How do we lose the 'boring & dull' stereotype?

[TooFar]

Instead of a traditional theme park, why not turn the Marion pool complex into an indoor/outdoor water park. If Marion is too small an area then I’m sure there are other locations. They are much more fun, specially if the water is heated somewhat. I am surprised that there is only one in Australia. They are all over North America, even cold cities in Canada have them. Check out this one in Quebec City, a place not know for warm weather. http://www.valcartier.com/default.aspx?LA=EN
Or how about down south in Myrtle beach http://www.myrtlewaves.com/
It does not matter the weather or proximity to the beach, pretty much every city, town and tourist region in NA has a water park.

[pushbutton]

There are two water parks in the Gold Coast (Wet N Wild and White Water World) so there's a minimum of two in Australia, unless you meant specifically there is only one indoor / outdoor combination waterpark, in which case I am not aware of where that is.

BRILLIANT idea though and I think that could well be the perfect solution, especially since they're already planning a swimming complex there anyway.

I reckon the site is just about big enough, although it wouldn't leave much room for parking, but if they can reach an agreement with Westfield that their customers can use Westfields parking then that's no problem really. The waterpark operators could pay a reasonable fee each year to Westfield for that.

Unfortunately I think it's highly unlikely this will actually happen at Marion since they've already taken God only knows how long to stuff around with the idea of building a pool there (and last time I looked they STILL haven't actually started!) and I believe the idea at the moment is to make it a venue primarily for serious sporting swimming rather than family fun.

Perhaps another solution would be to use the existing Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Once the new Marion pool opens (assuming it eventually finally does) there will be no real need for the Adelaide Aquatic Centre to provide "serious" swimming facilities, so they could convert it into a waterpark.

Here's my ideas for Adelaide Aquatic Centre:
- Merge the two main pools into one big pool and in so doing, alter the shape to make it more of a lagoon style pool with a curved shape.
- Remove the spectator seating and further extend the main pool into that space too
- Keep the separate kiddie pool as is for young children
- Install a wave machine at one side of the newly merged main pool, and if possible another area for "rapids" (probably at the end nearest the spas)
- At the other end of the pool, where the spectator seating was, install two major flume rides such as a master-blaster and spacebowl
- This might need special approval from the council and whoever else, because I think it's officially parkland space at present (not sure) but on the land outside the entrance to the Aquatic Centre which now has a couple of public barbecues, public toilets, bicycle racks, and a childrens outdoor play area, build the outdoor section of the waterpark (and of course fence it appropriately).
- Have several different size water slides and a good variety of other fun interactive water features in this new outdoor pool.
- Alter the layout and location of the entrance to the centre so that the outdoor section becomes fully integrated with the indoor section and people can easily walk from one to the other. With some very good planning it might even be possible to have it so you can swim from indoors to outdoors, but due to the layout I don't think so.
- Make some further cosmetic changes to the internal and external appearance of the building so that it looks like an exciting, modern family fun waterpark. I really think that could be done without too much difficulty, with a little imagination.

Ideally to put the icing on the cake, as it were, I would then like to see the development of a big resort style hotel adjacent to the waterpark, to make it a fully functioning holiday destination. I'm not sure there's any suitable land there though, so another alternative is to provide very good, very cheap and very frequent public transport between the waterpark and places where there is / will be good hotels.
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[Wayno]

...install a wave machine...

yes please!

[Will]

I was having a think, and realised that we here in Adelaide already have some potentially world class attractions, however these attractions are hamstrung by their shocking locations. Take the National Wine Centre and the Bicentennial Conservatory. They could have been the jewels in our tourism crowns, but their locations in the backwaters of the Botanic Gardens make them hard to find. Also take the National Motor Museum at Birdwood. It is regarded as one of the world's best and most interesting motor museums, yet it is located in a hard to reach and distant location.

Although probabaly too late to do anything about the National Wine Centre or the Biccentennial Conservatory, the National Motor Museum should be relocated to Adelaide. Such amove would create a wolrd class tourist attraction in the CBD, but such a central location would stimulate greater visitor numbers to the museum!

And another thing, the ACC's proposed museum of Adelaide, should be located in a prominenet historical building. I propose either Edmund Wright House or the Torrens Building. Judging by similar museums in Sydney and Melbourne, if done correctly such a museum could become a premier tourist attraction, thus it should be located in a premier location. We should resist the temptation to locate it in a backwater location, just because it is easier or because a plot of land is available.

[Wayno]

I was having a think, and realised that we here in Adelaide already have some potentially world class attractions, however these attractions are hamstrung by their shocking locations. Take the National Wine Centre and the Bicentennial Conservatory. They could have been the jewels in our tourism crowns, but their locations in the backwaters of the Botanic Gardens make them hard to find. Also take the National Motor Museum at Birdwood. It is regarded as one of the world's best and most interesting motor museums, yet it is located in a hard to reach and distant location.

Although probabaly too late to do anything about the National Wine Centre or the Biccentennial Conservatory, the National Motor Museum should be relocated to Adelaide. Such amove would create a wolrd class tourist attraction in the CBD, but such a central location would stimulate greater visitor numbers to the museum!

You are spot on Will, and many of the S-A discussion forums lament the "spread out" nature of our attractions (wine centre, motor museum, footy stadiums, swimming centre, etc etc etc). It causes traffic problems, and plays against an efficient PT system. At the same time, being spread out is what we are in many many unchangeable respects, so are there better ways of leveraging such a setup?

And another thing, the ACC's proposed museum of Adelaide, should be located in a prominenet historical building. I propose either Edmund Wright House or the Torrens Building. Judging by similar museums in Sydney and Melbourne, if done correctly such a museum could become a premier tourist attraction, thus it should be located in a premier location. We should resist the temptation to locate it in a backwater location, just because it is easier or because a plot of land is available.

Somewhere near the NE Corner or near Vic Square would be great. Intersting to note that even our CBD is widely "spread out" compared to other aussie cities. As a comparison our downtown city is 2.56sq km whilst melbourne is approx 0.6sq km! They have 4 times the population with a city of 1/4 the land size!! resulting in 16times the friday night crowd density!!!

[pushbutton]

Crowd density is a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, so give me 'spread out' anyday!

[Wayno]

Crowd density is a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, so give me 'spread out' anyday!

i'm in favour of having areas of both - pick and choose depending upon your mood.

The question being how do we make "spread out" more attractive - esp to the younger demographic? An advertising campaign that says "Welcome to Adelaide, spread out and make yourself comfortable" might appeal to more middle-aged couples who want to cruise the B&Bs and wineries, but does not really address the overall boring & dull stereotype...

[Cruise]

We should hold a B&S ball in Victoria Park, that would be pretty interesting!!!

[TooFar]

There are two water parks in the Gold Coast (Wet N Wild and White Water World) so there's a minimum of two in Australia, unless you meant specifically there is only one indoor / outdoor combination waterpark, in which case I am not aware of where that is.-

My Bad, I have not been there in a long time.

Ideally to put the icing on the cake, as it were, I would then like to see the development of a big resort style hotel adjacent to the waterpark, to make it a fully functioning holiday destination. I'm not sure there's any suitable land there though, so another alternative is to provide very good, very cheap and very frequent public transport between the waterpark and places where there is / will be good hotels.
-

Yeah, something like this would be unique in Australia.
http://www.sixflagsgreatescapelodge.com ... erpark.asp

[pushbutton]

Well it wouldn't really be unique. Sea World on the Gold Coast includes a small (but nevertheless decent size) outdoor water park, and it has Sea World Resort and hotel right next to it.

[TooFar]

The one I reference above is completely indoor, it is part of the hotel/resort complex. You never have to step outside.

Across the road is the Six Flags that includes an outdoor Waterpark.

[pushbutton]

I see. Personally given a choice I prefer outdoor waterparks.

Obviously they are more dependent on good weather though, but they're more fun when the weather is suitable. It's just nice being out in the sun.

The ideal solution for Adelaides climate though would be a park that is part indoor, part outdoor. We do have enough nice weather for the outdoor part to be usable most of the time, but not all of the time hence we need the indoor bit too ideally.

[Pat28]

I believe new topic is in order - Indoor/Outdoor Waterpark for Adelaide.

Back on topic, so how do we lose the dull and boring stereotype?

[Cruise]

Back on topic, so how do we lose the dull and boring stereotype?

Decriminalise Marijuana

[Shuz]

Back on topic, so how do we lose the dull and boring stereotype?

Decriminalise Marijuana

It already is.