggressive Narcissistic abuse is ok, but aggressive assertive behaviour to set boundaries against borderline individuals that are committing abuse is not ok. Like the one that shows the healthy emotional response is the problem. They need therapy. Passive aggressive behaviour and Narcissistic abuse is not stoicism, assertive behaviour is, and aggressive assertive without being abusive is used for borderline attempts to trespass boundaries.

These people are UNBELEIVABLE.

Save your money. They should behave more professionally and not just rely on their popularity based on being a popular touristic place.

Truly appalled by the experience. I never expected to be treated so poorly. The emotional distress they put me through when they victim blamed me and called me an aggressor and said that they filmed me when I complained to them, to have as evidence of my aggression towards them, but didn't have camera footage of the day before and what they did to me, because it's only live footage only. Horrible people they...

I absolutely love this place and I love the little restaurant attached. It's on the beach so you can come in and out as well which is just wonderful. The water makes you more buoyant so if you're elderly or exercising in a hydro pool this pool is very very great for those who struggle at a normal pool. A lot of elderly people try it out when they struggle at normal pools and they really love going to this one and are willing to travel quite far for it. In addition to this the water has extra minerals and stuff in it...you'll come out with much smoother and nicer skin.

The only complaint I have is that it could do with a change room makeover. The change rooms have see through walls which are not private at all and make you feel more exposed. They're supposed to be smokey plastic but you can see EVERYTHING through them, and it's hard not to look at your neighbour. In addition to this the doors don't lock and swing closed, so people can mistakenly burst in on you. A seat broke as someone's bag was dragged off it and a piece of wood fell on my friends foot, and the floors are extremely slippery in the change area as well, making it tiring to move around. They do have those painful to walk on mats everywhere but they are painful to walk on. Also they only have one hook in the showers, which is a huge pain. I'd love to see 2 or 3 hooks in there so I can put my bag up, my wet bathers, and my towel and get dressed and maneuver around quicker.

In addition to this the beach is littered with glass, it seems to get worse every time I visit. I'm not talking smooth or dulled glass either, I am talking sharp broken glass. It's mostly on the shoreline where the water is, but I can guarantee it's also in the sand too. I would not dig with my hands in this sand. It's still okay to swim there, just watch your step...

I had a membership here for around 8 months, so I gave myself some time to really think about my experience...

I initially joined because I was under the impression it was a Salt-Water Environment - however, it's actually very chlorinated, and in the first two months, it ruined two new pairs of bathers.

I'd say the upkeep isn't really up to scratch; some things are often broken, or kind of dirty - a couple of times the Hydrotherapy Jets died, and the staff weren't really that helpful in providing an estimated date of repair. Sometimes, some jets work, and others don't. Obviously, water erodes structures over time, but regular maintenance wouldn't go astray.

...I actually have a few stories, but that's way too much for a review. lol

Since it is a Public Place, you do have to deal with the public; en masse, the public can be inconsiderate; leaving sand in places one might sit, for example (sauna-seats).

On the plus side, there are three areas to enjoy; the pool, the sauna, and the spa. They also keep long hours, opening at 5am, and closing around 11pm. 24/7 would be rad - but we can't have everything. lol

The Membership was a really annoying contract that I had to cancel on-site... it's worth it if you go at least twice a week, but my body could not tolerate that much chlorine so often. If I return, I'd just buy one entry at a time.

An extra plus, is that the doors open on to the beach, so in busy times, if you're poor, and quick with your timing, you could probably sneak in (if you didn't abuse that loophole). Another cool thing I think I saw, was that if you buy a book of multi-visits, you can bring someone else with you for free - that's a cool price for two people.

So yeah; it's ok. :) But it could...