Listopedia: The World’s Best Water Parks

Wild about water parks? Well this is the Listopedia for you. Whether you want to shoot down a slippery dip or float down a river, here’s our pick of water parks to visit in 2016.

Wet’n’Wild, Sydney, Australia

Australia’s newest theme park has been a big success, bringing crowds far and wide to Sydney’s west since re-opening two years ago. Based on the Gold Coast theme park of the same name, Wet’n’Wild Sydney is full of fun for big and little kids. There’s more than 40 slides and water adventure activities, including the hair raising T5, which has a 15 metre drop. There’s a half pipe, the Tropical Cyclone, Tantrum and 360Rush – as each name suggests, all designed for a thrill. Little ones will love Wet’n’Wild Junior, with mini waterslides and splash zones. For something a bit different, hit the park for After Dark, when the lights come on and the rides keep going. Check into the Atura Blacktown just around the corner.

Aquaventure Waterpark, Dubai

Escaping the heat in Dubai doesn’t have to involve air conditioning. Atlantis The Palm is home to Aquaventure, a 42 acre water park. Home to two kilometres of rapids and waterways you can ride, and plenty of waterslides, it’s a great day out. If you’re feeling brave, take on “The Plunge”, which drops you down 20 metres before shooting through a shark tank. You are inside a tube inside the tank, but it’s still scary stuff. Go at a slower pace in “Shark Attack”, where you’ll float through the same shark tank on a floatie – again through a glass tunnel.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Florida, USA

A Winter themed water park. Yes, that’s right. If anyone can do it, it’s Disney. The Blizzard Beach Water Park has pools, rivers and waterslides themed around Winter. Don’t worry, the water is heated year round so you won’t literally be sliding down an ice melt, unless you pop your feet into the “polar caves”. Expect an icy shock from the icy pools scattered around the park. Much more fun is tobogganing down Snow Stormers on your stomach. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop into one of the faux Mountain Lodges for lunch.

Waterbom, Bali, Indonesia

Waterbom is definitely worth an afternoon away from the beach the next time you’re in Bali. This water park is well known for its serious slippery slides – at 250 metres long, The Constrictor currently holds the title for the world’s longest waterslide. It’s just one of many action-packed waterslides in the park. Then there’s the FlowRider artificial waves if you want to freshen up your surfing skills, water cannons and more relaxed river rides.

Happy Magic Water Cube, Beijing China

What do you do with an Olympic aquatic centre post-Olympics? If you’re Beijing, you turn it into a water park! Not everyone wants to swim laps after all. Three years after the 2008 Summer Olympics, Water Cube reopened as Happy Magic Water Cube. As the name suggests, this is a happy place where you can be shot through a chute in Tornado, race your buddies eight at a time on the Octopus Racer or float around in the Wave Pool. The Olympic Pool is still on site if you do want to swim laps, but go on, have some fun with the rest of the holiday makers.

Green Thunder, Carnival Spirit

Not technically a water park, the top deck of the Carnival Spirit still deserves a mention because hurtling down the Green Thunder waterslide is definitely worth doing at least once. You’ll slip and slide the steepest waterslide at sea –  after that adrenalin rush, take a slower pace on the adjacent yellow Twisted Waterslide in the small Water Works playground.