Visiting Aqua Park: Darwin’s Water Park

June 17, 2024
A black and white silhouette of a wave on a white background.

Did you know Darwin has an average daily high of over 30°C during the dry season? Enter Aqua Park, your refreshing, family-fun escape from your Zen Luxury Retreat.


This water park is all about the thrills and spills. This floating, inflatable course is an ideal way to enjoy a family-friendly adventure and cool off from the weather at the same time.

Aqua Park Slides With Different Colors — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Photo Credit: karnizz

Read on for everything you need to know about Aqua Park on the Darwin Waterfront and other water parks and swim spots to check out.

  • Address: The Waterfront, 19B Kitchener Dr, Darwin
  • Website: aqpk.com.au
  • Amenities: Change rooms, showers, restrooms, lifeguards, kiosks and a picnic area


Darwin’s Aqua Park provides the ultimate in exciting, challenging fun. The family-focused park is perfect for the whole family looking to climb, bounce, and jump off the park’s floating, inflatable obstacle course.

Timeframes

Each family will have a 60-minute window to enjoy the course. You can expect a bunch of thrills, spills, and, ultimately laughs along the way. All with Darwin City views in the background and the splashing of water with every tumble.

What to Know Before You Go

AQPK is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily. The minimum age is six years, and all adventurers up to the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult. If you have little ones between the ages of 4 and 6, Aqua Park has a Kid’s’ Circuit Course.

Safety Briefing

With a 10-minute safety briefing, lifejackets, and lifeguards on duty, a nice balance is struck between safety and all-out fun. There are just five walk-up spots available every hour, so we highly recommend booking your tickets online.


In addition to the Main Course of action-packed climbing, jumping, and sliding, Darwin’s Aqua Park also has a Wave Lagoon and stand-up paddle board (SUP) hire.

What To Do at Aqua Park

In the safe waters of the Darwin Waterfront Precinct Lagoon, Aqua Park beckons you for a challenging and adrenalin-stoking adventure. There are many paths to choose from, and each allows for a variation in difficulty.

The Main Course

Blue and White Colored Inflatable Obstacles — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Photo Credit: PomInPerth

As you climb to lofty heights, you’ll have the chance to slide or jump down onto the next obstacle. At certain intervals, you’ll even have options to go in multiple directions.


It’s a physical challenge and can sometimes place you beyond your comfort zone. But remember, it’s a challenge by choice, and all guests can depart the course at any point. Outside of your comfort zone lies the learning zone. It’s the perfect place to explore new horizons and create unforgettable experiences, especially with the kids.


With each obstacle and new direction, your kids will grow in confidence as they explore independently. Beyond this, however, the heart-pumping experience is all about fun. In the heat of day, it’s a refreshingly brilliant way to spend time as a family.

Kids Aqua Park Circuit Course

Boy Jumping Over Inflatable Obstacle — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Photo Credit: PomInPerth

Families who have children aged 4 and up will have the option of taking this adventure course. It’s designed for those between the height of 100cm to 150cm, allowing more kids the opportunity to enjoy the lively fun.



There are lifeguards on duty, but all kids on this course must be supervised by their parents/guardians. As you keep your little adventurer at arms length, they can explore in their own way providing many of the same opportunities as they other course.

Wave Lagoon

Kids Having Fun on Wave Lagoon — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Photo Credit: katacarix

Once the whole family has completed their one-hour, hair-raising exploration of the Aqua Park course, there remains plenty of fun on the menu. The Wave Lagoon is an all-day experience that brings the fun of the beach to a safe stinger and crocodile-free location. Flanked by palms, the lagoon provides all the vibes of your favourite beach spot.


You can feel free to bring along your beach tents. There are also shady spots and sun loungers, so you can really settle in and enjoy the fun.


Spread across 4,000m²; the Wave Lagoon rolls out ten different waves up to 1.2 metres. After an hour on the course, the kids will be raring to go. With varying wave heights, you can choose the best spot for your family. The larger waves are also perfect for breaking out the boogie board and catching a ride. Guests can bring their own boards; there are also some for hire, along with tubes.



Tickets to the Wave Lagoon are separate from the course. Passes for kids under 15 are $6 each and $8 for those above. There are also family passes (2 adults and 3 children) for $35. Each pass is valid for the entire period from 10 am to 6 pm. So you can always complete the course and come back to the lagoon.

Stand-Up Paddleboard Hire

Worker Standing on a Paddle Board in a Large Pool — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Last up on the things to do at Aqua Park is to rent a SUP. Each rental lasts for one hour and costs $25.



Those who paddleboard a lot may not get the most out of this rental as exploration is limited to the lagoon area. However, it’s a great spot for newbies to try out and get a hang of it in a safe location.

Other Darwin Water Parks

Once you’ve made the most of your time at Darwin’s Aqua Park, there are more adventure water parks and beaches to explore. The free water parks in Leanyer and Palmerston are a simple way to keep the kids active. They’re also great for group BBQs.

Leanyer Water Park

Long Red Green and Blue Waterslides — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Photo Credit: Shane Bartie

  • Address: 215 Vanderlin Dr, Leanyer, NT
  • Website: Leanyer Water Park
  • Cost: Free
  • Amenities: Swimming Pool, Water Slides, Playground, Skate Park, Basketball Court, BBQs & Picnic Areas



Open from 10 am to 6 pm Wednesday to Sunday, Leanyer Water Park is a fantastic addition to your trip to Darwin. The free park is another way to escape the hot Top End weather and the features are perfect for larger groups.


The thoughts of water slides will lie at the forefront of your kids’ minds. Leanyer has a trio of slides that depart 14m above the ground before twisting and turning for more than 100m. They can mix this up with an adventure through the water playground and the swimming pool.



But there’s still more fun to be had. The park also provides a skate park, basketball court, and cycling path. While the whole group can cook up a feast using the first-come, first-served BBQs.


Note: There are specific hours for each park feature, so make sure to check out their website.

Palmerston Water Park

A Family Going Down a Water Slide — Zen Luxury Retreats in Darwin City, NT

Photo Credit: Bulent Ozdemir

  • Address: Roystonea Ave, Palmerston City, NT
  • Website: Palmerston Water Park
  • Cost: Free
  • Amenities: Racer Water Slide, Wading Pool, Water Playground, Skate Park, BBQs & Picnic Areas



Similar to Leanyer, Palmerston Water Park is a free and fun water park experience. Fifteen minutes outside of Darwin, you can enjoy a nice family BBQ and kick back in the shaded picnic areas. All the while, the kids compete on the 100m long, six-lane racer water slide.


If they’re not pooped out by that, there are buckets and water cannons in the play area and a wading pool. This includes a shallow section for your little ones.


The Palmerston Water Park is open from 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

Stay Near Darwin’s Aqua Park

Staying near Darwin’s Aqua Park offers a unique and engaging experience that is not to be missed. It is the quintessential family experience along the Waterfront!



Zen Luxury Retreats is your premier destination for luxury short-stay accommodation in the Darwin region – including the Waterfront area. Our unique collection of private homes, including waterfront apartments, sprawling retreats, characterful townhouses, and boutique apartments, provide breathtaking views of the city and the coast and excellent proximity to Aqua Park and beyond!

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