Overview
Summer in Melbourne means plenty of sunshine, temperatures reaching the 40-degree mark more than once, and everyone — and we mean everyone — complaining about the heat. It also means busy times at every air-conditioned hangout and refreshing body of water in sight. If the latter is your preferred method of keeping cool, then add the city's newest attraction to your must-visit list: an outdoor heated wave pool.
The latest addition to Funfields in Whittlesea, the wave-filled space is called Volcano Beach — and the South Pacific-inspired spot not only holds more than 1.5 million litres of water, but also pumps out waves of up to one metre in height. Now open after being under construction since February 2018, the new place for a dip promises the bobbing and bouncing that comes with a dip in the ocean, just without actually getting into the ocean. Basically, if you like swimming in the surf but don't like the sea itself, then you're in luck.
While the heated aspect of the pool might seem redundant at this time of year, the ability to turn the temperature up does mean that you'll still be able to splash around when the weather is cooler. Volcano Beach also features a wading area if you've got any kids in tow, plus sun lounge and relaxation zones. Fancy lazing around between dips? You can also hire poolside cabanas.
Volcano Beach joins Funfields' three huge waterslides — including a super-long 137-metre slide — as well as its 21 other rides.
And while the attraction might mark the city and state's first outdoor heated wave pool, it's just ahead of the tide in this particular watery arena. Urban surf park URBNSURF is also in the works, and is slated to open at Tullamarine this year.
Find Funfields at 2365 Plenty Road, Whittlesea, and visit the theme park's website for further details.