What is 'Park & Play'?

Before you attend your session at CIWW, all paddlers must watch our Park & Play safety video here 

⚠️NOTICE TO PADDLERS⚠️

DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED, OUR CONCEYOR BELT IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND IT WILL BE OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

WE DO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE AND APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

'Park and Play' is how we describe sessions available for experienced water users with their own equipment*, to come along and use the facilities at CIWW without receiving instruction from one of our coaches. We put the emphasis on you having the skills and abilities to safely utilise our world-class venue for one of the below sessions.

Not sure if Park and Play is right for you? Give us a call on 029 2082 9970 to chat with one of our Instructors who will be more than happy to talk you through the below options. 

All sessions must be pre-booked online. All water users must agree to and understand our 'Non-CIWW-Coached' T&Cs available to view here before your session. Once booked, you will be directed to complete an online disclaimer and question pack via the web booking platform Eola.

If you are booking on behalf of others, you will be prompted to enter their name and email address so that they can sign our online disclaimer and question pack separately. If you are booking on behalf of someone who is under 18 (please check the age restrictions below), please make sure that you specify this upon booking. This is because a parent or guardian will need to sign the online disclaimer on their behalf.

White Water Kayaking Park & Play

Our Olympic Standard White Water Course runs at 4 different cumec levels, ideal for experienced White Water Kayakers who are looking for White Water on demand! We have weekly pump times available to book online. If you are new to CIWW and haven't paddled on our White Water before, we ask you to walk the White Water Course prior to paddling, to check that you are confident in your abilities to take part. 6yrs+

*Park and Players who attend a session without booking in advance may be turned away or charged an addtional £5 per person fee if they fail to book in advance online. CIWW reserves the right to restrict/remove Park and Play sessions.

Wednesday - 18:00 - 20:00 4/6 cumecs (alternate Wednesdays from November - March)

Friday - 18:00 - 20:00 8 Cumecs or 10 cumecs once a month (alternate Fridays from November - March)

Saturday - Session 1 10:00 - 12:30 - 8 cumecs Session 2 13:30 - 16:00 - 8 cumecs* 

Sunday - Session 1  10:00 - 12:30 - 4/6 cumecs Session 2 13:30 - 16:00 - 8 cumecs

River Access 

Access the beautiful River Ely seven days a week in your Canoe, Kayak or SUP (please check session timings when you book). Make sure you keep up to date on any Notice to Mariners prior to paddling. 6yrs+

£8.00 per person for River Access

Annual Flat Water Access Pass

Enjoy year-round access with our Annual Flat Water Access Pass, available for just £60.

This pass gives you access to our Retained Water Pool and River during CIWW opening hours, as well as full use of our facilities.

Your pass also includes access to our SUP Social sessions on Wednesday evenings during the summer and Sunday mornings during the winter (excluding board and paddle hire).

You can also use your pass to access our Open Water Swim sessions.

As an added bonus, you’ll receive 10% off all full-priced items at GOTW.

If you'd like to take advantage of this fantastic offer, simply head down to CIWW and our reception team will be happy to arrange your membership for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my pass run for one year from the date I purchase it?
The pass is valid from 1st June 2026 to 31st May 2027. The price remains the same throughout the membership period, regardless of when you purchase.

Does the pass include Open Water Swimming?
Yes! Your Annual Flat Water Access Pass now includes access to our Open Water Swim sessions.

I'm a SUP Racer,  can I use this pass?
Absolutely. The pass includes access to our SUP Race Training group, making it ideal for paddlers looking to train regularly.

When can I access the water?
Every day of the week within our standard opening hours of 9:30-16:00, in the summer you can also access our SUP Social on Wednesday evenings or Sunday mornings through winter.

Do I need to pre-book my session as an access pass holder?

Yes. Please book your session before arriving by:

Calling: 02920 829970
Emailing: info@ciww.com

Please include your pass number when booking by email.

For SUP Social sessions, bookings can only be made up to one week in advance.

If you need equipment hire for SUP Social (board, paddle, and PFD), please let our admin team know when booking. A payment link will be sent to you for £6.00 per person.

SUP Social

SUP Social is a great way to join fellow Stand Up Paddleboarders who are interested in paddling as a group in an organised session and enjoy the chance to meet and paddle with like-minded people and share experiences. SUP Social is open to adults who have taken part in a CIWW SUP session or who have previous experience - including courses and taster sessions. Board hire is available for an additional fee - you will need to have your own wetsuit and buoyancy aid. For 18yrs+

£8 per person for River Access (Not including any equipment hire)

£14 per person for River Access + Board/Paddle and PFD Hire

Open Water Swimming

Cardiff International White Water is a great Open Water Swim venue with fresh and clean water.  The swim lap is over 100 metres, ideal for new open-water swimmers and experienced triathletes. Two buoy turns also allow swimmers to practice sighting and turns. The venue is SHOUT and Welsh Swimming accredited, sessions are supervised by qualified CIWW safety staff.

Water temperature varies throughout the season. We do not insist on wetsuits however if you do swim without one, please ensure you are used to cold water and can swim in open, deep water. For 18yrs+

£6 per person

Equipment for Park and Play sessions

You must bring all equipment required to paddle. No equipment can be bought or hired from Cardiff International White Water.

However, If you wish to hire or purchase any equipment, please get in contact with GET ON THE WATER LTD located in CIWW . You can find them by calling 02922 362362 or email sales@getonthewater.co.uk - www.getonthewater.co.uk

*As per our T&Cs, your equipment must be suitable for the activity you are undertaking, CIWW reserves the right to revoke your access to our facility if your equipment is not fit for purpose. SUP equipment from CIWW is available to hire only as part of our SUP Social sessions.