Most parents know that kids are moths to a flame when it comes to water. Children love playing with water, getting wet and splashing around. It’s a love that generally continues on through adolescence too as they graduate from stomping around in puddles to sliding down fast slides.
Sydneysiders are blessed to have a bounty of sunny days each year, gorgeous beaches and a bevy of water parks in Sydney for kids.
Water Parks in Sydney for Kids
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Raging Waters Sydney
427 Reservoir Rd, Prospect
Reputed to be the biggest and best of all water parks in Sydney, Raging Waters features over 30 slides and attractions, a wave pool, a dinosaur lagoon and an entire section dedicated to little kids.
With free parking, the ability to bring in your own sandwiches and water, and lots of shady spots and activities to suit each age, Raging Waters has become a favourite place for many Sydneysiders to head on hot days.
Raging Waters boasts Australia’s largest kid-friendly water area as well as the new Whirlwind- the first-of-its-kind-slide which takes riders on a thrilling 206-metre-long journey.
Our verdict: We visited with 5 kids ranging from 9-13. Two refused to go on any slides but enjoyed the wave pool and the dinosaur lagoon. The other three (the youngest and middle two) enjoyed the larger slides. We stayed from 11.00 am through to 6.00 pm and had to drag them away. I recommend investing in the season pass which gives you unlimited visits.
Open: Open from September – April each year. Open daily from 10.00 am during the school holidays and then Friday-Sunday during the school term.
Jamberoo Action Park
1215 Jamberoo Road, Jamberoo
Set amongst 40 hectares of parkland, Jamberoo Action Park boasts The Perfect Storm!, the Tallest, Longest, Fastest water ride ever built! Whilst this water park is some distance from Sydney, it has lots of shade, plenty of different rides to accommodate all ages and the luxury of allowing you to bring your own food and drink.
Open: Open from September – April each year. Open daily from 10.00 am during the school holidays and then Friday-Sunday during the school term.
Ticket Price: Day passes from $59.00. If you plan to visit more than once, check out the season pass.
Aquatopia
Prairie Vale Rd & Moonlight Road, Prairiewood
Aquatopia at Prairiewood Leisure Centre was created to provide an affordable water park for families in the local area. It features 10m high giant slides, an adventure aqua tower with 79 unique and amazing elements, a toddler pool, and a Wave Rider.
Open: Open from September – April each year. Open daily from 10.00 am during the school holidays and then Friday-Sunday during the school term.
Ticket Price: $16.00 per person for Fairfield City Council residents and $20.00 per person for non-residents.
Water Parks in Sydney for Kids Where They Can Play
The Playground, Darling Quarter
1-25 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000
The Darling Quarter has an incredible playground that is always brimming with excited children. It’s an all-ages playground and sure to amuse your kids, regardless of their age.
The large water section features a pump station with 26 water jets ready to make a range of water patterns; a water school ready for splashing around; an Archimedes water screw and a dam which is controlled by 7 water switches, 5 water gates and a water wheel.
The Playground in the Darling Quarter is one of our favourite parks. The kids always end up wet even if they say they’re just going to check the temperature with their toes. Both kids would be happy to stay and play for at least half a day.
Suggestion: When heading to Darling Harbour always make sure you have a spare set of clothes in case the kids head straight to this part of the playground.
Open: Always open
Ticket Price: FREE
Granville Park
2 Montrose Ave, Merrylands NSW 2160
Created to be sustainable, Granville Park has quite an array of water features including a tipping buckets which dumps 1600 litres of water a minute. Situated on 13.2 hectares of parkland, there’s a playground right next to the water play in the event that it’s too cold for getting wet.
Open: Always open in summer, autumn and spring.
Ticket Price: FREE
Nurragingy Reserve Water Park
Knox Rd, Doonside
Whilst the water park is not open all year, the water park has been a welcome asset to the reserve. It features a great selection of fountains and has some nice shady spots.
Open: From 7.00 am daily. Closes between 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm depending on time of year.
Ticket Price: FREE
Domain Creek Playground
Park Ave & Park Parade, Westmead
The Domain Creek Playground in Parramatta Park is quite new and has quickly become a favourite with locals. The playground itself has trampolines, musical instruments, a flying fox, swings and diggers. The water section has a water pump ready to use.
Open: 6.00 am – 6.00 pm (8.00 pm during daylight saving).
Ticket Price: FREE
Mary O’Brien Reserve
Joynton Ave, crn, Tilford St, Zetland
Featuring two playgrounds, Mary O’Brien Reserve is suitable for kids aged up to around 8 years of age. The water area is floored with soft blue sponge from which jets shoot. Lots of fun!
Open: always open
Ticket Price: FREE
Putney Park
Pellisier Rd, Putney
Putney Park is situated right on the banks of the Parramatta River and features a lovely expanse of grass and natural areas. The large playground features a lovely water area as well as a smaller playground for younger kids.
Open: All hours
Ticket Price: FREE
Taronga Zoo
Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman
If you head to the barnyard animal area you will find a great water area for the kids right in Taronga Zoo. The water area features pumps, channels and a guarantee that the kids will end up wet.
Our verdict: this is always the last stop on any trip to Taronga Zoo and I recommend making it your last stop too as the kids are likely to get soaked. It’s often busy with hoards of toddlers and preschool-aged kids which has meant that my older kids aren’t as keen to play here anymore. Top tip: there is a small wading pool in the bottom tier between the elephants and seals if your kids want to escape the crowd. It’s one of the more expensive water parks in Sydney for kids if you are looking for that specifically.
Open: 9.30 am – 5.30 pm daily
Ticket Price: From $23.40 per child
Blacktown Showground Precinct
Corner Richmond Road and Balmoral Road, Blacktown
Open all year outside winter, the Blacktown Showground Precinct features water troughs, a hand wheel water pump, a concrete water maze and jets ready to spay you wet. It’s a whole lot of fun.
Open: Closed in winter. Summer 9.00 am to 6.30 pm. Autumn 10.00 am to 3.30 pm. Spring 10.00 am to 3.30 pm.
Ticket Price: FREE
Pirrama Park
Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont
Situated on a lovely 1.8 hectare space right on the harbour, this grassland space features a great space with fountains and sprinklers. The gorgeous space is perfect for parents too.
Open: Open 24 hours
Ticket Price: FREE
Werrington Lakes Playground
Burton St, Werrington
This playground boasts an array of multi age play equipment with rubber softfall. The water area is the perfect space to cool down after an exhausting, hot play. Head over to the sandstone area where jets spary upwards to get you wet!
Open: Open 24 hours
Ticket Price: FREE
Blaxland Riverside Park
Jamieson St, Sydney
Blaxland Riverside Park, right on the Parramatta River, is one of our family’s favourite parks. Whilst we typically head here for all the play equipment, on a hot day we can’t help but head to the water area which is the LARGEST outdoor water play area in the state!
We have dubbed this park Teletubby Park for its range of man-made hills that look right off the tv show. CLICK TO READ ABOUT OUR ADVENTURE AT OUR FAVOURITE PARK
Open: Daily, sunrise to sunset. Water play from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm.
Ticket Price: FREE
Waterplay Park, Steel Park
Illawarra Rd, Marrickville
You can’t help but be impressed with Steel Park’s waterplay area which has been designed to capture the water cycle as a whole. The water that feeds the play area comes from the rainwater that falls on the roof of the Debbie and Abbey Borgia Centre. This water is then used in the interactive fountains, mist spray elements, and sprinklers. It’s all recycled and treated before being used again and again.
Open: Daily between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm, from October to March.
Ticket Price: FREE
Lizard Log
1521 The Horsley Dr, Abbotsbury
Head out to Abbotsbury and you’ll find the Lizard Log playground which has been beautifully landscaped within a natural environment. Whilst there’s a bunch of play equipment to enjoy, the play deck with a water pump will be the place to head for those wanting to get a little wet.
I found the dirt and wood chips a little uncomfortable but it just made the venue another favourite for the kids. It can get busy but there is lots to do. The kids liked working out how to make the water run down different paths.
Open: 8.00 am – 7.00 pm
Ticket Price: FREE
James Ruse Reserve Water Playground
James Ruse Reserve, Hassall St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Water play features include fountains, tipping buckets, water jets and other interactive features.
Open: September to May: 9:00am – 8:00pm June to August: Closed
Ticket Price: FREE
Philip Ruddock Waterpark
Yates Avenue, Dundas Valley
Water play features include fountains, tipping buckets, water jets and other interactive features.
Open: September to May: 9:00am – 8:00pm June to August: Closed
Ticket Price: FREE
Plough & Harrow, Western Sydney Parklands
Elizabeth Dr, Abbotsbury
Another playground growing in popularity, Plough and Harrow has been built for a wide range of ages. It incorporates both a water play area and climbing equipment. The Giant hamster wheel is said to be fun.
Open: 8.00 am – 7.00 pm
Ticket Price: FREE
Livvi’s Place, Jordan Springs
1 Discovery Way, Jordan Springs
We are huge fans of the Livvi’s Place concept which incorporates a universal design philosophy so all kids can access the park. This one is fully fenced and has a large water play area with six water jets as well as a bounty of other play equipment.
Open: Daylight
Ticket Price: FREE
Macquarie Fields Leisure Centre
52 Fields Rd, Macquarie Fields
The Macquarie Fields Leisure Centre is a year-round facility for swimming. A water splash zone is open during the warmer seasons and is suitable for all ages.
Open: Summer hours: October to March Winter hours: April to September.
Cathy Freeman Park
Sydney Olympic Park
Situated in the heart of Sydney Olympic Park, this park makes the Best Water Parks in Sydney for Kids list for featuring the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games cauldron which is now used as a water feature. The kids can run underneath the cascading water and splash around.
We often stop by after an adventure in Olympic Park to cool down. It is yet to be our destination but is a welcome stop.
Open: all hours
Ticket Price: FREE
Ian Potter Children’s Garden WILD PLAY
Entry to the Garden is from Grand Drive, in Centennial Park.
The Ian Potter Children’s Garden in Centennial Park was only opened in 2017 and was built to immerse kids back in nature. It’s a spectacular park, a new favourite. It also boasts a lovely little water area with shooting jets, so make sure you take a change of clothes.
Our verdict: CLICK TO READ ABOUT WILD PLAY WITH KIDS
Open: The Garden is open from 10.00 am – 5.00 pm daily
Ticket Price: FREE
Find it on the Map: Best Water Parks in Sydney for Kids
**Always check websites to ensure parks are operational and for opening hours!
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