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EVERYONE WANTS TO ENJOY AN OUTING IN SAFE SURROUNDINGS.TRY THIS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE FAMILY EXPERIENCE,WRITES
WATER and adventure are the two words that sum up Craig Everett. We are talking about a Kwazulunatal businessman who wants to be out there, in the thick of it, getting his boots muddy, turning on the taps and creating a larger-than-life extravaganza.
This 43-year old family man has had plenty of experience doing precisely that all over Africa. Now, he says, it’s KZN’S turn.
We need to look no closer than a business park in Waterfall to learn a little more about what inspires him. From the outside the building that embraces Wet Rock Adventures enterprise looks like a large factory premises – but walk inside, hear the splash of water, look up at the massive tunnels snaking across the inside space, listen to the squeaks and squeals of the adventuresome, and you realise that you are in a crazy water wonderland where huge rocky outbursts and magical waterways suggest an ultra-lively imagination.
Everett wisely suggests that we have a quick chat in his office before doing the adventure tour.
“Once you are out there it’s a bit noisy,” he says with a grin. “And I mean really noisy!”
Door closed, cup of coffee and a short backtrack to where his water park idea began.
“I’ve always been an outdoor type,” says Everett. “It’s a legacy, I guess, from my family’s farming days in Bindura, Zimbabwe.”
Weston Agricultural College at Mooi River was the ideal choice for this outdoor boy, who is happiest in the bush, away from the bright lights. After school it was a natural progression to look at working in game lodges and to learn about game lodge management
“I have never regretted it because it opened up so many opportunities and taught me so much about hotel entertainment,” he says.
One of those opportunities was to develop the idea of creating naturallooking adventure zones in areas where there was little in the way of entertainment for children and families.
And so his company, Rocky Waters, was born, which focused on creating water-based fun zones for a number of big hotel service providers.
“It was a great career for me – never a moment of boredom. I got to work in many parts of Africa and it always gave me so much delight to see how families enjoyed what we created.”
But, like so many successful and dynamic entrepreneurs, the imagination and ideas factory was still working overtime.
“I had this dream of opening a water and rock park in a semi-urban area like Hillcrest or Waterfall. I believed that if my business could work in far-off places, why not closer to home.”
With that idea, Everett set about looking for a premises big enough to house what he envisaged.
“As soon as we found the ideal spot, which was here in Brackenhill Road in an industrial park, I decided there and then to get it up and running as soon as possible. Often, if you hesitate too long you let these ideas slip away.”
With the help of a number of
LIZ CLARKE
keen partners, Wayne Howat, Craig Banfield, Svend Lutz and manager of Rocky Waters, Derick van der Linde, Everett set about bringing the dream to fruition.
“We were able to convert three factory premises into one huge area without too much difficulty,” explains Everett. “Then came the fun bit, designing where all the adventure areas would be.”
At this point one imagines that a flotilla of specialists such as architects, designers, water experts, quantity surveyors and foremen would be on tap to take the project forward, but not a bit of it.
“We knew exactly what we wanted. Yes, we would definitely need good advice, but nothing that good sense and a lot of experience in the industry wouldn’t tell us. We mapped out the watercourse with our feet, chalked in where the slides would go and where the water tunnelling would wrap around for best effect. Then we looked for an ideal spot for the baby pool where mums and dads could sit with their little ones.”
One big advantage is that the facility is not affected by the weather. “If it’s blowing a gale or pouring with rain we are still open for business.”
Air quality control and ensuring that the water temperature remains at a pleasant, but healthy, 31ºc are the two non-negotiables, says Van der Linde, who has overseen much of the installation process.
Near to completion, the facility was missing one vital element – a refreshment station for hungry children and their families.
“When the offer came in to create a refreshment zone as part of the family outing experience, we grabbed the chance,” says Everett.
Discussions finished, it was time to enjoy the wet and wild first-hand. Rowdy, yes it is. Fun, definitely.
A lazy 130m continuous river, knee deep, is filled with children paddling in bright-orange tubes. Add to that seven water slides for different ages, tubing in a tunnel that takes you on a splash dash and you get to understand why there’s so much noise.
A mom carrying a load of cupcakes and a bunch of balloons heads towards the party zone.
“Parties for all ages is one of our big attractions,” says Everett, who believes the Wet Rock Adventure Centre is the only one of its kind in Africa.
“It’s an ideal spot for children to let their hair down in a safe environment – a number of lifeguards are always on duty. We can also cater for private functions such 21st birthday parties or other special occasions.”
Everett says he has ideas for the future. “When we find the ideal spot for another water park…”
Watch this space! lizclarke4@gmail.com far.
ENTREPRENEUR TIPS
Even if your idea works really well and you are able to develop a good business, be careful not to overstretch yourself by moving on to the next step too early. Bide your time and take a deep breath.
Enjoy what you have done so
For more information visit www. wetrockadventures.co.za