A video has surfaced on TikTok showing the current state of Canberra’s Big Splash in Macquarie.

On 18 December 2024, CD reported that Belconnen residents were facing a summer without one of their most beloved attractions, Big Splash.

At the time, the doors were closed, the pools were empty, the Big Splash website was under maintenance, and it was unlikely to reopen for the 2024/25 season.

In December, The Canberra Times reported in a letter to Sports Minister Yvette Berry that the Big Splash Management Team wanted to keep operating the facility and that they were sorry it wasn’t going to open for summer.

The Big Splash Waterpark Canberra Facebook page has since been deleted.

A video was posted on the raincloudexplore TikTok account on 31 March 2025 showcasing the emptiness of the still unopened water park and pool, using the words “Abandoned/vacant waterpark Canberra.”

The description in the video states: Everyone in Canberra knows this place. Its future is uncertain, but by the state it’s in, I’d say it’s not good. Very odd feeling coming here again #abandonedplaces #abandoned #urbex #canberra #urbexaustralia

The video has been viewed on TikTok more than 17,000 times, receiving hundreds of likes and shares.

The video was also shared on the Canberra Notice Board Group Facebook page, where it has garnered hundreds of likes.

Simone Ross commented on the post, saying it was an iconic water park that Canberra truly needed and is now lost.
“I used to take my girls as toddlers, a day trip from southside …,” she said.

“Canberra for its size and growth needs at least 2 big water parks, one each side, north & south, wake up government!”

Another, Monique Cox said “Not sure trespassing is the way to go…”

Ann Steele said: “Now that’s sad it was great back when it opened in the late 70s.”

Syliva Diener said: “It is sad that it hasn’t seen the joy of summer. Canberra really needs these places. It would be great if it was brought back to life with an indoor area so it didn’t have such a short period of use each year. I expect the speculation that it will turn into more ugly apartments is likely though.”

The video has since been removed from the TikTok account and reappeared with a slightly different version. The video has once again been removed.

RaincloudExplore, who did not wish to divulge their real name, told CD when the video was uploaded they believed that Splash Park was abandoned.

“I have recently spoken to a Big Splash worker who informed us that wasn’t the case,” she said.

She said the video was first deleted to make a second one without the faces of those who had entered the premises. The second one was deleted because the staff member had approached her.

“I wasn’t expecting it to go viral; none of my videos ever do. I posted it, went to sleep and had a million different notifications when I woke up,” RaincloudExplore said.

She said before she removed the video it had garnered 41,000 views.

I usually get 200 views,” she said.

RaincloudExplore said the current lack of ways to contact the venue was why those who entered thought the venue was abandoned “because everyone’s been ghosted with information”.

Information provided to her on Facebook also pointed towards the venue being abandoned.

The message the worker sent her said: “basically long story short is we were getting ready to open but last year our general manager, assistant and maintenance manager, they had to leave with valid reason. With trying to find new staff and the slides not working this past season, the owners felt unfit to open. She’ll be open this summer, hopefully.”

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