Make a splash at these five fantastic water parks in Cornwall this summer
You don’t have to settle with just making a splash in the sea in Cornwall – there are also plenty of wonderful water parks to visit, too. Perfect for when you want to get wet but don’t fancy dealing with tides, sand and brisk water temperatures, here are five of the best Cornish water parks and slip-and-slides for kids (and growns-ups!) to have some good, clean and super-safe fun away from the coast. Dive in!
Giant Slip And Slide, near Winnards Perch, St Columb Major, north Cornwall
This small, family-run Cornish attraction has been slip-and-sliding since 2017 – and was the first to bring Giant Slip And Slide to Cornwall. Its motto is: the damp British summer means you’re going to get wet anyway, so you may as well come and have some fun!
New to 2023 are four 440 ft-long lanes with a three metre-high launch ramp. Simply throw yourself down on an inflatable ring or super-fast bodyboard for ultimate epic enjoyment. It’s £12 per person and under-fours go free. Riders must be five and over to go it alone. Bring your own wetsuits as there are only a very small number available to hire. Hot snacks and drinks are available on site or pack a picnic.
Kernow Adventure Park, between Falmouth and Helston, south-east Cornwall
Once a successful granite quarry, Kessel Quarry has been flooded with spring water to create Kernow Adventure Park. There are four activities to choose from, depending on how energetic you’re feeling.
Adventurers will love climbing, bouncing and jumping their way around the aqua park obstacle course. Chillers will prefer leisurely paddleboarding around the lake while taking in the beautiful surroundings and abundant wildlife.
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For some family fun, take an e-boat on a voyage around the lake. Hone your skills first in the boat handling area, then explore the water to learn about the geology of the cliffs, how the granite was quarried and what it was used for, as well as discovering the vast array of species at the quarry.
Swimmers can take to the lanes for the perfect, sheltered open-water swim. The aquapark is £20 per person, SUP is £10 per person, e-boats are £20 per boat and take five people and swimming is £6 per person. All sessions last one hour. Bring your own wetsuit and swim gear, plus your own refreshments as the cafe is closed.
Flow Rider and Aqua Park, Retallack Resort & Spa, St Columb Major, north Cornwall
The Flow Rider and Aqua Park at Retallack has everything to get your adrenaline pumping. New for 2023 is the inflatable aqua park, where you can race your friends and family. The course includes a giant trampoline, catapult, water wheel, climbing wall, slides, blast bags, challenging balance beams and more ‘total wipeout’-style fun.
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Or take to the waves on Cornwall’s only surf simulator: the Flow Rider. Whatever your level, experienced instructors will have you standing up and surfing in style in no time. Riders must be at least 107 cm tall, minimum age is eight and ages 8 to 12 must be supervised by an adult.
Maybe wakeboarding is more your thing. For the pros, there are two kickers and a slider, plus a brand-new wake station to take on. For newbies, there’s all the safety equipment and amazing instructors you need to get you wakeboarding in no time.
You can hire wetsuits or bring your own, and buoyancy aids are included for activities where needed. There’s a beach cafe to re-energise after your session.
Monster Slip and Slide, Bude, north Cornwall
Kowabunga, Bude! Monster Slip And Slide is just four minutes from Widemouth Bay. Launch yourself off the Monster ramp on a super-fast bodyboard or inflatable ring and fly down the monster of a 360 ft-long slide.
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There’s wetsuit hire, hot snacks and ice cream available on site and even a photographer to capture your transformation from human to monster down the slide! It’s £13.50 per person for an hour and children under four go free.
Adrenalin Quarry, Liskeard, south-east Cornwall
The team at Adrenaline Quarry have been lovingly ‘throwing people off cliffs since 2009’. The biggest and best-known water park in Cornwall offers no-holds-barred madness on its colossal inflatable playground. Get wet and go wild on oversized trampolines, monkey bars, slides, swings and more.
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It’s from £15 per person – kids over six must be accompanied by an adult. There’s also coasteering, go-karting, a zip wire, a pop-up sauna, the terrifying giant swing and axe-throwing. Adrenaline junkies only!
Fancy getting wet and wild? If you’re looking for a base for an adventurous holiday or weekend away with family or friends, we’ve got something to suit. Check out our range of holiday cottages in Cornwall.
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