The temperature rose to 29.1 degrees, 4.9 degrees above the long-term average.  By 4.30pm it was still 26.2 degrees and the pool still busy with people trying to cool off.

There were mixed reports by pool-goers on Saturday with one saying facilities could be improved and others just happy to have a paddle.

Karen Miller and her children aged nine and 11 were at the pool and she said a lot could be done to improve the facility for older children.

"There are not as many fun things here," she said.

"At Dubbo they have a slippery dip into the pool ... at Wagga they've actually got a thing that spins you out into the water.

"Have a look at other council pools and get some ideas from there, just for the older ones, the younger ones are fine."

Darryn Marjoram, Jo Tucker and their four children had just packed up from an lunchtime birthday party at the pool and said they had a wonderful time.

"It's fabulous, it was a perfect day for a birthday party," Ms Tucker said.

"We're lucky to have this great facility here in Orange," Mr Marjoram said.

Orange experienced a few warm days at the end of last week with 30.0 degrees recorded on Wednesday, 30.8 on Thursday and 32.2 on Friday.

Despite the warm temperatures, it was still below the hottest December day of 34.8 degrees recorded on December 18, 1990.