Five of the best kid-friendly waterslides: Top family holiday resorts

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This was published 8 years ago

Five of the best kid-friendly waterslides: Top family holiday resorts

By Tracey Spicer
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The kids are making clucking sounds. But mother hen ain't goin' down.

We're at the top of a waterslide 10 – no, 20 – probably 50 metres high. All right. That's an exaggeration. It's five metres at best. And I'm frozen with fear.

At what age do we go from wildly adventurous to nervous jellyfish? Teens and tweens rate resorts on the number and gradient of the waterslides.

Energy to burn: Teens and tweens rate resorts on the number and gradient of waterslides.

Energy to burn: Teens and tweens rate resorts on the number and gradient of waterslides.

Adults – especially Mums, I'm ashamed to say – prefer not to partake.

Do we lose courage, along with placenta, after giving birth? Perhaps we're more aware of our mortality. Or maybe we'd just prefer a cocktail.

I have friend who loves this stuff, outlasting, outwitting and outplaying her kids. But, standing at the top, my heart is in my mouth. I blame the '80s. Remember those urban myths about razor blades stuck to slides? Mentally, I'm scarred by that image. (And that revolting stomach-dropping sensation…)

Still, there's nothing better than hanging out by the pool, cocktail in hand, while the kids ride waterslides over, and over, and over again.

Here are five of the best:

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SEA WORLD RESORT, GOLD COAST Personally, I'm no fan of dolphin shows. But the hotel has an excellent water-play area, SpongeBob SplashBash, with a tipping bucket, Patrick fountain, and LED light show. Family rooms start from $230 a night.

SOFITEL FIJI RESORT AND SPA, DENARAU This bendy slide is one of the best, accompanied by a trampoline in the ocean and the Big Bula Waterpark behind. All family rooms feature a Sony PlayStation, which is a bonus. Superior rooms, with two double beds, are from $362 a night.

TAUPO DEBRETTS SPA RESORT, NEW ZEALAND How good is this: a warm water playground with a four-storey slide and side-by-side hydroslides, so you can race each other. The oldies – that's us – can relax in one of two hot mineral pools or freshwater spas. Rooms start at $118 a night.

HARD ROCK HOTEL, BALI Here, you'll find the largest free-form pool in Bali, with a sand island, water park and undulating slides. Believe it or not, Bali is still the number one international destination for Australian families. Rooms are from $418 a night.

CENTARA GRAND WEST SANDS RESORT & VILLAS, PHUKET Home to Splash Jungle, this resort boasts exhilarating rides like Boomerango, which is more than 15 metres high. There's also a 335-metre lazy river and a six-level wave pool. Rooms start at $221 a night.

These can all be booked at hotels.com. Take a look at them in the gallery above.

So, I know you're wondering: Did I tackle the slide of doom? I'd like to say I built up the courage to do it. But the truth is the kids pushed me down. And it was awesome. I felt 12 years old again. Now I'm a superstar, according to the kids.

This is what I've been missing out on. Possibly, you too. So, ditch the cocktail. Just this once. And go on the ride of your life.

See also: The coolest places to take your family in 2016

See also: 20 unforgettable family holidays around the world

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