Splash Planet to open next week

The countdown is on to the opening of Splash Planet for this summer season, fresh from its recent major makeover.

Earlier this year Hastings District Council approved a $2.4m upgrade programme for the theme park – Hawke’s Bay’s most popular tourism attraction.

Over the past few months this has included extensive tree work around all areas of the park, including removing some that were damaged from Cyclone Gabrielle, as well as garden work and general cleaning.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said that after a couple of years of Covid disruptions it was fantastic to be anticipating a more normal season.

“The whole facility is looking amazing and we can’t wait to be welcoming the community and visitors back to enjoy all the fun activities – from mini-golf to go-karts, bumper boats, playgrounds and water slides.”

The flying fox and new jungle jeep track have been relocated in the front area of the park near tiny town and mini golf, where there is also new playground equipment.

The scented gardens near here have been replanted, and the iconic Pumpkin and Shoe have been repaired, and repainted, but will now be ornamental rather than play features.

A major rebuild and redesign of the pirate pool playground has taken place, and the bumper boat pool has a brand new deck, retaining walls and queuing area with the boats now fitted with electric motors so they’re quiet and clean.

New electronic lockers have been installed in and around the indoor pool building, and the family changing rooms have been repaired, relined and repainted.

Opening on November 20, a new online ticket purchase system has been introduced to help manage numbers and make it more convenient for people to avoid long queues.

Although prices have gone up, it is cheaper to get tickets online, rather than at the gate, saving $4 per adult or child ticket. Prices are cheaper again for locals with Hawke’s Bay residents’ memberships. Adults $25 and children $15 when booked online via a membership (plus the annual fee of $25 to join).

A member can purchase up to 10 tickets per visit. Senior citizens can choose between a discounted ticket to access the full park or opt for a spectator pass which gives access to the train, mini-golf, merry go-round and toddler pools.

Tickets for Splash Planet are available now www.splashplanet.co.nz.

16 November 2023

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