North Devon Wake Park with kids - our aqua park review!

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If you’re seeking an exhilarating yet family-friendly adventure in North Devon, look no further than North Devon Wake Park – they have a fabulous inflatable aqua park. Situated near Bideford, this aquatic haven offers loads of activities tailored for all ages and skill levels. From its expansive inflatable Aqua Park to wakeboarding lessons and serene open-water swimming, there’s something for everyone. So, here’s what we thought about our aqua park session and North Devon Wake Park – and all of the details you’ll want before a visit with the kids.

Visit: May 2025

Where is North Devon Wake Park located?

Tucked away in the rolling countryside just outside Bideford, North Devon Wake Park is part of the Milky Way Adventure Park site near the quaint village of Clovelly (EX39 5RY). It’s well signposted and easy to reach by car, making it an ideal stop for holidaymakers exploring the North Devon coast. Being right next door to The Milky Way Adventure Park, it’s the perfect companion activity for families looking to pack a whole day with adventure – we actually did both in one day and had such a great time! (Though we were shattered by the end of it! 😂)

Our Aqua Park experience

North Devon Wake Park has a very laid back vibe, so don’t panic if you’re feeling a bit nervous (or you feel silly wearing a wet suit!) – it’s very chilled and you’ll soon forget about it once you’re clambering all over the aqua park. After checking in at reception – you’ll need to arrive 45 minutes before your session is due to start – you can pop into the changing rooms to get into your swimwear.

We visited in mid May and, although we were fortunate to have a sunny day, the water was still very cold so we opted for wet suits. There is an extra charge for these – currently £3 for short suits and £4 for long. Jay and the kids opted for short ones, but I went for long and was very glad of it – I’m always freezing but it did a great job at keeping me warm! (My husband and son didn’t want a close-up wet suit photo – can’t think why 😂 – so here’s a picture of my daughter and I all ready to go!)

The changing rooms are basic but functional, and there’s plenty of seating for spectators to watch the action while you wait for your session to start. The lockers are £1, and you can give your key to reception to look after while you’re doing your session. Once you’re all geared up to go, head to the shelter near the inflatable to get your life-jacket (free and compulsory) and watch the safety video. We enjoyed a one-hour session on the aqua park obstacle course – which turned out to be one of the highlights of our Devon holiday – Finn and Lola absolutely adored it!

The course is a floating maze of inflatables on the lake with slides, balance beams, monkey bars and even a hamster wheel! It was super tiring but great fun. (Note that children must be able to swim 25m, though this can be aided.) There are lifeguards dotted around the obstacle course (three for our session) so you can relax knowing the kids are OK even when you’re navigating the obstacle course elsewhere, and they gave the kids tips along the way too. I think this also offers extra peace of mind if you choose not to take part yourself too, as adults can watch if they’d prefer.

Honestly, getting into the cold lake at the start of the session was the hardest bit! 😂 Once we’d braved swimming to the inflatables we soon warmed up climbing all over it! Lola adored jumping off some of the higher bits, but I think Finn’s favourite moment was making us fall over repeatedly in the hamster wheel! To use the main aqua park at North Devon Wake Park, children must be at least 6 years old and under 8s must be accompanied on the equipment. For children aged 8-16, adults are fine to watch from the viewing area (if you’d rather stay on dry land!) but you must remain on site.

Other activities on offer

If bouncing across giant inflatables on the aqua park isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do at North Devon Wake Park. The site also offers wakeboarding lessons for all ages and abilities. Using a straight-line cable system, it’s a great place for beginners to try the sport without the pressure of waves. Knee-boarding is an option for those just starting out, and for the more advanced there are ramps dotted around the course – the people wakeboarding whilst we were there were so impressive. It looked like great fun!

For thrill-seekers, you can also book a Ringo to hang on tight as you’re whipped across the lake on an inflatable ring – huge fun for older kids and teenagers. There’s also stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP) and a unique SUPstacle course, which combines paddle-boarding with a floating obstacle challenge – this has a minimum age of 8 years. Open water swimming is available too. For younger adventurers aged 4–8, the Wibit Kids Course offers a scaled-down version of the aqua park – so, if you’ve got little ones (or a family with mixed age kids) then there’s something to entertain everyone. This smaller course is £10 per child.

Planning your visit

If you’re planning to visit North Devon Wake Park for some fun with the kids, here’s everything you need to know:

Location: Higher Clovelly, Bideford, EX39 5RY.
Opening Hours: Typically 10am – 6.30pm but they’re not open every day, and there may be set time slots for certain activities so check the website to make your plans.
Booking: It’s advisable to book activities in advance to secure your preferred time slots.
What to bring: Swimwear, towels, sunscreen, water and a change of clothes. Wetsuits are available for hire, but you can bring your own too. You can also wear water shoes if you’d like, or aqua socks are available to purchase on site. (We went bare foot but I do think gripping may have been easier with them!)
Weather: The site is open unless there is extreme weather – and honestly since you’re there to get wet anyway a bit of rain won’t spoil your fun! There are sheltered areas for spectators to watch from too.
Parking: There’s plenty of free parking available in the car park on site.
Changing your booking: You can alter your booking if needed up to 72 hours before your session.

What facilities are on site?

There’s also a cafe area if you fancy a meal, or some snacks and drinks – which might come in handy for when your session is over. There’s a covered seating area by the cafe, and also benches dotted around the site if you want somewhere to sit. We brought snacks and drinks with us – and there was a tap for refilling water bottles too. In the changing room area, there are also toilets and you can shower too if you’d like – though I think there was a £1 charge. There’s also a small sand pit play area for little ones next to the aqua park too – perfect if you’ve got toddlers to entertain whilst the older ones enjoy the inflatables.

How much do the activities at North Devon Wake Park cost?

The activities vary in price, and they offer reduced prices for additional sessions too if one hour isn’t enough. There are also package offers as well, so it’s best to check their website or contact the site for up-to-date information on those. Here are the current prices for summer 2025:

Is it good value for money?

Obviously I can only comment on the aqua park, but the price for the inflatable obstacle course at North Devon Wake Park is currently £17 and I think it’s good value for money. We were all prepped before our hour started, so we had a full hour on the inflatables (which was enough – we were worn out by the end! 😂) and they also keep capacity lower than other sites to ensure it doesn’t get over-crowded even at peak times. It’s great fun, and if you’re holidaying in Devon with teenagers and older kids it’s bound to go down a treat! We did the activity as a family, but you can just pay for the kids and relax for an hour. I think it’s a great treat activity for the kids, for the summer or if you’re visiting Devon for a family holiday – and we’d definitely go again! 😊

Make sure you check out my review of The Milky Way Theme Park too – it’s right next door to the North Devon Wake Park and it’s also great fun if you’re looking for some more ideas for days out with the kids. And, if you’re holidaying in North Devon – make sure you check out my articles: The 10 best things to do in Devon with kids and Family holidays in Devon – the 12 best places to stay with kids to help you to plan your family holiday! Have fun.