Trespassers invade Big Splash Waterpark for TikTok videos

Canberra’s shuttered Big Splash Waterpark has become a major attraction for urban explorers trying to find TikTok virality – but the venue’s rundown state is raising safety concerns.

A beloved Canberra water park shuttered indefinitely for repairs is gaining popularity with TikTok urban explorers, who are trespassing to make content for the video app.

The Big Splash water park in Macquarie closed in late 2024 after posting that its rides needed maintenance.

A since-deleted post advised the popular venue would be open again for school holidays – but that never came to pass, with the park now in disrepair with algae in the pools, slides rusting, and grass significantly overgrown.

Despite clear signage and warnings against trespassing, the much-loved park has grabbed the attention of TikTok urban explorers, who have been entering the site to capture video content.

The unidentified TikTokers have seemingly climbed over fences or cut through wire to gain access, and have subsequently shared their videos online, showcasing the abandoned and decaying features.

The entrance to Big Splash Water Park.

While many videos have gained significant attention and tens of thousands of views, they have raised concerns from residents on community pages about the safety of those entering the site.

As the trend of urban exploration, or “urbex,” gains popularity on apps like TikTok, Big Splash has become a prime target on multiple social media platforms.

Image of holes in fence with attempts of patching up.

The “urbex australia” hashtag on TikTok has thousands of videos with millions of likes, displaying breaking and entering of properties with instances of vandalism.

The Daily Telegraph does not suggest any of the people who have attended Big Splash have vandalised the site or committed any other offences.

Users on TikTok responded “I miss this place, it’s gonna [sic] be vandalised if they don't do anything with it.”

Another commented “how did you get in”, with the account owner responding “it’s pretty easy”.

Image of algae and green pools at Big Splash Waterpark.

ACT Greens Ginninderra MLA Jo Clay said community facilities like Big Splash should be open to the community.

“Many Canberrans are upset that this treasured icon has remained closed all summer,” Ms Clay said.

“That’s why the ACT Greens supported a community petition calling on the ACT Government to consider all options to support the pool to open to the public again and that, at the very least, the government ensures the land remains a place for community facilities well into the future.”

Big Splash Waterpark closed for business

Big Splash’s owners did not respond to requests for comments.