On a hot day, there’s no better way to cool down than getting doused at spray pads, wading pools, fountains, and dunking buckets. Here are the best wave pools and water parks in the GTA for kids, tweens, and teens alike.
And check out the wading pools and splash pads we love within the city limits, too.
Splash Works at Canada’s Wonderland
Canada’s Wonderland is best known for its giant roller coasters and other thrill rides, but it also has a water park with high-speed slides, a free-fall raft ride, a lazy river, kiddie pool and kiddie slides, spray pads for all ages, plus Canada’s largest wave pool. The newest attraction is a dizzying spiral tube ride called Typhoon.
9580 Jane St., Vaughan905-832-8131
Open late May–early September
The Wave Pool
The GTA’s only wave pool is in Richmond Hill. Grab a mat for body surfing or a tube to lazily float, or try the 160-foot twisting water slide. The 4-foot-deep pool has a beach-style entry that’s great for little kids. The entire pool is indoors and has palm trees, a spa pool, and sauna.
Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre, 5 Hopkins St., Richmond Hill905-508-9283
Open year-round
Wild Waterworks
Just a hop-skip beyond the GTA, Hamilton’s Wild Waterworks has high-adrenaline water slides with fitting names like Vertigo, Corkscrew, and Night Rider, as well as an outdoor wave pool, a lazy river, and the Little Squirt Works area with sprays, slides, and wading pool for young kids.
680 Van Wagners Beach Rd., Hamilton905-547-6141
Open early June–early September
Kidstown Water Park
It’s billed as the only water park operated by the City of Toronto, but be aware that Kidstown is not a thrill park like Splash Works—it is a step up from your local splash pad, however. Kidstown has fun water features for kids from preschool through grade-school ages: a giant tipping bucket, splash pad, waterfalls and water tubes and funnels, and a wading pool with slide for little ones. You’ll also find picnic tables, washrooms, and change rooms. The water park is in L’Amoreaux Park, with playgrounds, bike trails, and sports fields.
3159 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough416-392-2489
Open mid-June–Labour Day weekend
Splash Island at the Toronto Zoo
Cool off while you’re at the zoo with a visit to Splash Island. Enjoy water slides, water-spouting orcas and seals, giant sprays, waterfalls, and tipping buckets, and a boat for kids to captain in the centre of the wading pool. Splash Island is best for younger grade-school kids and preschoolers.
2000 Meadowvale Rd., Toronto416-392-5929
Open late June–mid-September
Cedar Park Resort Water Park
If you’re east of Downtown Toronto, consider a day trip to Cedar Park Resort Water Park in Bowmanville. The park has a water playground with jets, fountains, and a dump bucket; a splash pad and small slides for younger kids and a twisting tube slide and two other big water slides for older kids. Also on site: a full-size swimming pool, picnic areas, mini-golf, and playgrounds.
6296 Cedar Park Rd., Bowmanville905-263-8109
Open early June–early September
Wet ‘n Wild Toronto
Reopened in 2017 after extensive renovations to the former Wild Water Kingdom, the new and improved Wet n’ Wild Toronto features racing slides, tube slides, a mammoth raft ride, a water play structure, wave pool, zip lines, and, for younger kids, Wet ‘n Wild Jr., with kid-friendly slides and spray toys.
7855 Finch Ave. W., Brampton416-369-0123
Open late May–early September
PHOTO: WET ‘N WILD TORONTO
