Cool reception to Bunbury water park

BUNBURY'S first floating fun park has struggled to attract enough visitors to ensure a return next year.

Despite initial excitement at the inflatable playground in Koombana Bay, less than 50 people each day have taken to the water.

Operator Kirsten Cox of 1300 Your Party said she had expected between 35 and 40 people an hour.

"I thought 35 an hour was a pretty comfortable number but we're now looking at 50 over the whole day."

Ms Cox said she hoped to return next summer, but could not be sure it would happen.

She said she would need to improve visitor numbers towards the end of summer to ensure a return.

Compared to Busselton the market was very different with Bunbury attracting fewer tourists, Ms Cox said.

"I think a lot of people don't know about it and we need to have something for the little kids," Ms Cox said.

"There has also been confusion that we are run by the council and should be free."

Ms Cox's water fun park was not the only attraction struggling to attract customers.

Dolphin Discovery Centre manager David Kerr said the early part of summer had been slow.

Mr Kerr said January had improved, but the summer's visitor numbers were not expected to exceed last year.

Stand-up paddleboard hire company SUP Bunbury operator Verity Lee said it had also been a quieter summer on Koombana Bay for her business.