While Brazil booms with projects and the US and Europe make progress daily, Australia has been an odd duck in the wave pool world. With a dense population of surfers (1-in-10 Aussies surf) and a core culture of sport, it would appear that the Lucky Country would have more projects online. We do know URBNSURF have Melbourne and soon-to-be Sydney, while the crew at Aventuur are making progress in Perth. Parkwood on the Gold Coast is also moving along quickly and Surf Lakes looks to turn Yeppoon into a public facing park. Others on the WavePoolMag map include Port Douglass, Cairns and the Sunshine Coast.

Location and permitting for the Adelaide wave pool

Recently, a development application was submitted for a new recreational and tourist facility in Aldinga, a coastal area located on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. The site is positioned near Maslin Beach, approximately 45 kilometers from Adelaide, the state’s capital known for its vibrant arts scene and as the gateway to famous wine regions.

The City of Onkaparinga is currently assessing the proposal.

“The proposed facility includes a wave-making pool that’s capable of generating simulated waves suitable for surfing, and approximately 45 accommodation units,” a spokesperson for the City of Onkaparinga told Glam Adelaide.

The proposed development is west of the Port Willunga Tourist Park within stone’s throw of the Maslin Beach Clothing Optional Area. The project’s location falls within a Tourism Development Zone, which will help streamline the development process. The application’s fate will be decided by the independent Council Assessment Panel (CAP) at a meeting to be held later in 2024.

Who’s Involved?

The story by Glam Adelaide named the permit the applicant as Future Urban and said surf park operators URBNSURF and Monument Wave Parks were two of the interested development parties.

URBNSURF has indicated they are investigating additional locations in Australia for their branded surf parks, though they have not specified any particular site. This aligns with common industry practices where details of such projects are typically withheld until official announcements are made. Little is known about Monument Wave Parks. The company has an outdated website and no LinkedIn page.

When can you surf Adelaide?

South Australia, characterized by its diverse landscapes from arid Outback to coastal beauty, and Adelaide’s cultural offerings, may see increased tourism interest with the addition of the proposed wave pool. The development is part of a broader push to enhance the southern Adelaide region’s appeal to both domestic and international visitors.

Once (and if) necessary permits are secured, the construction of a wave pool typically spans one to two years from the moment of groundbreaking. The Aldinga project benefits from pre-existing tourism development permissions, potentially expediting the process. Assuming the permit approval discussion slated for an undisclosed time this year receives approval, an optimistic yet unlikely projection could see the facility operational within two to three years – and that’s assuming that all financing is in order (unlikely.) Such rapid development is uncommon in the wave pool industry, with the notable exception of several expedited projects in Brazil.

The Lowdown: A development application has been submitted for a new recreational and tourist facility in Aldinga, a coastal region on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. The site is located near Maslin Beach, approximately 45 kilometers from Adelaide, the state capital known for its vibrant arts scene and as the gateway to renowned wine regions. The City of Onkaparinga is currently assessing the proposal. If all goes well, we’ll see a surf park using technology that is yet to be disclosed, situated right in the heart of an emerging tourist area.

Accessibility: It appears that the project will capitalize on its location in a designated tourist zone, likely making it accessible to anyone willing to pay the entry fee.

Type of Wave(s): The type of waves is unknown at this stage, as the project is still in its early phases.

Wave Generating Technology: At this point, it’s purely speculative. Aventuur holds the Australian license (as well as licenses for other Southern Hemisphere territories) for Wavegarden Cove technology. However, they were not mentioned in the Glam Adelaide article from which this news was sourced. The two surf park companies named were Monument Wave Parks and URBNSURF. Little information is available about Monument, but URBNSURF, when bidding for the Perth wave pool project, submitted plans that featured the Endless Surf pool technology.

Wave’s Technical Information: Endless Surf technology offers controllable wave heights up to 2.1 meters (7 feet); adjustable angle and speed of the wave; a nearly endless variety of wave types; current management for higher quality waves in a limited pool area; capable of delivering 400-700 waves per hour; and long rides, lasting up to 24 seconds in certain operating modes.

Vibe: Expect a setting where kangaroos meet vineyards.