Stage 1 of the Maze is here! I couldn’t think of a better way to road test this new water playground than to take the biggest kid (the man of the house) along with the children, for the ultimate summer fun day.
I had heard rumors it was only for the little kids, but judging by the screams and smiles it sounded like thumbs up all round. Ok, maybe thrill-seeking older teenagers may find it a little tame, but in terms of fun, anyone is sure to come away with a smile.
There are a number of rides to choose from; starting from the top, the green tube offers the greatest drop but also being pitch black inside with some fluro effects, is best left for the brave and older children. There is a height limit but this is where the “big kid” dads and mums come in. Take a child along with you on
your lap – they get a thrill and you have a great excuse to join the fun!
According to the kids (aged 7 and 10), the best is the blue slide – being open you can really appreciate the rush of speed. A close second is the red tube – again closed but not pitch black so offers more of a warning of what’s to come.
For the little one’s there are plenty of family friendly slides to choose from – everyone can enjoy the wide blue slide. There’s also the thrill of the giant bucket
which slowly fills and when you least expect it dumps a load of water splashing all within range – a nice touch.
I was concerned about the heat – it was a hot day with no shade and no pool. But, as long as you slap on the sunscreen there are many ways to cool down, including masses of sprinklers. You get that wonderful ‘coolgardie safe’ effect with a spray of light water wherever you are.
There are also many undercover day beds (Note-you need to get in early to reserve one).
It is reassuring to see the team working behind the scenes – with constant water checks going on to ensure the water is within health standards. There are also
many slide attendants to ensure safety, including a lifeguard with high level first aid training.
The park enjoys a wonderful family friendly picnic atmosphere with many families pitching a shade tent and making a day of it. Not only enjoying a splash, but also venturing off to the original grounds which still includes the The biggest tip of the day was – make sure you grab a mat if you really want to get a speed up!
maze, the koalas and kangaroos, mini golf and other amusements such as the giant chess game plus full picnic facilities with bbqs.
So what about the crowds? Well, I have to confess that after having recently experienced the gruel of other theme park crowds, there was a collective groan from
the car on arrival –but once we got over the “I hate crowds” hump we discovered the lines moved pretty quickly and given the many visual distractions the queuing was somewhat easier to take.
Of course all these crowds are a welcome sight for General Manager Phi slides are being fully manned. In fact an extra 24 people have been employed with the launch of Outback Splash. Phil’s focus is now on stage 2, with just a few more planning hurdles to overcome to ensure the infrastructure can be in place.
Promising to tempt even those ‘too cool for school’ teens, the next stage of Outback Splash will offer rides with greater altitude and speed.
How lucky are our kids with this on the doorstep? Not only the joy of the rides and a cool way to fill in the summer holidays, but also the chance of future employment in what promises to be a serious tourism industry on our doorstep.
The crowds are coming from all over the Northern Valleys and the suburbs beyond, and I suspect they will keep coming.
