Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of spending the day at Adventure Park, and although the park wasn’t officially open to the public, it was buzzing with excitement. The team was shooting the TVC for the upcoming season, and—much to their delight—my kids were invited to jump in and be part of it. (Let’s just say they are now extremely grounded Z-grade celebrities.)
From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by Nina, and let me tell you—every park needs a Nina. She is one of those rare people who embodies the heartbeat of a place: knowledgeable, passionate, endlessly patient, and clearly someone who keeps everything moving forward with a smile. Spending the day with her meant not only seeing the park, but truly understanding its soul.
Adventure Park itself is a testament to vision and grit. Hearing the story of Ron Salmon, the man behind the magic, was one of the highlights of my visit. What was once an old cattle farm became a place of joy after Ron literally dug out a lake—and from there, Adventure Park has continued to grow, evolve, and innovate. With new slides launching this season, you can feel that the next chapter of the park is already underway.
And speaking of Ron… you might imagine that at 76 years old, after decades of hard work, raising three daughters with his wife Helen, and building one of Victoria’s largest water theme parks, he would be relaxing somewhere tropical. But no. With his iconic straw hat and trademark grin, Ron is on his ride-on mower, keeping the grounds immaculate for opening day. His pride for the park is unmistakable. His work ethic? Inspiring.
Throughout the day, I also had the pleasure of meeting Joel and Bec, who—like Nina—have worked their way through the ranks at Adventure Park. Despite tempting offers for other careers, they’ve chosen to stay, to contribute, and to grow with the park. Their passion is obvious. Joel’s initiatives at the front gate and Bec’s visionary work in accessibility are just two examples of the strength of the team that Ron and Helen have fostered. This is a place where people are treated like family, and it shows.
Of course, I was particularly excited to finally meet the famous Salmon sisters—and they lived up to every wonderful rumour. My first encounter was with Bree, GM of Adventure Park. Even in the middle of TVC chaos, with opening day around the corner, a major ride launch underway, and her upcoming wedding on the horizon, Bree was warm, welcoming, deeply knowledgeable—and absolutely hilarious. She radiates the kind of leadership that makes people want to follow. And as a mum of four boys, she gifted me some incredible bits of mum wisdom that I’d genuinely never heard before. I’m still thinking about them.
Later, we toured the park, the kids ready for their moment of “fame.” Their big acting debut? Playing “children walking towards the slide.” And to their credit—they nailed it.
Action! Walk.
Cut! Reverse.
Action! Walk again.
Seven takes later, I’m convinced no one else on the planet could have delivered that level of world-class footwork.
And the weather—after weeks of gloom—put on its best performance too. Blue skies, warm sun, and the perfect backdrop as Nina shared stories about the park’s evolution, the new season’s initiatives, and the incredible work happening behind the scenes to bring their vision for the future to life.
It was more than a visit—it was an experience. A reminder of the power of passion, of family, of people who care deeply about what they create. Adventure Park isn’t just a water theme park. It’s a place built on heart, community, and the determination of people like the Salmons, Nina, Joel, Bec, and the entire team who pour themselves into it every day.
A huge thank you to everyone who welcomed me so generously. I left feeling inspired—and with two very proud (and slightly dramatic) “actors” in tow.
I can’t wait to come back when the gates officially open for the season and see the magic come to life.
