Big Surf has been a top attraction in Tempe for over 40 years. This famous water park is home to a vast wave pool, as well as a host of other water slides and activities: there’s something to suit visitors of all ages.
This park is best known for the Waikiki Beach Wave Pool, the third largest of its kind in the world. The concept and design was first dreamt up in 1965 by engineer Phil Dexter. After successfully building a model in his own backyard swimming pool, he brought his plan to life on a large scale. Big Surf opened to the public in 1969.
Holding nearly 9.5 million litres of water, this impressive wave pool will give you the most realistic ocean experience you can get without heading to the coast. Waves reaching over 1.5 metres in height are generated every three minutes. Imagine yourself swimming across the open seas, or hire a surf board, boogie board or raft to make the most of the swell. Each weekend, for the last hour before closing time, the pool is open to surfers only. This is the opportunity to show off your skills!
Apart from the main attraction, there are also many waterslides that will satisfy the most avid thrill-seeker. Choose between the three daring routes of the Hurricane Slides, race your friends or family down the Tornado Twisters, or test your nerve in the enclosed darkness of the Black Hole.
The park’s youngest visitors will love Captain Cook’s Landing, complete with giant models of frogs, turtles, alligators and seals, as well as the Bora Bora Bay Kool Kids Zone. These areas are perfect for parents to relax, whilst kids can burn off all their excess energy in complete safety.
Big Surf is open between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September. It is worth arriving early to avoid the queues. No food can be brought into the park, but there is an onsite cafeteria. The park is located 21 kilometres from Phoenix.
