Splash Planet

Splash Planet is an amusement park and water park located in the city of Hastings, New Zealand. The park was opened in its current form in 1998.

Splash Planet
LocationGrove Road, Hastings, New Zealand
Coordinates39.644041°S 176.863649°E / -39.644041; 176.863649
SloganHawke's Bay's Number One Family Attraction!
OpenedOpened as Fantasy Land in 1967, Splash Planet in 1998
Previous namesFantasyland[1]
Operating seasonNovember–March[2]
Area6.5 ha (16 acres)[3]
Attractions
Total12
Water rides7
Websitewww.splashplanet.co.nz
StatusOperating

Fantasyland

Fantasyland first opened in Easter of 1967.[4] It contained several attractions, including a miniature railway, mini-golf, a steamboat ride, play structures, and flat rides. By the 1990s, the park was beginning to show its age, and the Hastings District Council proposed that it be redeveloped into a waterpark. At the time of its conception the council had decided that the park would be a money spinner and was certain that it would supplement the taxes that local residents paid. The park was also hoped to attract people from outside the region to visit the region and spend money not only at the park but also at local business within the city.

Construction

Construction of the new waterpark facilities was done by Alexander Construction, a local company who has worked on many other large attractions within Hawke's Bay. Work began in July 1998, and finished before the new year, taking only 4.5 months to complete. This was done at a cost of $4,700,000.[5]

Referendum

Before Splash Planet left the drawing board the Hastings District Council put the decision on whether or not Splash Planet would be built to public referendum. The referendum outlined a number of policies in an attempt to gain the locals' confidence. These policies included the fact that Splash Planet would be self-sustaining and would not cost the taxpayers any money.

Attractions
Splash Planet's "Sky Castle"

The park contains several wet and dry attractions.

"Wet" attractions
  • Double Dipper - Inline tube slide
  • Super Cruiser - Open body slide
  • Sky Tunnel - Enclosed body slide
  • Master Blaster - Heated open/enclosed body slide
  • Sky Castle Screamer - Pair of racing body slides
  • Never Ending River - A lazy river
  • Bumper boats
  • Indoor heated pool

"Dry" attractions
The Pirate Ship at Fantasyland in 1979 which was a victim of arson in 2015.

Former attractions
  • Pirate Ship- a play structure that was burnt down by arsonists in 2015. The ship, built mainly by volunteers and an original attraction when the park was first established as Fantasyland in 1967, was ablaze when the first of three fire crews from Hastings and Napier arrived after the alarm was raised at 6:01 am.[6]

Battle of Hastings Paintball Event

In late 2013 a major paintball event known as the Battle of Hastings took place at Splash Planet. It drew players from around New Zealand to compete in massive paintball battles. The event was held again in October 2014

References
  1. Ramsay, Heather (2008-04-07). "School holiday hints to keep all the family happy". The New Zealand Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  2. "Splash Planet Opening Hours".
  3. "All About Hawkes Bay - Splash Planet...fun... wet and wild". Hawke's Bay. 2008-01-30.
  4. "Community Link May 28, 2005". Hastings District Council. 2005-05-28.
  5. https://alexanderconstruction.co.nz/project/splash-planet/
  6. "Pirate ship at Hastings' Splash Planet burns down". The Dominion Post. Fairfax. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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