With the summer heat due to stick around for a bit longer, there’s nothing better to beat the rising mercury than by diving into the water – and we’re not talking about the sea. Australia’s east coast is a treasure trove of water parks, which can be a great family getaway as well as a great way to cool down.

So, if you’re planning on exploring the east coast on a family road trip, why not take a refreshing detour to a water park? Here are some of our top picks.

Whitewater World, Gold Coast

Part of the wider Dreamworld complex, Whitewater World on the Gold Coast features a range of fun rides for the young and young at heart. Little ones will love Wiggle Bay, where they can splash around while interacting with Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus and plenty of other characters!

There are high octane rides to enjoy as well, such as the Super Tubes Hydro Coaster, The Bro water slide and the Triple Vortex. When you’re ready to take a break, you can put your feet up at one of the park’s luxury cabanas, complete with couches, a mini fridge and your very own cabana staff member.

You can find Whitewater World at 1 Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera, QLD.

Jamberoo Action Park, Jamberoo 

 

Situated out in the beautiful green countryside just an hour south of Sydney, there’s plenty to love at the Jamberoo Action Park. From slides and tubing to a fun kids area, you can while the hours away under the sun while keeping cool in the pools. If you’re after a bit of excitement, you can try jumping off ‘The Rock’, a 5-metre high launch pad over a deep diving pool. Or you can take things to the next level on the new ‘The Perfect Storm’ ride, combining three ‘vortexes’ in the dark for a truly thrilling ride before you emerge into the splash pool. The park is located at 1215 Jamberoo Road, Jamberoo, NSW. Big Splash Waterpark, Canberra

As the only water park in Canberra, Big Splash does a good job at bringing joy on a scorching hot day. Perfect for a family day out, you can relax in Big Splash’s pools and kids area, or take shelter under the mushroom water sprinklers. There’s also the Twister, the Speed Coaster and a Family slide to enjoy, as well as pool inflatables for some obstacle-climbing fun! Big Splash is situated in Macquarie, at 1 Catchpole Street, Canberra, ACT.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Sydney 

A classic summer pilgrimage, Wet ‘n’ Wild is the perfect place to spend a hot Australian day in Sydney. It’s home to a surfing area and the country’s largest wave pool – The Beach – made up of over 6.8 million litres of water, as well as a host of exciting slides and rides.

For younger swimmers, there is also Nickelodeon Beach, featuring scaled down versions of other rides in the park, perfect for kids to enjoy. The park has recently introduced its new ride reservation system, Tap ‘n’ Play, meaning that you can book your space in line for some of the most popular attractions and minimise your wait time in the queue.

You’ll find Wet ‘n’ Wild located at 427 Reservoir Road, Sydney, NSW. If you’re looking to hire a car for your next family road trip, come see us at East Coast Car Rentals before you hit the water park!