Patrons flock to three-day inflatable waterpark

Dunedin children dived, ran and tumbled their way to victory at Moana Pool yesterday while an inflatable waterpark was in town.

Waterworld — a Tauranga-based inflatable water park company — wrapped up its three-day visit to Dunedin yesterday.

Despite being the first time the company had made its way to Dunedin, it had sold-out all its sessions and had about 100 people on a waitlist.

"It’s been a perfect tour," Waterworld Ltd founder and managing director Kel Travers said.

"To be able to have that demand and fulfil nearly all of it has been great."

The 400sq m inflatable obstacle course was equipped with log, ball and pillar runs, balancing beams and other obstacles, and could hold more than 60 people at once.

The "bread and butter" was children aged between 10 and 14, but the waterpark had also seen plenty of teenagers, parents and "lots and lots of students" during its time in Dunedin, Mr Travers said.

He hoped people would come away from the waterpark having had heaps of fun and with a greater confidence in the water.

"We’re getting lots and lots of smiles, probably quite a few aching muscles and a few bruises afterwards.

"The feedback’s just good — good, clean, honest fun.

"That’s the good thing about this job, we’re just entertaining people safely."

The company was planning on potentially returning to Dunedin on an annual basis, Mr Travers said.

tim.scott@odt.co.nz