Winning Pool of the Year isn't just about how a pool looks, though that's certainly part of it. It comes down to innovative design, usability, materials, landscaping and how it all comes together as one cohesive space. This year's winners span curved courtyard showstoppers, a bold black beauty that took out both Gold and People's Choice, a clever double-infinity build that's really two pools in one, and renovations that turned structural headaches into family favourites. From full custom builds to sub-$100k transformations, here's what made this year's standouts so special.

Congratulations to Mayfair Pools Northland – Ultra Custom Pools, this year’s winner of the 2026 Platinum Pool of the Year award. A beautifully curved custom pool brings flow and contrast to this expansive courtyard.

A bold, design-led poolscape by Mayfair Pools Manawatu to match the striking character of the home balancing high-impact aesthetics with easy entertaining and everyday family use. The final result is a striking design that balances sophistication with practicality.

This innovative double-infinity design turns a sloping riverside site into a flexible poolscape that offers two pools in one. A novel and really quite sensible use of infinity pool technology. This innovative pool build by Mayfair Pools Waikato can operate as two separate pools, creating a novel layered effect through the landscape.

A modern, welcoming spa pool designed for relaxation and connection. Beautiful by day and inviting by night, this is a space made to be shared. Soft curves, fresh tones, and warm timber screening make it a calm oasis in a busy holiday park — while thoughtful accessibility features ensure enjoyment for all. By Mayfair Tauranga & Whakatane

The Fulton Swim School pool got a full transformation by Mayfair Pools Wellington & Kapiti. Working closely with the team at the swim school, Mayfair resurfaced and revitalised the existing pool with a sleek new fibreglass finish that's durable, hygienic, and easy to maintain, with the updated surface enhancing water clarity while improving safety and comfort for young swimmers.

This tranquil Manawatū family retreat — built by Mayfair Pools Manawatū — proves that the best pools aren't just beautiful, they're built for connection. The client wanted a space that would draw their two school-aged boys outside, away from screens and schedules, with the pool designed to become that anchor for family life.

Tucked into a terraced garden by Mayfair Pools & Spas - Taupo & Rotorua, this project has a small footprint but big impact.

This elevated pool and spa transform a terraced garden into a private retreat, combining clean lines, warm decking and geothermal heating for year-round enjoyment.

Reshaped and refreshed, this once-awkward pool has been transformed into a cleaner, more practical space that feels better connected to the home and courtyard. The result is a pool area that works far better for everyday living. Congratulations to Mayfair Auckland Central.

Another refurbishment project that no one else wanted to deal with. This pool was fully re-engineered with new reinforcing and concrete work. Once again, the Mayfair Nelson team were up for the challenge – the pool had significant structural defects but the location of the pool was stunning with expansive views and deserved a major overhaul.

When planning a new swimming pool, many homeowners weigh up whether to choose a pre-manufactured pool shell or in a custom-built pool. Read on for our take!

Mayfair Pools & Spas has added three Australasian Gold Awards to an already impressive 2026 awards tally, following another successful evening at the Australasian SPASA Awards of Excellence.

Early collaboration doesn’t mean handing control of the design to the pool builder. It means giving the architect and consultant team access to practical construction knowledge while key decisions can still be refined.

These ten questions can help architects assess a pool builder’s capability and establish the technical information needed to integrate the pool successfully into the wider project.

Planning a new swimming pool is exciting, but choosing the right builder involves more than comparing prices and looking through photographs.

These ten questions will help you understand a builder’s experience, process, and level of support before you commit.

Set between palms and the sea, this expansive six-sided pool was shaped by both the family’s vision and the demands of its coastal setting.

A modern, welcoming spa pool designed for relaxation and connection. Soft curves, fresh tones, and warm timber screening make it a calm oasis in a busy holiday park — while thoughtful accessibility features ensure enjoyment for all. Beautiful by day and inviting by night, this is a space made to be shared.

Reshaped and refreshed, this once-awkward pool has been transformed into a cleaner, more practical space that feels better connected to the home and courtyard.

Designed as a feature of Bruce and Barb’s new retirement home, this indoor pool combines year-round comfort, energy-efficient construction and easy maintenance in one refined space.

Designed for at-home fitness and family time, this streamlined lap pool brings daily swimming and relaxed weekends together in one considered space.

After discovering their inherited concrete pool needed more than a cosmetic update, the homeowners returned to Mayfair – having experienced one of our fibreglass refurbishments at a previous home. The result is a renewed pool with a modern finish, easier maintenance and many more years of enjoyment ahead.