Do you want to head to the best water park in Melbourne this summer? Although they don’t have the world’s tallest water slide like Beach Park in Brazil or the largest indoor pool like Tropical Islands in Germany, there are plenty of things to do in Melbourne, especially water play options, many of which are free! See below for our selection of some of the best.

Things to do in Melbourne – Water Fun

Freebies

These spots are perfect for younger children and best of all you’re not wasting money on entry fees!

For inner city options find Coles Fountain which is right near Parliament train station. It has a great water feature at ground level that crawlers, toddlers, and children will adore. What’s neat about this fountain is that you can walk ‘inside’ it, which is encouraged by the City of Melbourne on a hot day! Nature Play in Royal Park also has a great park with slides and rocks as well as water features that include small fountains, water pumps and water troughs for a lot of stand up splashing. The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens is also a top pick for water play with their ground spiral water fountains and the Rill stream, both of which operate on days when the forecast is predicted to exceed 25 degrees.

If you are further out, in the Seville Water Play Park is another great option for water play and picnicking. With plenty of grassy areas and shady trees, the site is a former swimming pool that has been repurposed with fountains, water jets and lots of flatter wet areas so more people can enjoy the cool space. The Riverwalk Water Play Park in Werribee is another larger outdoor water space that operates on a 30-minute cycle with features such as a water wall, water cave, mist jets, and a water tunnel.  

For those in the North, head to the newly opened Community Bank Adventure Playground in Wallan. This fantastic playground (with a 25-meter flying fox) also has a splash park area that contains jets, a water play table, aqua drop bucket and three-ring water tunnel with jets.

Paid Admission

Of course, some children are all about the waterslides, so head to some of the larger sports aquatic centers for indoor aqua play. One of the newest is Watermark Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Greensborough which has two waterslides, Tarzan rope and water adventure playground. Also of note is Leisure Link Swim Sports and Leisure in Waurn Ponds, Aquapulse in Hoppers Crossing, GSAC in Bentleigh East and the Noble Park Aquatic Centre.

If you want a fully fledged water park experience you’ll also need to move further out of Melbourne to either Funfields in Whittlesea or Adventure Park Geelong, both fantastic family activities for a vacation or mini break. Gumbuya Park has recently announced a $50 million makeover which is planned to include a water park so keep your eye out for the ’Disneyland of Victoria’, reported to open on December 1st, 2017.

You can always check the Melbourne Tourism website for the most up to date information as well. And if you’re looking for tips on flying on the cheap, check out our budget flight tips here.