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Best fun parks in Melbourne revealed

Kids getting cabin fever this summer? From insane roller coasters to relaxing lagoons, here are some of the best fun parks around Melbourne to beat the heat and enjoy the summer holidays.

Gumbuya World in Tynong is just one way Melbourne families can beat the heat this summer. Picture: Tim Carrafa
Gumbuya World in Tynong is just one way Melbourne families can beat the heat this summer. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Escape the rising heat and slide on into one of Melbourne’s fun parks. Here are seven of the best family days out across the city.

GUMBUYA WORLD

2705 Princes Highway, Tynong

Open 10am to 6pm daily

Entry Adults $52, children $46

Gumbuya World has fun birthday parties covered.
Gumbuya World has fun birthday parties covered.

Explore the universe at Gumbuya World in Tynong North. The park offers four adventure worlds on a single ticket, just 50 minutes from the heart of Melbourne. Families can get up close and personal with native wildlife or take in the summer sun floating along the 300m Lazy River. Thrill seekers will love the massive water slides, test gravity on the ‘Rebel’ or test out the park’s many roller coasters. Looking for a place to hold the perfect birthday bash? Gumbuya World has you covered. The park is open every day between 10am-5pm.

URBNSURF

309 Melrose Dr, Tullamarine

Open 6am-10pm daily

Entry: From $5, memberships start at $100

urbnsurf.com

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth was among the first to try out UrbnSurf in Tullamarine.
Australian actor Chris Hemsworth was among the first to try out UrbnSurf in Tullamarine.

Youngsters of all ages can make waves when they try out Australia’s first surf park, Urbnsurf. The Tullamarine park is 16km from the beach and uses 46 pistons to create the perfect wave in a giant pool roughly the size of the MCG. Families can also take advantage of surfing lessons, catering to all ages and abilities. Families can relax on the daybeds, in the hot tub or take advantage of the playground between waves. An onsite cafe opening this summer offers the whole family a chance to refuel. The possibilities are endless. The park is open between 6am and 10pm daily.

FUNFIELDS

2365 Plenty Rd, Whittlesea

Open 10am-5pm daily

Entry: $49.50

Fun at Whittlesea Funfields. Picture: Rob Leeson.
Fun at Whittlesea Funfields. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Experience the thrills and spills of Funfields theme park in Whittlesea. The new Dragon’s Revenge swing ride will have you flying high in the sky or enjoy a break from the adrenaline pumping rides with an afternoon at Victoria’s first outdoor heated wave pool. Sitting at 137m long, the typhoon is the world’s longest cannonball water slide. Fly down the deep descent, reaching spread over 30km/h before landing safely in the splash pool.

A MAZE’N THINGS

1805 Phillip Island Rd, Cowes

Open 10am-5pm daily

Entry: From $47

Ebony enjoys the mirror maze.
Ebony enjoys the mirror maze.

Enjoy the mind bending illusions of Phillip Island’s A Maze’N Things. Open seven days a week, the park is full of puzzles, mazes and magic to amuse children and adults alike. Discover the interactive displays at Magic Manner, explore the massive maze or play 19-holes on the maxi-mini golf course. The daring can climb to new heights on the Sky Trail, a treetop high ropes course with swinging bridge and dangling obstacles.

LUNA PARK

18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182

Open: Thursday to Saturday. Check website for hours.

Entry: Unlimited rides 13+ $51.50

lunapark.com.au

Luna Park ride operators Ola Koch and Greg Smith show off the carousel. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Luna Park ride operators Ola Koch and Greg Smith show off the carousel. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It’s the oldest theme park in Australia and the only one in the world to have the oldest continually operating roller coaster — the Great Scenic Railway. Families can enjoy riding thrill rides including the Pharaoh’s Curse and the Twin Dragon. There’s also the historic Carousel, which includes 68 handpainted horses and features the museum centrepiece of the park. The park can also be hired out for an exclusive event or function outside of regular trading times. The park from Thursday to Sunday at varying hours throughout the school holidays.

MELBOURNE CABLE PARK

5 Riverend Road, Bangholme

Open 6am-10pm daily

Entry: $99

Lane Cole-Delu, Seymour Butte and Charlie Moir tackle the Melbourne Cable Park water playground and obstacle course. Picture: Jason Edwards
Lane Cole-Delu, Seymour Butte and Charlie Moir tackle the Melbourne Cable Park water playground and obstacle course. Picture: Jason Edwards

Enjoy one of Melbourne’s newest and most exciting outdoor attractions at Victoria’s only cable fun park in Bangholme. Families can enjoy Cable wakeboarding lakes, Aqua Fun Park, and Climb Melbourne – Australia’s brand-new urban high-rope adventure. Bounce, slide and splash your way over the bridges, down the slides, onto the trampoline and through the hamster wheels at Aqaua Fun Park. The cable wakeboarding allows you to wakeboard or kneeboard without a boat, with the overhead cable system pulling riders around the lake. The park is open Monday to Friday, 12pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

ARTHURS SEAT

795 Arthurs Seat Rd, Arthurs Seat

Open extended hours until January 26 - Sunday-Friday, 9am-7pm, Saturday, 9am-8pm

Arthurs Seat Eagle, Dromana. Picture: Visit Victoria
Arthurs Seat Eagle, Dromana. Picture: Visit Victoria

Families can enjoy scenic views of Mornington Peninsula riding Arthurs Seat Eagle. The aerial gondola system, which is supported and propelled by cables from above, consists of a loop of steel cable that is strung between two stations, over 11 supporting towers.

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The flight carries passengers between the Base Station in Dromana to the summit of Arthurs Seat, passing high over the beautiful Arthurs Seat State Park. The Eagle is all inclusive and caters for people of all abilities. It’s open for extended hours during the holidays from December 26 to January 26, from Sunday to Friday 9am to 7pm and Saturday from 9am to 8pm.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/best-fun-parks-in-melbourne-revealed/news-story/eabd84f6751201e6add107cbda990b43