By: The ellaslist Team, 07 January 2024
When summer turns the heat up, there's no better place to be than at one of therefreshing water parks in Melbourne where the kids (and kids at heart!)can splash themselves silly!
To point you in the right direction, we’ve put together a list of our favourite water parksin Melbourne, each with great features and cleverly designed to educate as well as thrill – so grab the kids, grab a towel and get ready to get wet!
10 of the Coolest Water Parks in Melbourne for 2024
1. Community Bank Adventure Playground
TheCommunity Bank Adventure Playgroundis a whole lot of fun to begin with, but when the water play kicks in, the adventures are turned up a notch!
So many slides, swings, flying foxes, seesaws and fun things to climb, in addition to the giant fort and sandpit, places to hide, and even a cute red train to pretend to drive.
The water parkarea hasjets, pumps, troughs along the water channel, an aqua drop bucket and a misty tunnel, and a creek bed for the littles or not-quite-as-adventurous kids. There is plenty of grassland around to properly make a day of it, or just to rest in between getting hit by the contents of that drop bucket! A real family-friendly area, with water play that isn't too full-on.
Location:CnrNorthern Hwy & Queen St, Wallan
2. Riverwalk Water Play Park
One press of a button will have water spurting about everywhere for 30 minutes straight at one of the best water parks in Melbourne!
AtRiverwalk Water Play Parkthere are water pumps that tots can operate, water spurting out of the ground, water walls, fountains, jets and just about any water feature you can imagine. The playground, and your child, will literally be soaked from head to toe!
When the weather rises up to 25 degrees and beyond, head here to cool down between 9 am and 8 pm between October and March. There is a dry playground too, in case water play isn’t for your family.
Location:Newmarket Road, Werribee
3. Adventure Park Geelong
Over the Westgate and about 50 minutes out of the city you’ll find the perennial favourite, Adventure Park Geelong. As far as water parks in Melbourne go, this one is the whole shebang – in fact, it is Melbourne's biggest water theme park.
The water park features a Tiny Tots Splash Zone, perfect for the younger kids to safely splash and wade in the shallows, and for older kids, there are rides for all levels of thrill-seeker! Adventure Park Geelong always has great events lined up for school holidays, particularly around Easter and Christmas, so this is a great one to follow on your socials.
Adventure Park's2023/24season runs from 25November 2023to 31March 2024.
Location: 1249 Bellarine Hwy, Geelong
4. Crocodile Park Playground
So-called because it features a giant bronze croc! Needless to say, Crocodile Park Playgroundcan get quite busy during the summer months - arrive early!
Crocodile Park Playground at the Saltwater Park Estate in Point Cook is around a 20-minute drive from the CBD (Westgate traffic permitting!). This Melbourne water parkis an absolute hit for all ages, featuringa brilliant playground of slides, loads of water features and climbing areas. There are lovely wading areas for bubs and tots here. Again, there’s not a lot of shade at this one, so don’t forget to cover up the kids with plenty of protective gear in the warmer months.
Location: 260 Saltwater Promenade, Point Cook
5. Ron Barassi Snr Park
One of the most popular water parks in Melbourne, Ron Barassi Snr Park is a must-see if you are in and around the CBD with kids in the warmer months. It always gathers plenty of visitors, making for a fabulous family atmosphere.
While RonBarassi Snr Parkisn't the biggestwater park in Melbourne, it has been thoughtfully put together to provide fun for kids of all ages, with interactive water features that kids will adore. Modern and diverse, the Ron Barassi Snr Park is situated right near the Bolte Bridge – and with parking available, this one’s a winner.
Location: 500 Docklands Drive, Docklands
6. Seville Water Park
A little further out, in Seville is the Seville Water Play Park, which generally operates between September and April.
It'ssituated adjacent to the large Seville Recreational Reserve, a lovely spot for a picnic. The water play includes rockery and numerous water features that will delight kids of all ages. Here you’ll also find a playground and tonnes of space for kids to run and dry off after all that fun in the water jets. While there is shade elsewhere in the reserve, the water area is limited for shade, so don’t forget hats and sunscreen!
Location: 20-28 Monbulk-Seville Road, Seville
7. Funfields Water Park
Many Melbourne parents might remember going to Funfields Water Park when they were a kid – it has beenaround for many years, with an unmistakable TV jingle! Just 40 kilometres north of the city, Funfields is a vibrant theme park packed with entertainment.
The water fun kicks off with thrill rides like the Kracken Racer and Typhoon, but there are also toddler-friendly areas, such as Birdy Cove, providing plenty of paddling fun. Plan to stay for the day with this one, there are plenty of amenities on hand and enough entertainment to keep the kids active all day.
Location: 2365 Plenty Road, Whittlesea
8. Nature Playground, Royal Park
Everyone's favourite Nature Playground at the Royal Parkwas rated the best playground in Australia by theAustralian Institute of Landscape Architects,a contributing feature of the park’s success being the water play facilities.
Tots can play with the water pumps, control the flow of water down to the sandpit, and get splashed by a few spray features. Top Tip: don’t just visit this playground for the water play- its nature play and all-abilities features will have you returning again and again.
Location:28 Gatehouse Street, Parkville
9. Gumbuya World
Okay, this one isn't one of thefree water parks in Melbourne, but we reckon it's worth a mention for being the biggest and best water park in Victoria!
After a massive multi-million dollar reno, Gumbuya Worldin Tynong North became an awesome wildlifezoo, thrill-seekerstheme park and a water wonderland all in one.
In terms of water fun, the kids will love theepic water slides, drifting along the 300-metre Lazy River or getting deliriously drenched on Typhoon Island. There are also heated rock pools, a wave pool and what all water parks should have - waterside cabanas!
Location:2705 Princes Highway, Tynong
10. Booran Reserve
Booran Reserve is a wonderful community meeting area with mini sports fields, a massive adventure playground, picnic and barbecue areas, and a sizable water splash area to cool off on hot days.
One of the bigger water play spots, the kids can jump through water fountains and paddle along the cement streams,water spiral and mini sluice gate.
There are toilets, plenty of grasslands, and often even ice cream vans and food trucks rock up to service the playground goers, so be prepared to stay for a while! It's almost impossible to get kids to leave once they step foot here!
Location:Corner Booran and Glenhuntly Road, Glen Huntly
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