Looking for a Yorkshire day out for all the family, that will leave the kids BEGGING to go back? Then look no further than the North Yorkshire Water Park where Adventure Awaits!

I know, I know. It sounds like a real advert-y line doesn’t it?!

But whilst yes this is an AD and yes this was a PR trip, I am not in any way shape or form exaggerating, when I say that the kids have asked about when they are going back to the North Yorkshire Water Park EVERY SINGLE DAY since we left. I kid you not.

And quite frankly, I agree. Because I had a blast too!!

Have you ever heard of the North Yorkshire Water Park?

No? Well up until 2017, the North Yorkshire Water Park comprised several fishing lakes with a mahoosive freshwater lake dedicated to water sports.

And that all still remains….

But did you know that in 2017, they opened their first ever inflatable Aqua Park?

And did you know that in 2022 they have added, not one but TWO more?!

AND!! (Yes, there’s more) not only is this place great for a splashtastic day out, they also have a climbing wall and zipline, along with a whole lot more!

A day out at the North Yorkshire Water Park is a brilliantly adventurous one!

Where is the North Yorkshire Water Park?

Located in Wykenham, a 15 minute drive away from Scarborough, the NYWP is in such a great location for a Summery day trip, or as part of a fab Yorkshire Coast holiday (in our opinion, there is nothing better!)

Ok, so give us the The North Yorkshire Water Park Lowdown!

Here’s what’s going on at the North Yorkshire Water Park!

The Aqua Parks

I’ve told you that as of 2022 there are now THREE Aqua Parks to choose from (yes three!)

But what is an Aqua Park?

Well, they are inflatable obstacle courses anchored into the water of the lake, and they are so. Much. Fun! They were the absolute highlight for my two, and each one is different.

Warrior Course.

This is brand new for 2022, and it was the course we tried out.

It was….. BRILLIANT!

Of the three, I’d suggest this is probably the most challenging. With massive inflatable slides, big jumps, rope swings, climbing walls, trampolines and obstacles. All on water. It is insanely fun.

I spent the whole time we were on there running around chasing the kids, who were obviously far more capable than I was at doing the obstacles! Oh, and each time they fell in, it made it all the more fun. And each time I fell in? Well that was just the icing on the cake!

Suitable from age 6+, those participating should be at least 1.2 metres tall, and they need to be able to swim 50m with a buoyancy aid to be able to get to the course from the side of the lake.

Wipeout.

We didn’t get to try this one out first hand but this is DEFINITELY on the list to do next!

The kids’ reason for this? There’s a giant a swing into the water (remember how I said falling in is the best bit?!) But also because there is a series of different obstacles to the Warrior course, which I think complements it perfectly!

This one has inflatable slides, swings, climbing frames, stepping stones and a whole lot more! A little smaller in terms of size than the Warrior course, but it still looks just as fun!  

It is also suitable for children ages 6 upwards, with a height restriction of at least 1.2m and participants must be able to swim 50m with a buoyancy aid.

Splash Kingdom.

This is brand new for 2022 and is suitable for ages 3-7.

An enclosed inflatable obstacle course, this one is great for the younger visitors who don’t want to miss out on the Aqua Park fun! It is a great option for the younger kids, or for those less confident in the water!

What other water sports are there at the North Yorkshire Water Park?

NYWP also offers stand up paddleboarding, wake boarding, open water swimming courses, fishing, kayaking, pedalos, electric boats, and sailing. (Age restrictions apply, check the North Yorkshire Water Park website for more details).

Is it just watersports at the North Yorkshire Water Park?

Well I can answer that with a capital NO! There is plenty to make this a truly adventurous day out!

The Zip-Line

Oooooooh! At the Reluctant Explorers, we are all mega fans of a good zipline! And to be honest, I can think of nothing more fun than a 250 glide across a beautiful lake!

The zip-line is suitable for those aged over 6, and the NYWP will provide everything you need!

Climbing Wall

Suitable for the over 6’s, there are 6 different climbing courses to challenge you on the climbing wall!

As always, I was wholeheartedly shown up by my two. And I definitely need to work on my abseiling techniques.

But don’t worry, the instructor was MEGA, and absolutely did not laugh when I fell on my bum! (And for that, I shall be forever grateful!)

Want some top tips for visiting the North Yorkshire Water Park with kids?

Course you do! Here are the answers to some of our own questions we had before visiting the park.

What do you need to bring and what’s provided by the Aqua Park?

The park provides a short wetsuit, included in the price. If you want to upgrade to a full length suit, it costs extra. Safety equipment, including helmets and flotation aids are also provided by North Yorkshire Water Park,.

You need to bring a swimming outfit, towels and water shoes. (if you have them!)

The NYWP can also provide water socks and gloves at an extra cost, although these are not compulsory or essential they help with grip and keeping your extremities a bit warmer for those really cold days!

But it’s the UK, it’s cold and I’m going to freeze!

Do NOT be put off by the Great British Summer weather! Whilst we visited on a sunny day it was by no means warm. The longer length wetsuits were absolutely brilliant at keeping warm, and having two kids who are NEVER warm (honestly, you wouldn’t think they were born and bred in Yorkshire!) this was a godsend. They didn’t want to get out of the water after the time was up, which I think says it all!

If you are concerned, a top tip from us would be to bury a hot water bottle in and amongst your dry towels, so they are toasty and warm when you get them out of the bag at the end!

Where can I get changed?  

Everything you would expect at a water park is there. There are changing facilities, which were immaculately clean, with family changing areas, as well as male and female areas, and a shower area. There were toilets (obvs!) Basically all the facilities you need to bring the family to the water park!

There are no typical style lockers, but the car park is next door to the changing area and directly overlooks the Aqua Park, so you are encouraged to lock your items in your car and use the key safe in reception (£2).

Where can I eat?

I am not kidding when I say this. I had to make the kids sit down to eat.

They didn’t ask for snacks, nor did they think that lunch was important on account of there being SO MANY EXCITING THINGS TO DO!

I KNOW!

But if you, like me, have to persuade the kids that eating is probably a good thing then there are two places to chow down at the NYWP. The main café has loads of indoor and outdoor seating (overlooking the aqua park) and serves tasty kid friendly menu, including pizzas and burgers.

There are snacks and drinks too and the prettiest ice cream van on the planet!

The climbing wall and zipline, are located in a slightly different place (don’t worry, it’s only a few minutes walk from the main car park) but there is also a place for snacks there (fries, snacks and drinks, as well as toilets) in case you don’t have the time to head back to the café.

Dogs? Can we take them?

NYWP is dog friendly (on leads and under close control) Plus, it has a dog friendly range of ice cream! There are walking trails around the park, which are also suitable for bikes.

Have I covered it all?

Well in case we haven’t, have a whistlestop tour of our day!

After we arrived in the massive car park (loads of room, no worries there), we headed over to Reception to check in and deal with the waivers. A quick play on the play park was followed by getting the wet suits (a super simple process). After getting the wet suit on the wrong way round the first time….. (DOH! Note to self, zip is at the BACK!) we headed over to the Warrior safety briefing. The Aqua Park has timed slots. Wipeout on the hour, Warrior on the half hour, and you need to arrive in good time for your briefing. The climbing wall and zipline are a few minutes walk from the Aqua Park (again the activities are preceded by a safety briefing, so arrive in good time). For those not participating in the activities, there are viewing areas (handily right next to the café and snack shack!) Our 5 hours at the park absolutely flew by! The staff were incredibly friendly, super helpful, and excellent with the kids.

Thank you North Yorkshire Water Park for having us!  We had a brilliant time!

PLEASE NOTE! Our trip to the North Yorkshire Water Park was a hosted day out in return for us writing a review and sharing on our social media channels. This blog is written as a result of this AD-PR Trip. All opinions are my own, and the information is accurate as of June 2022.