Top Tips for visiting Splashdown Quaywest
Splashdown Poole is one of the kids favourite destinations to meet up with friends, with 13 thrilling flumes and splash zones for when they want a break.
Last weekend, we finally made it to their sister site, Splashdown Quaywest, which is situated right next to Goodrington Beach in Paignton, Devon, overlooking the stunning Tor Bay.
The main difference between the Poole site and Splashdown Quaywest is that Quaywest is the UK’s largest all outdoor waterpark, which does mean that it is only open during the warmer summer months.
There is a large changing room area, with plenty of family or single changing rooms to get ready for your adventures in. Make sure you take 20p’s for the locker not £1 coins though!
They have 8 fun flumes to ride, including two twisting tyre rides, slippery waterslides and a 65ft near vertical drop, plus a nice warm pool to relax in. It is the perfect destination to visit if you are in Devon or Dorset.
All the slides have a varying degree of difficulty and I have to admit that Sebby and I were happiest on the slightly calmer ring slides, whereas the older ones loved zooming down the Screamer, Wild Kamikaze and Devil’s Drop.
One of our family favourites was definitely 3Fall, where you can race two of your friends or family head first, on this mat racer ride.
Devil’s Drop is definitely not for the faint hearted as it’s a 65ft near verticle drop into a black hole run out on the highest, fastest flume in the UK.
The highlight of Splashdown Quaywest is definitely the views of the bay from the top of the slides and as you come down.
Check out our “slides eye” view of the flumes:
Start at 0:49Top Tips for visiting Splashdown Quaywest
1. Bring a wetsuit
We visited on a typically British summer day – 20°C, overcast, with a strong breeze. The water is a lovely warm 30°C temperature, but it is cold when out of the water and Sebby struggled with feeling cold in between slides, especially at the top. Lots of families were wearing shortie wetsuits and I will definitely bring ours next time, especially for younger members of the family.
2. Lockers
There are plenty of lockers available, but on the small slide so you will need at least two per family at a refundable cost of a 20p coin in each.
3. Be prepared to climb
Splashdown Quaywest is set on a hillside. The paths and stairs to flumes are fine to walk in bare feet, but you are up and down a hill as well as the stairs.
4. Just want to watch
You can purchase a spectator ticket for £7.50, which gives you access to relax on sun beds and watch all the action.
4. Visiting with younger members of the family
Slides can only be ridden by those over 1m tall and facilities for younger children are limited, with just a small toddler pool currently available, hence under 5’s are charged just £3 for entry. In exciting news for 2024 – they are building Shipwreck Island splash park for younger visitors.
5. Enjoy a meal
Climbing all those stairs definitely works up an appetite and they have a brilliant offer on a meal deal for after your session for £7.25 per person. Choose from Beef or Cheese burger, Chicken burger, Bacon bap, Veggie burger or Hot Dog, all come with regular fries and a regular soft drink or regular tea or coffee
6. Make a day of it
The maximum stay at Splashdown is 3 hours, but combine it with a day at Goodrington Sands, which has sandy beach and a prestigious Blue Flag Award for cleanliness, making it safe for kids of all ages. They also have a boating lake, race in go-karts and crazy golf just behind the car park.
Disclaimer: We were invited to Splashdown Quaywest for the purpose of a review. All thoughts and opinions are our own
