Designed specifically for youngsters aged two to 12, LEGOLAND Waterpark opened in 2016 and was an instant hit with families. Older kids can get creative and build a raft of LEGO then sail it down the Build A Raft River and get drenched in the Joaker Soaker – a 300-gallon (1350l) play house featuring slides and waterwheels. For younger kids the DUPLO Splash Safari offers the chance to swim with elephants and crocodiles (plastic of course), plus pint-sized water slides. 

The Thailand-themed attraction in Tenerife has often been named among the world's best water parks by Tripadvisor and for good reason. Top attractions are the Tower of Power where riders can reach speeds of around 50 miles per hour (80km/h) as they swoop down the 90-foot-high (28m) slide into an aquarium filled with stingrays and sharks. Tackle the Mekong Rapids on a giant inflatable with your mates or dare them to take on the Dragon, a totally vertical funnel. Recover on Siam Beach.

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Part of the impressive Villages Nature Paris eco-resort near Disneyland, this water park is heated entirely by geothermal energy and more than a third of its water is purified naturally. Throw yourself down one of the eight giant slides, catch the surf in the wave pool or wallow in the lovely outdoor lagoons, which are heated to 30°C (86°F) all year round. There's also an aquatic climbing wall, white-water rivers, geysers and a lovely spa.

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The world's first ultra-accessible splash park opened in San Antonio, Texas in 2017. While every part of the pioneering park is wheelchair accessible that doesn't mean it's tame: the River Boat Adventure ride twists and turns through jungle and five water play areas feature waterfalls, pools, geysers, jets, water cannons and tipping buckets. There are waterproof wheelchairs available and special wristbands allow parents or carers to easily locate their party. 

This excellent outdoor playground in the Ötztal valley in the Tirol promises plenty of thrills and spills. Based around a lake, water-centric attractions include the Cannonball where you'll be blasted into the water from a seat with a huge water jet. You can also whiz down the slides, go 'cliff diving' from an incredibly high diving board or try your hand at 'blobbing' – basically throwing yourself onto an inflatable blob from a tower. 

Lazy rivers, wave pools, tube slides, raft rides, wet play areas for the kids and a lovely tropical garden setting – Bahrain's biggest water park has everything you could want from a fun-filled family day out. Little ones will love the pirate ship, while the Aqua Loop Rocket Slide will test the grown ups' nerves. 

As well the high-speed Twister and Tornado water slides, this water park in Billund also boasts Europe's longest 'wild river' slide. At 550-feet-long (150m), it starts and ends in the indoor Aquadome but also winds around outside. The complex has a good variety of indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a sauna and a spa. Dare the kids to dive down in the secret cave pool to spot the tropical fish but watch out for the giant tipping bucket as you roam...

It's no surprise that balmy Queensland has one of Australia's best water parks. Head straight to the Extreme H20 Zone if you're after a challenge. The exhilarating Blackhole takes riders on a spiral down into a pitch black tube slide. Or dare to take on the aptly named Kamikaze and plunge down a near vertical 36-foot (11m) drop for a zero gravity sensation. But there's plenty of gentler rides too and lovely tropical gardens for splashing and chilling in.  

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South America’s largest water park, which sits on Porto das Dunas beach near Fortaleza, is action-packed. With a choice of pools, plenty of fast-paced slides and a lazy river, there's something to suit everyone. But the park is most famous for its towering water slide Insano. It's one of the tallest in the world where riders plummet down at terrifying speeds.

It takes 45 minutes to ride the lazy river around the Middle East's largest water park Aquaventure, part of Atlantis, The Palm. The giant river connects the park's two main water slides – the Tower of Poseidon and Tower of Neptune. Up the ante on the Rapids where tube riders are propelled through high-intensity rapids, wave surges and waterfalls. The lovely tropical setting also includes a white-sand beach, perfect for flopping on.

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Keep a close eye on your companions in this fun-filled resort as it's enormous. Tropical Islands is based within a gigantic dome that used to be an airship hangar. It's so big you can even go on a free-floating balloon ride for a bird's-eye view. With a rainforest area featuring over 50,000 plants, white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, it's easy to forget you're only 40-odd-miles (65km) from Berlin. Thankfully, you don't need to do it all in one day as you can stay in the resort.

Slip, splash and scream your way around this fantastic attraction in Bali, which was recently named Tripadvisor's top water park in Asia and one of the best in the world. Its various slides and rides are ranked from 'mellow' to 'extreme'. The Climax (Asia's steepest slide) and Smashdown 2.0 with a sheer 85-foot (26m) drop are definitely the latter. Need to calm your nerves? There's a swim-up cocktail bar where you can sip as you gaze at the lush tropical garden surroundings.

With eight adrenaline-fuelled rides and three play areas (complete with big buckets for regular drenchings and sedate slides), this water park caters for most tastes. Highlights for thrill-seekers are careering up and down a giant U-shaped half-pipe on Slide Up, falling from four stories up on a 360-degree loop. Feeling competitive? Go head-to-head with friends as you charge down the multi-lane slide Kraken Racers.

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With 21 water rides and pools over an area of almost two million square feet (186,000sqm), this attraction just south of Pattaya is big. In fact, it's Thailand's biggest water park. But it's also very beautiful with lovely green spaces and a natural lake. The double wave pool guarantees plenty of squeals as do the AquaLoop and FreeFall – the park's most extreme rides. Small children are also well catered for with play areas and the tranquil lazy river.

Daredevils will love Abu Dhabi's vast water-filled attraction, which has no less than 41 rides. Try the near-vertical slide Jebel Drop or gather your mates to try the world's first and largest hydromagnetic-powered six-person tornado waterslide. At over 770-feet-long (235m), the thrills will keep on coming at you. Another highlight is Bubbles Barrel where you can ride 10-foot-high (3m) waves on the world's largest surfable sheet wave. Or take a spin above it all on roller coaster the Bandit Bomber.

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Whether you're leaping about in the wave pool, doing lengths in the Olympic-sized pool, whizzing down slides or walking the plank on the pirate ship, Romania's favourite water parks is sure to delight all the family. Parents can take it in turns to relax in the spa which has a Turkish bath, a range of geothermal water pools, steam room, sauna and cold room.

Antalya's fairy tale- and legend-themed attraction makes for a super-fun family excursion. It's especially magical for children with its aqua discos and entertaining shows. But there's plenty of fun for thrill-seekers too with numerous slides and raft rides. Or go for a spin above ground on the 140-foot-high (43m) Typhoon Coaster, which ends with a triumphant splash. 

You can take on one of the tallest water slides in North America and go for a swim in Canada's largest wave pool at this record-setting park in capital Ottawa. Other highlights are twisting and turning down the 360-degree loops on the Turbulence waterslide, plunging into a dark tunnel on a six-person raft on Boomerango and completing the floating obstacle course by crossing inflatable logs, crocodiles and water lilies. 

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Set in Pfaeffikon within the Canton of Schwyz, Alpamare stakes its claim as Europe's biggest covered water park, although it does have some outdoor heated pools too. Test out some of the 11 fun and themed waterslides – IceXpress promises a chilly surprise while Tornado comes complete with light and sound effects. Then go for a rejuvenating soak in the salt bath that's heated to a blissful 36°C (97°F).

Drift down the 1,300-foot-long (400m) Lazy River ride that meanders around the park on a giant raft, go for a massage or get your blood pumping on the Extreme Black Hole Slides. Family favourite Cyprus has some fantastic water parks, but this Watermania Waterpark in Limassol is definitely one of the most impressive.

Slightly different to your average water park, this attraction in Rutland lays claim to being the UK's largest inflatable water park. And it all looks like serious fun. Set on the north shore of Rutland Water Park, the 330-foot (92m) by 260-foot (80m) inflatable course includes climbing walls, trampolines, balance bars, rockers, rollers, blast bags, and slides. Do you dare take on the challenge? 

In addition to various scream-fest water rides, there's an enormous man-made surf beach in the water area of this mega multi-theme park not far from Kuala Lumpur. After you've leapt about in the waves and taken a turn in the rapids of the mighty Zambezi river, dare to take on the Vuvuzela. It's the park's most thrilling slide and Malaysia's largest.  

Experience the sensation of being sucked into a tornado, race friends down a series of multi-coloured slides or get a moment of weightlessness as you shoot up the near-vertical wall of a half-pipe on a raft. Based in Guangzhou China, this enormous attraction has everything you could hope for from a water park: thrilling rides and slides, kids play areas, plenty of pools, waves and a lazy river. 

Designed with a Maya civilisation theme, Aquaventure Waterpark is surrounded by tropical greenery and part of the Atlantis, Paradise Island. Launch yourself from the top of Mayan Temple on the Leap of Faith to drop down a near vertical clear tunnel at high speed, shooting through a shark-filled tank. Or twist and turn around the temple's dark core on the Serpent Slide. The sedate Jungle Slide takes children on a watery safari through jungles and caves. They'll also love firing the water cannons in the play fort.

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Have the kids seen one too many Roman ruins already? Take them to this watery wonderland in Emila-Romagna and their spirits will soon lift. As one of Europe's largest water parks it has a host of attractions including a great selection of slides, lazy river, rapids, a wave pool and special pools for babies and small children. Although, it can get lively in the holiday season with loud music and the odd foam party.

Dive into the Caribbean at Aqualibi, with its tropical atmosphere and dazzlingly colourful decor. Thrill-seekers can coast down the seven different slides that the waterpark has to offer. The park’s wave pool creates a fun experience for the whole family while a dedicated children’s area will make sure the little ones are having a great time, even if they can’t swim yet. With waterfalls, fountains, hot tubs and relaxation pools, Aqualibi is the perfect tropical escape for visitors of all ages.

There are bucketfuls of fun for the whole family at Imagica's water-based theme park from playing pirates in Pirate Bay or drifting idly down the lazy river to navigating the steep falls on thrilling family raft ride Soakerz. For lovers of high-speed slides though it has to be the Loopy Woopy, Swirl Whirl or Yello-O. You'll definitely be yelping with delight after a day at the Mykonos-themed park in Khopoli, which is around an hour south of Mumbai.

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Swim under the mighty Krakatau volcano, explore its trickling waterfalls and enticing lagoons or simply bob about in the waves. Universal Studios' brilliant water park in Orlando is a class act. You can also experience the power of the volcano on a four-person canoe ride that twists and turns deep within the structure before plunging through a waterfall. 

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Had enough of shopping? Then pop into West Edmonton Mall's World Waterpark where you'll find the world's largest indoor wave and more than 17 waterslides. Divided into four levels – beginner, intermediate, advanced and extreme – the slides range from kid-friendly Caribbean Cove and Splash Pad, while thrill-seekers will love the Sky Screamer. Reaching a speed of 37 miles per hour (60km/h) and with a 85-foot-drop (26m), it's definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Water fun gets taken up a gear at this park in the Peloponnese that's perfect for thrill-seekers. Aside from a whole host of water slides, you can test your mettle on rides such the Looping Rocket where you'll be blasted 65 feet (20m) into the sky from a launch capsule. Take the plunge down the high-speed Space Ride or drop into the darkness of the Black Hole. There's also a Greek gods-inspired children's play area. 

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