This post is sponsored by Big Kahuna’s Water Park, where every day feels like a tropical vacation.
If you’re looking to get away without actually going away, Big Kahuna’s Water Park in West Berlin can transport your family to an island vacation where it’s always sunny. This brand-new tropical theme (it was formerly Sahara Sam’s) is giving families a chance to escape on their newest attractions to surf, slide, and swim. Spending a day here feels like a beach vacation, especially riding the waves on “Flow Rider”—NJ’s only indoor body surf simulator. And for younger kids, there’s also an expanded water playground and tree house with lots of slides and climbers to have a water park experience on their level. With an opportunity to explore the 70,000 square feet of indoor water park attractions under a retractable roof, you’ll have a ball splashing and sliding the day away—especially during a spring break staycation when the weather is iffy. Ready to take the plunge? Read on for how to plan your day and escape to island time.
Pick your slide and speed at Big Kahuna’s Water Park
Float down the river at Big Kahuna’s Water Park. Photo Credit: Big Kahuna’s Water Park
The freshly updated tropical decor will make you feel like you’ve landed on an island far away, with tiki touches throughout, including boulders and colorful toucan bird sculptures, giving the whole park an authentic escape-to-Hawaii feel (coconuts, anyone?) Get in vacay mode on the Tiki Tides, where you can meander and float down the stream on an innertube and take in the tropical sights. After, head to one of the many slides and rides for both older and younger kids. At Mt. Kilimanjaro, the whole family can get in a tube for major sliding and splashing as the big tube “erupts” down the slide. Grab a tube with a kid (or go solo) down Snake Eyes or go tubeless down the body surfing, superfast 350-ft Riptide. Got a few speed demons in your mix? Challenge them to race in NJ’s only mat racer slides—Raging River, five-story, side-by-side, head-first mat racing slides that offer the most thrilling glide guaranteed to appease any speed junkie.
Get ready to hang ten
Play basketball in the pool at Big Kahuna’s Water Park. Photo taken at Big Kahuna’s Water Park
The surf’s always up at Big Kahuna’s, thanks to the Flow Rider, NJ’s only indoor body surf simulator. With an endless wave, budding surfers can learn to body surf and ride the tide on their bellies for the ultimate indoor surfing experience. While the minimum age to catch the wave is 8, kids can build up their skills and confidence in the surf, priming them for the real deal when the weather gets hot. If you’re not up for a surf, plenty of relaxing spots are nearby to sit and watch your surfers in the tide. After everybody has had their thrills, head for a dip in The Hidden Oasis, a huge pool for all ages with built-in underwater benches and plenty of space to scatter for a game of Marco Polo.
Find pint-sized fun in the Jungle Hideout
Chill out in the lazy river at Big Kahuna’s Water Park. Photo Credit: Big Kahuna’s Water Park
Got little ones who want their own space? Nestled within the park and away from the bigger slides and tubes is the Jungle Hideout, where littles can go wild in a treehouse village with colorful themes and climbing areas. Kids can let loose their imaginations and sense of adventure at this dynamic water playground, where they can splash around in the fountains, slip and slide through the tunnels, and stand under a giant dunking bucket having a ball getting wet. With lifeguards nearby and slides that range from low to twisting, kids can build confidence and independence going down with an adult or by themselves. For kids that aren’t up to sliding, there’s also a water table and full-on splash zone for sensory fun.
Take a break and do island time at Big Kahuna’s Water Park
Dry off and gear up to play arcade games. Photo taken at Big Kahuna’s Water Park
What’s an island vacay without a tropical (adult) beverage? Order up a breezy cocktail from the Sand Bar and lunch for the kids at The Island Time Café near the water or the Chill Zone near the arcade. With fan favorites and new Caribbean-themed options, you can find anything that suits your family’s taste. And the fun doesn’t stop out of the water—after drying off, head to the arcade with air hockey, pop-a-shot, video games, and boardwalk-style activities with a treasure trove of fun prizes. Want the ultimate island experience? Enhance your daycation with a VIP Cabana, with lounges, deck chairs, a table, and complimentary bottled water, and spread out in a private oasis.
What to know before you go
Get ready to get wet at Big Kahuna’s Water Park. Photo Credit: Big Kahuna’s Water Park
Big Kahuna’s is open on weekends and every day during spring break, March 31 through April 16, including Easter, with varying hours. For Spring Break, special ticket prices of $29.99 (regularly $49.99) are available and good from April 1- April 16. Plan on going more than once? Opt for a Season Pass Deal for $69.99, giving you unlimited visits during Spring Break and through December 31, 2023. NJMOMs can access tickets for $28.99 using promo code NJMOMS.
Lockers are available for rent, and family changing stalls are available between restrooms. Parking is free, and waterproof items such as gear, water shoes, and phone cases can be purchased on-site if necessary. Got a group? Check out their new packages for birthday parties, corporate events, summer camp outings, and school trips. And when temps heat up from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, you can also take the action outside, where the outdoor waterpark with a 12,000 square foot wave pool and Tiki Bar are open.
For more information about Big Kahuna’s Water Park, check out their website, Facebook and Instagram.
