Ocean Park’s Water World in Hong Kong opened to the public in September 2021 with 27 new indoor and outdoor attractions. Featuring five zones – Splendid Reef, Torrential River, Thrill Valley, Adventure Coast, and Hidden Village – the attraction is billed as: ‘Asia’s first and only year-round, all-weather seaside waterpark.’
The experiences range from extreme white-knuckle water slides, such as Cyclone Spins and Daredevil Drop, to the Adventure Coast, where visitors can relax in the seafront cabanas.
The park’s executive director, Bryan Fish, tells Attractions Management how the opening has gone, and what the park has planned for the coming months.
How have the opening months gone at Ocean Park Water World?
During the pre-opening period, the park’s operation and preparation went much more smoothly than many of those I’d experienced before. That was really down to the hard work and support that our team put in; for that I’m really grateful.
Since the opening of Water World, it’s been really exciting for us to start seeing familiar faces again. People returning to the park for repeat visits is really inspiring for us. It shows that they enjoyed the facilities and were engaged. When I share the shuttle bus ride with the guests, I always hear them recapping their day. I also see people on the MTR checking on our website. This is very satisfying especially when someone looks back at their memories and recalls the exciting moments they experienced with their family in the park, it proves our effort paid off and motivates us to keep up the good work to make sure our guests enjoy every visit.
What makes this park so different?
Well, there’s a lot, but I think the most significant ones are the design and location. I don’t think another park can compare with Water World’s beauty, from the moment you arrive to when you wander through and marvel at the design.
The design of Water World amazes me; It’s one of the main points that drove me to come to Hong Kong and work with the team.
Being located in such a wondrous natural area aa Tai Shue Wan makes you feel as though you’re in a secret oasis, yet it’s just minutes from one of the busiest cities in the world. Set among lush green mountains, the park is a wonderful vantage point from where you can take in all the splendours of the South China Sea.
If you look at other waterparks, especially those with indoor areas, they usually have an industrial look, whereas Water World buildings don’t have hard angles. They were designed to merge into the landscape, along the contours of the natural environment.
Another cool design element is that we have built unique conveyor systems for our attractions that require ride vehicles, even just transporting light mats at our signature Rainbow Rush. Conveying equipment from the endpoint back to the starting point means guests don’t need to collect or carry anything around the attractions.
Do you have a personal favourite part of the park?
Vortex! is definitely my top ride. I like it not only because I’m an intense person, but also because it’s an exciting attraction that you can enjoy with other people. We get to see each other’s reactions and scream together while hurtling along the ride.
Because of the shape of the vehicle, we also have different experiences every time we ride, so it makes a great time for everyone.
