# Splash Planet > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Splash_Planet > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Splash_Planet.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_Planet > Source revision: 1341541615 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|New Zealand amusement/water park}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox amusement park | name = Splash Planet | image = Splash Planet.jpg | location = Grove Road, [Hastings, New Zealand](/source/Hastings%2C_New_Zealand) | location2 = | location3 = | previous_names = Fantasyland{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=3558802|title=School holiday hints to keep all the family happy|work=[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald)|first=Heather|last=Ramsay|page=2|date=2008-04-07|accessdate=2010-04-16}} | season = November—March as a full water park; partial opening on weekends during rest of year{{cite web |url= https://www.splashplanet.co.nz/hours/ |title=Splash Planet Opening Hours}} | opening_date = Opened as Fantasy Land in 1967, Splash Planet in 1998 | status = Operating | area = {{cvt|6.5|ha}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hawkesbay.co.nz/index.php/20080110457/News/Local-News/Splash-Planet...fun...-wet-and-wild.html |title=All About Hawkes Bay - Splash Planet...fun... wet and wild |first= |last= |publisher=Hawke's Bay |date=2008-01-30}} | rides = 12 | coasters = | water_rides = 7 | owner = | slogan = ''Hawke's Bay's Number One Family Attraction!'' | homepage = {{URL|www.splashplanet.co.nz}} | coordinates = {{Coord|-39.644041|176.863649|region:NZ_type:landmark|display=it}} }} '''Splash Planet''' is an [amusement park](/source/amusement_park) and [water park](/source/water_park) located in the city of [Hastings, New Zealand](/source/Hastings%2C_New_Zealand). The park was opened in its current form in 1998. ==Fantasyland== Fantasyland first opened in Easter of 1967.{{cite web |url=http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/news/communitylink/2005/may/28.htm |title = Community Link May 28, 2005 |first= |last= |publisher=Hastings District Council |date=2005-05-28}} It contained several attractions, including a [miniature railway](/source/miniature_railway), [mini-golf](/source/mini-golf), a steamboat ride, play structures, and a few flat rides. By the 1990s, the park was beginning to show its age, and the Hastings District Council proposed that it be redeveloped into a [waterpark](/source/waterpark). At the time of its conception the council had decided that the park would be a money spinner and was certain that it would supplement the taxes that local residents paid. The park was also hoped to attract people from outside the region to visit the region and spend money not only at the park but also at local business within the city. ==Construction== Construction of the new waterpark facilities was done by Alexander Construction, a local company who has worked on many other large attractions within Hawke's Bay. Work began in July 1998, and finished before the new year, taking only 4.5 months to complete. This was done at a cost of $4,700,000.{{Cite web|url=https://alexanderconstruction.co.nz/project/splash-planet/|title = Splash Planet}} ==Referendum== Before Splash Planet left the drawing board, the Hastings District Council put the decision on whether or not Splash Planet would be built to public [referendum](/source/referendum). The referendum outlined a number of policies in an attempt to gain the locals' confidence. These policies included the fact that Splash Planet would be self-sustaining and would not cost the taxpayers any money. ==Financial issues== Despite being sold to ratepayers as a money-making venture, Splash Planet is projected to require a ratepayer subsidy of NZ$1.7 million for the 2024–25 season (budgeted at NZ$1.42 million).{{Cite web |date=2025-05-25 |title=Splash Planet pulling the plug early to cover costs |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/splash-planet-in-hastings-to-close-early-to-cover-costs/52HELPDWDVAGNE5K3YMV6H24LE/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} As of the end of January 2025, visitor numbers were down by 15,000 compared to the previous season, and revenue was NZ$558,000 unfavourable to budget, partially offset by NZ$232,000 in cost savings.{{Cite web |title=Splash Planet closing early with poor weather and low visitor numbers |url=https://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/our-council/my-hastings/article/3353/splash-planet-closing-early-with-poor-weather-and-low-visitor-numbers |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=Hastings District Council |language=en-NZ}} Splash Planet closed five weeks earlier than scheduled in March 2025 due to poor weather and staffing shortages, further exacerbating the shortfall.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=Splash Planet closes five weeks earlier than usual |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/542301/splash-planet-closes-five-weeks-earlier-than-usual |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} ==Attractions== thumb|250px|Splash Planet's "Sky Castle" === Wet attractions === * Double Dipper - Inline tube slide * Super Cruiser - Open body slide * Sky Tunnel - Enclosed body slide * Master Blaster - open/enclosed body slide * Sky Castle Screamer - Pair of racing body slides * Never Ending River - A [lazy river](/source/lazy_river) * [Bumper boats](/source/Bumper_boats) * Indoor heated pool thumb|250px|The Pirate Ship at Fantasyland in 1979 which was a victim of arson in 2015. === Dry attractions === * Fantasyland Express - A [miniature railway](/source/miniature_railway) ride originally part of Fantasyland * Formula Fun Karts - [Go-kart](/source/Go-kart)s * Jungle Jeeps - Motorized jeep racing, slower than go-karts * Flying Fox - Two 40 metre flying foxes * [Mini golf](/source/Mini_golf) * Tiny Town - Young children's play area * [Beach volleyball](/source/Beach_volleyball) ===Former attractions=== * Pirate Ship - a play structure that was burnt down by arsonists in 2015. The ship, built mainly by volunteers and an original attraction when the park was first established as Fantasyland in 1967, was ablaze when the first of three fire crews from Hastings and Napier arrived after the alarm was raised at 6:01{{nbsp}}am.{{cite web|title=Pirate ship at Hastings' Splash Planet burns down|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/67614507/pirate-ship-at-hastings-splash-planet-burns-down|website=The Dominion Post|date=5 April 2015|publisher=Fairfax|accessdate=20 December 2015}} ===Battle of Hastings paintball event=== In late 2013, a major paintball event known as ''the Battle of Hastings'' took place at Splash Planet. It drew players from around New Zealand to compete in massive paintball battles. The event was held again in October 2014. ==References== {{Commons category|Splash Planet}} {{reflist}} Category:Water parks in New Zealand Category:Amusement parks in New Zealand Category:1967 establishments in New Zealand Category:Amusement parks opened in 1967 Category:Hastings, New Zealand --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Splash Planet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_Planet) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_Planet?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.