Splash, surf and ride at Desaru waterpark

Another one of my favourite attractions is the Surf Wall, a safe and high-energy surf simulator. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, you can try it!

A surfing noob like myself needs not worry. A trainer on the ground helps you to ride the radical artificial wave. Beginners learn to boogie board, also known as bodyboard, a fun and simple way to ride the wave.

First, get into position by wading into the water and gently lie down with your belly on the board. Make sure your hips are in contact with the tail of the board while your hands are placed on its top corners.

Trust me, it’s not as easy as it looks. I struggle to keep my balance, but after a while, I start to get the hang of it. I arch my back and keep my head up. For better control, I keep my elbows on the board and just follow the wave.

The Surf Wall can accommodate up to five boogie boarders or two stand-up surfers at a time. The Surf Wall stays open after park operating hours to cater for night games and activities.

The waterpark is home to one of the biggest wave pools in the world with some of the biggest man-made waves. It holds more than 15 million litres of water over 1.2ha. The waves are not always choppy though. But once the tide starts to kick in, everybody will enjoy the ride on the floaties. Oh, and floaties are free.

Guests can relax and enjoy the wave pool views from the Beachside Cabanas (with extra charges), or lounge along the 170m-long sandy shoreline of Tidal Wave Beach.

If you love a relaxing river “ride”, head to Penawar River. It is a 350m-long, looping lazy river that winds along a lush riverbank and “fishing villages”. You can float and just enjoy the scenery. Spread throughout the sand-lined Penawar River, the Penawar Huts feature economy cabanas, available for rent.

Families with young children may want to spend more time at Kids Ahoy. The zone has three age-appropriate play areas filled with waterplay equipment and 13 water slides. These zones are great favourites with the younger visitors, from toddlers to tweens.