The verdict on Christchurch’s terrifying new trapdoor hydroslide
Thursday, 11 December 2025
The Press sent reporter Elsie Williams down all five eel-inspired hydroslides at Christchurch's Parakiore recreation and sports centre before it opens to the public at 5.30am Wednesday. Here's her verdict.
When Mayor Phil Mauger stepped into Parakiore’s Looping Rocket trapdoor hydroslide last week, his first thought was: 'Is this a clever thing to be doing?“
“But when there’s a 12-year-old who’s just done it in front of you, you go, I'm not gonna cark out now.'
He survived.
I’m surprised I did.
Climbing the stairs, you watch as riders disappear down the vertical tube at 40kph as the translucent tube gives a preview of what’s to come.
Making the mistake of asking questions after stepping into the launch chamber, my anxiety heightened as I listened to muffled instructions through the fibreglass.
Cross your arms over your chest, cross your ankles - the official rules. Block your nose, keep your eyes open - unofficial advice from the lifeguard that sounds simple until you're in there. There's a lot to juggle when you're about to freefall through a tube.
The five-second countdown began.
I was screaming before the floor dropped away.
The Christchurch City Council calls it 'an unforgettable freefall', but it’s hard to remember when you’ve muted two of your senses.
When I did remember to open my eyes, the tube flickered between fluorescent white light and complete darkness.
And just like that, the 75m descent over, and you’ve teleported back into the pool area in seconds of pure adrenaline.
Though my screams might beg to differ, I loved all eight seconds.
Thrills don't come cheap in this economy, so an activity that makes you scream without breaking the bank is a huge win for Christchurch.
The verdict: New Zealand's only trapdoor hydroslide lives up to the hype.
And the others?
The tube slide offers a different kind of thrill - when it works. My solo attempt failed spectacularly. Stuck halfway down when the water flow gave up, I sat in the dark dome visible from St Asaph St, panicking about someone crashing into me from behind.
After an awkward scooch down the final stretch, I dribbled to the exit and had to stand up and walk out. Dignity: zero.
A second ride with another person proved the slide's potential. With double the weight, the slide came alive. We flew through the dome, spinning and accelerating through white fluorescent lines that blurred into streaks.
This was the rush the solo attempt robbed me of.
Plus, there's something about sharing the chaos with another person - the screaming, the spinning, the uncertainty of which way is up - that makes it exponentially better. This one's built for pairs.
The body slides - fast, medium, and slow - looked straightforward after surviving the trapdoor. Perhaps too straightforward. Feeling bulletproof after the Looping Rocket, I decided the fast slide deserved a proper launch.
It did not go well.
I banged both elbows against the sides and spent most of the descent - including its steep drop - saying 'ow, ow, ow' instead of enjoying the white light strips and zebra stripes blurring past.
A second attempt - once again - proved a more enjoyable experience.
The medium and slow slides were gentler on my pride (and my joints).
The slides are mercifully quick - 10 to 30 seconds each - which means even with the crowds Parakiore will inevitably draw, the wait shouldn't be unbearable.
At $18 for adults and $13 for children, it's refreshingly affordable for a day out.