Big Splash Waterpark Canberra

Big Splash is a waterpark in Canberra, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Macquarie and is the only waterpark in Canberra. It opened in 1969 as a public swimming pool, and has since become a private waterpark.[2]

Big Splash
SloganSplashtacular fun for all ages
LocationMacquarie, Canberra, Australia
Coordinates35.251°S 149.07°E / -35.251; 149.07
OwnerBeryl Watkins
Ron Watkins[1]
Opened1969
Previous namesMacquarie Swimming Pool
Operating seasonNovember to March
Pools5 pools
Water slides9 water slides
Websitebigsplashwaterpark.com.au

History

The establishment was originally government-owned and known as "Macquarie Swimming pool", also often referred to as "Jammo Pool". The slides were introduced in the early 1980s. During the 1990s the pool was sold to the Watkins family.

The current name for the facility is "Big Splash Waterpark". Upon opening, it contained only a 50-metre (160 ft) pool and a kids pool. It now has a total of eleven water slides, which includes the Family Slide and the Kamikaze slide that extend downwards from the top of Splash Tower, The Hurricane Twins that begin at the Splash Viewing Platform. Big Splash includes a children's area called Splash Island which includes 3 slides and playing area. There was the Yellow Bubble pool for toddlers, which had two small water slides landing into shallow water. However this was removed in the 2014/2015 season and a new playground was installed for smaller children. There is also a "Learn to Swim Pool" and a 50-metre (160 ft) Pool. Big Splash also has a dry Inflatable Obstacle Course for Children, and wet Inflatable Obstacle Courses for Adults and Children.

Following the 2010 closures of the Speedcoaster and Twister slides at Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast on the Gold Coast,[3][4] Watkins personally purchased both rides for $1.5 million.[5][6] The rides were installed in 2012, but red tape delayed their opening until 2013.[5][7][8] The slides were actually purchased for a reduced price by Wet 'n Wild.

For the 2014/2015 season the longstanding historic "yellow bubble" was removed and a new toddlers playground installed. Big Splash used to run dive in movies, however frequent crowd cancellations led to its closure. The facility is closed over winter and is open from November to March.[8]

References
  1. Knaus, Christopher (5 February 2013). "It's back in the pool for swim-keen schools". Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. "About Us". bigsplashwaterpark.com.au. 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. "Twister (Wet'n'Wild Water World)". Parkz. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. "Speed Coaster (Wet'n'Wild Water World)". Parkz. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. Sharaz, David (23 November 2012). "Red tape wraps up waterslide opening". Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. Irvine, Ashley (22 June 2010). "Twister and Speedcoaster for Canberra move?". Australian Leisure Management. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  7. Anderson, Stephanie (6 January 2013). "Heat wave tipped to continue". Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. "Open 2013/14 Summer Season from Saturday 9th November 2013 (New Twister Slide Open)". Big Splash Waterpark. 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.


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