I visited this water park on 24th January 2025, and while I had high hopes for the experience, the visit left much to be desired. Let me break it down.

The official website states the entry price is $119 AUD. However, to fully enjoy the popular rides without spending two-thirds of your day queuing, you’re encouraged to pay an additional $179 AUD for fast-track access. This, in my opinion, is absurd.

I’ll just state the issues I encountered without debating right or wrong:

1. Tube Transportation:

For several attractions, guests are expected to carry their own tubes up multiple flights of stairs. There’s no automated system in place to transport the tubes. Instead, guests who finish the ride hand over their tube to those waiting to go up. Quite an outdated approach for a modern water park.

2. Staff Assistance:

None of the staff offer proactive help to guests. For example, lifeguards do not assist patrons in getting off rides or handling equipment. Their sole task appears to be waving their arms and telling people to step aside from the ride exit track. Even for rides where there is a 99% chance of guests falling into the water, the lifeguards merely stand far away instead of waiting at the exit to assist guests in surfacing quickly, thereby reducing the risk of choking on water.

Additionally, other staff members also lack initiative. For instance, when it comes to handling tubes, they don’t assist with transferring them between exiting and entering guests. Instead, it is entirely up to guests who have just finished the ride to hand over the tube to those waiting to start. This not only reduces operational efficiency but also makes the overall experience feel unnecessarily laborious.

3. Queue Management: While I understand some rides require sequential use (one guest finishes before the next starts), others—such as the Super 8 Aqua Racer—could have been better managed. The ride forces eight participants to start simultaneously under the pretext of a “race,” even when the track ahead is clear. Why not let guests go individually instead of holding everyone back for a contrived competition?

4. Efficiency Issues: The inefficiency of the park’s operations is largely due to the lack of proactivity from the staff. If lifeguards were to help guests exit the rides more quickly, and other staff members took responsibility for transferring tubes from exiting guests to those waiting, the overall efficiency could be significantly improved. Unfortunately, this level of engagement seems absent, despite the staff’s significantly higher wages compared to similar roles in East Asia.

5. Unfriendliness to Solo Visitors Many rides require two or more participants, but there’s no “single rider” option to pair up solo visitors. For example, on the “Tornado” ride, which accommodates four people per tube, I witnessed instances where groups of two were sent up without any effort by staff to pair them with other solo or smaller groups of guests. Even worse, a tube capable of seating four people was frequently occupied by only two, significantly reducing operational efficiency and worsening the queue times for others. Surely, with a bit of communication and basic coordination, staff could easily group guests to maximise tube usage and improve the experience for everyone.

6. Scorching Ground: Many areas of the park use heat-absorbing materials for flooring. Walking barefoot is unbearable, yet some rides require guests to leave their shoes at the entrance. The long distances between entrances and starting points mean you either endure the scorching ground barefoot or leave your shoes behind and make a second trip to retrieve them. The park’s solution? A small sign recommending everyone wear shoes. Practical? Not really.

7. Poor Bathroom Conditions: The toilets are a safety hazard. They’re consistently wet, with no anti-slip measures in place, and visibly dirty. The cleaning frequency is appalling, and I can only imagine the legal and financial implications if someone were to slip and fall.