Big Splash (waterpark)

Big Splash
Slogan Splashtacular fun for all ages
Location Macquarie, Canberra, Australia
Coordinates 35°15′04″S 149°04′12″E / 35.251°S 149.07°ECoordinates: 35°15′04″S 149°04′12″E / 35.251°S 149.07°E
Owner Ron Watkins[1]
Previous names Macquarie Swimming Pool
Operating season November to March
Pools 5 pools
Water slides 9 water slides
Website Official website

Big Splash is a waterpark in Canberra, Australia. It is located in the suburb of Macquarie and is the only waterpark in Canberra. It originally opened with a 50-metre (160 ft) Pool with a kids pool at the end of it in the late 1960s.

It was initially Government-owned and known as Macquarie Swimming pool, also often referred to as Jammo Pool. The slides were introduced in the early 1980s.

The current name for the facility is Big Splash Waterpark. It now has a total of seven water slides - 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 is the Yellow Bubble pool for toddlers, which has two small water slides landing into shallow water. 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.

In 2007, the complex was on the verge of closure, after the ACT Government began planning to rezone the area for residential development.[2] The water park was later purchased by Ron Watkins.[1] Following the 2010 closures of the Speedcoaster and Twister slides at Wet'n'Wild Water World 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 facility is closed over winter and is only open from November to March.[8]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Knaus, Christopher (5 February 2013). "It's back in the pool for swim-keen schools". Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. "Future of Jamieson pool in doubt". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 3 December 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  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. 5.0 5.1 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.
  7. Anderson, Stephanie (6 January 2013). "Heat wave tipped to continue". Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "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.

External links