Andy Montgomery has written an excellent post on getting the most out of your holidays in Tenerife. With the island’s glorious sunshine, the sun, sea and sand type break is very tempting but as Andy says (though much more politely), if you burst out of your bubble and try something different you will have so much more to talk about and remember.

I know that is true. Of two weeks I had in Cairns, Australia many years ago, it is the bungee jump and the horse trekking through the tropical rainforest of North Queensland I remember.

While the rest of that holiday has faded into dim and distant memory those two days remain crystal clear.  I can still feel my knees knocking together before I leapt off the bungee tower and the thrill of plummeting to earth only to be snapped back on what seemed to be a remarkably slender rubber band.

Like all first-timers I had nervously asked the steward how many times the bands were used. ‘Awh, ’bout a hundred’, he said. ‘Yer number nointy-noine.’

There used to be bungee jumping in Tenerife at Sky Park but that sadly closed. Still,  the Tower of Power at Siam Park is just as thrilling and you can go camel riding as well as horse riding in Tenerife.

To add a few more ideas to those given by Andy you can also go sightseeing by helicopter, channel your inner James Bond by going Bob Diving and I believe you can even go spelunking.

(I have never come across a half decent link to spelunking in Tenerife so if you run a tour company that organises spelunking tours or this is something you have done in Tenerife and you would like to provide some info about this activity please get in touch).

So while you are making your mind up where to stay in Tenerife this summer, you might also want research which activities to book to fill your days with memories to take home again.

Yes, I admit I was sarky about the (very) delayed opening of Siam Park. I also admit that when my nephew decided that on this trip to Tenerife, Siam Park was the one day out he really had to go on, I was less than thrilled. Something about the thought of all that cold water just didn’t make my heart pound with glee. “What else is there to do there except freeze my tail off in cold water all day long?” I wanted to know.

My family assured me that the water was bound to be heated and that they’d read that there were plenty of other attractions in the park for those who were determined to be difficult. Despite the fact that they lied shamelessly on both counts I actually had a fabulous day.

On entering through the gate, first impressions are of lush greenery and graceful wooden Thai architecture. High up on the hill a great, green giant’s head leers down at innocent newcomers who will later discover two exciting water rides inside that massive dome.

Like all theme parks in Tenerife there is a photo opportunity just metres after entering. The photo costs €6 and can be collected from a photo board just before the park exit. For once our family resemblance to Fester, Mortitia and the rest of the Adamses was not too pronounced and we were happy to cough up the dosh for our group memento of the day.

The park is very cleverly designed with trails that double back and wind round bridges and hills. Sun patios with beds and chairs are tucked away in leafy corners alongside a lazily flowing ‘river’ which carries visitors along on big yellow inflatables. We also passed the Wave Cove which on later investigation proved to be a huge area with plenty of seating, sun beds and fine white sand. The wave machine was very impressive and if it were not for having the little kids with us we would have likely made camp at this spot.

Instead we kept on till we came to the Lost City. This large and complicated structure of ladders, water slides, spouts and pistols was obviously built to answer every kids’ dream. As soon we arrived all three were off to check it out.

Though Conor at 11 was big enough to enjoy all but the largest of the main water slides, and Hania tall enough to be allowed on two of them, this was it for 4 year old Sami. Not that he cared. Apart from a trip round the ‘Mai Thai River’ on the inflatables with Mum and then again with Uncle David, The Lost City kept him happily amused all day.

A large monkey head sits atop the Lost City. Every three minutes or so a bell chimes and the head tips gallons of freezing water over delighted kids of all ages below.

The adult rides were really breath-taking. My seven year old daughter was tall enough to get into the first of these, The Mekong Rapids which she thoroughly enjoyed. She could also have shot face first down a steep water course on a blue mat though she decided against that particular experience. Maybe next time.

For me the Volcano was the best. I was shot on spirals through the dark on a raft shared with my brother and nephew while laser lights flashed and the Volcano rumbled until finally being sucked down a central plughole and spat back out into daylight screaming with laughter. The other rides were equally exciting though I decided to leave the Tower of Power for braver souls and without spoiling the surprise I thought I’d screamed my last during The Dragon (aka the Mutant Dog).

There were a couple of tiny complaints which would be easy enough for Siam Park to remedy. Principally there was no mention at the bottom of the long climb to the start of the main rides that riders must remove all their jewelery. This necessitated a second climb back up just to retrieve necklaces and rings and walk back down. Similarly many park goers unnecessarily hauled yellow inflatables up flights of steps only to find that specialised rafts were already waiting for them at the top.

Siam Park is great value for money. The management are to be commended for not tacking on extra costs for hiring life jackets for the kids or inflatables, charged for sunbeds or other sundry items but after your entrance fee (€28 adult/€18 kid, €25 resident adult/€16 resident kid) you need only pay extra for any food or drink items you purchase in the park.

Time flies by at Siam Park and before we knew it we’d come to the end of a spectacular day. I asked each my family how many marks they’d give the day out of ten. No one gave a number smaller than 50. And on asking who would like to visit Siam Park again I was deafened by their unanimous shouts of ME!

Yippee. At last. After all the false starts Siam Park, with its world class water rides, is open to the public. It looks to be an absolutely brilliant day out and you can find out more about it on several places online.

The main Siam Park webpage is very colourful and beautifully designed but (at least today) it does seem to be experiencing problems with accepting online bookings. I am sure they will get that sorted right quick although in the meantime you should know that tickets are available at the gate.

You can expect to pay: €28 adult, children (3 to 11) €18. There is a resident discount of €3 for adults and €2 per child so remember your residents cards if you have them.

A Twin ticket will also be available with which you get Loro Parque thrown in. Unfortuantely I can’t give more details on that as on clickthrough the info page was down.

Just to whet your appetite for this glittering addition to Tenerife’s tourist repertoire enjoy this exciting account from a Times reporter who seems to have found the Siam Park experience totally invigorating and concludes his story with the words, ‘it’s quite simply the most fun you can have with your clothes off.’ Ahhh, okay. If you say so, mate.

The Irish Independant has crowned Siam Park, Queen of the European theme parks. Coming in first of five, including Disneyland in Paris and Legoland in Denmark (I think I’d rather spend the day at the dentist than at a lego themed park, but to each their own).

That is pretty spectacular going considering Siam Park is so spanking new it is not even open yet. Pamela of Secret Tenerife reports that the latest opening date is September 15th though wryly comments that as yet she herself does not necessarily believe that date.