The Funnel Web ride at Jamberoo Action Park. Picture: Jamberoo Action Park
IT'S reportedly the longest, biggest and most exhilarating new water thrill ride in the world. The terrifying-looking Funnel Web is the latest attraction for Aussie thrill-seekers. It's time to test it out
Let's face it. There aren't a lot of options when it comes to water parks in Sydney. Sure, there's the kids' play fountain at the Entrance on the New South Wales Central Coast and perhaps the travelling inflatable Waterworld that sometimes graces Newcastle and Sydney's Moore Park in the summer months.
But with the "Prospect" of a Wet'n'Wild in Sydney's west months away, the only serious option for a fun-filled day sliding down water-filled tubes or plummeting off sheer drops in a clover-shaped dinghy anywhere near the city is Jamberoo Action Park - New South Wales's largest theme park based in Jamberoo near Kiama, two hours from Sydney.
Jamberoo's catch-cry is "... where you control the action!" Unfortunately, that doesn't include the weather, the traffic, the queues or the amount of water you will swallow. You do, however, control your locker access number, so please, don't do what I did and immediately forget the number on the first lock. Think of something you'll remember. Like how many times you plan on going on the Funnel Web (it's a four-digit access code by the way and costs $10 for the day).
Our trip to Jamberoo Action Park started at 6.30am on the NSW Central Coast - You need to get up early if you're going to make it for gates open at 10am without breaking any laws. We happened to choose a day when a cyclone had decided to dump its load directly over the coast and there was no escaping a day of heavy winds and rains. It seemed like a good idea at the time: the crowds would be down and you're getting wet anyway, right?
Our group arrived in three separate cars and we were greeted at the souvenir shop. As the gates open, take a tip: head straight for the lockers in the middle of the park, just above the wave pool. Yes, wave pool.
Bear in mind, however, that the showers are at another locker bay near the Taipan, so if you're looking for a wash-down at the end of the day, head there first. The lockers fill up pretty quickly, especially on a hot, busy day, so get in early. Once you've secured a locker (and remembered your access code), you can head off in any direction to try out the water rides.
The kids wanted to try the Taipan first, once the park's biggest water thrill ride where you speed down a five-person raft on one of two giant waterslides - all in darkness. It's pretty intense. But on a wet day - like the one we went on - chances are you won't wait too long between rides. Now, though, the Taipan seems a little less venomous as you cast your eye across the park to the foreboding Funnel Web.
There's no doubt the ride looks incredibly scary from a distance, but it gets increasingly frightening as you approach it. By the time you're at the top and waiting in line to enter the "burrow" you start to wonder whether that is really just water dripping from your cossie. It's a 30km/h twisty, turny thrill ride through the dark then everything goes eerily slow and quiet as you approach a light ahead. You drift, almost. Then suddenly, you drop.
Down, down, into a massive funnel where you spin at great heights as the water thrashes against your raft and you cling on tight as you get pushed into another burrow before being spat out at the end into a big pool. Of course, the ride is so amazing that everyone wants to go on this one over and over, so it's no wonder the lines for this are longer than the others, but on this day the wait was only ever 10 minutes.
Another new area of Jamberoo was Banjo's Billabong: A 760sq metre Australiana-themed interactive aqua play structure with over 198 different water features crowned by a huge water bucket, which tips 1200 litres of water over the structure every 10 minutes. And that water bucket is fierce. If you didn't have a headache going in, you will have one after it dumps on you. But what's a day out without suffering some form of brain damage? The cool thing is, it's built for families so mums and dads can join the kids on the slides and squirt each other with hoses and dice for control under the buckets.
All the usual rides were there: Surf Hill, Splash Out, Rapid River, The Rock and more, but the only things off-limits in the bad weather was the Bobsled (although they might want to think about converting that into a water slide on wet days). Food is reasonably priced ($11.50 for fish and chips and a drink) but you can bring your own food in coolers and eat under one of the many pergolas provided. The staff were friendly and most accommodating as well as focused on the safety of the visitors.
Despite the inclement weather, the park was pretty busy because it was a public holiday, so it is always best to plan ahead and get there early to avoid lengthy queues. Entry costs $41 for adults and $33 for kids under 12 and seniors. I recommend you visit https://www.jamberoo.net/ and check out some of the videos and links to give you a good feel for the place.
Jamberoo is worth the drive from wherever you are in NSW (okay, so if you're in Tweed Heads, it'd be cheaper and smarter to head north to the Gold Coast). Take some change for the lockers (not notes) and wear sunscreen. The coffee's great and try the churros. They taste like happiness. I'm giving Jamberoo five lifesavers.
Andrew Banks attended Jamberoo Action Park courtesy of the water park.
Banjo's Billabong ride at Jamberoo Action Park. Picture: Jamberoo Action Park Source: No Source
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