Sea World is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and theme park located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It offers attractions such as rides and animal exhibits and promotes conservation through education and the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. The park is commercially linked to Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast as part of the theme park division of Village Roadshow. The park has no affiliation with an American park chain of a similar name.
History
Park history Sea World was founded by Keith Williams as the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens. The main attractions were "water ski shows that combined SOS, aqua ballet and action". In 1971, the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens moved to land on The Spit. Major dredging works were required to build the new ski lake. A year later, the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens became known as Sea World with the introduction of dolphins, marine displays, a replica of the Endeavour, a swimming pool, a licensed restaurant and a gift shop. Additions over the next decade included the purchasing of the competitor marine park, Marineland, and the transfer of animals and exhibits to Sea World, as well as more shops and food outlets.History and Development – Sea World. Retrieved from the official website .
SeaWorld was repeatedly rated as Australia's best tourist attraction by the Australian Tourism Awards through the 1980s. In 1984, Keith Williams sold the park to property development group Pivot Leisure. In 1988, Pivot built the 402-room Sea World Nara Resort, a joint development between SeaWorld Property Trust and Nara Hotels Japan. In 1991, Pivot Leisure, Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow jointly developed and opened Warner Bros. Movie World, a Hollywood theme action park, at Oxenford on the Gold Coast. That year, Pivot also purchased the Wet n' Wild Water park located next to the site of Warner Bros. Movie World. In 1993, Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow jointly acquired Pivot Leisure's interest in Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and the adjoining Sea World Nara Resort.
Attraction history
In 1975, the Sea World Train opened. "The train is a two-third scale replica of Queensland's famous number 6A10, which is now on display at the Queensland Railway Museum. The ride was designed and built by Sea World."Parkz Database: Sea World Train. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 1978, the first major ride was added to Sea World. The Viking's Revenge Flume Ride opened. This ride was custom-built at a cost of $350,000.Parkz Database: Viking’s Revenge Flume Ride. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 1981, the park's first roller-coaster opened. Originally known as the Wild Wave Rollercoaster, it was accompanied by the Pirate Ship and Carousel. The Wild Wave Roller-coaster changed its name to the Thrillseeker and closed in 2002.Parkz Database: Thrillseeker. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 1982, the Corkscrew roller-coaster opened. The ride is an Arrow Dynamics Sit-down Looper and features three inversions.Parkz Database: Corkscrew Rollercoaster. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 1986, Australia's first monorail opened, the Sea World Monorail System. It allowed guests to travel between three stations throughout the park.Parkz Database: Sea World Monorail System. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . , the monorail carriages had been dismantled and scrapped.Sea World Mono Rail | Sea World. Retrieved 24 September 2009 from the official website . In 2024, the monorail was dismantled and formally abandoned due to rising costs and safety concerns. In 1987, Sea World welcomed the Water Park and Lassiter's Lost Mine ride. Lassiter's Lost Mine ride was the second water ride for the park and was made in-house.Parkz Database: Lassiter’s Lost Mine Ride. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 1989, the Sky High Skyway opened. It featured a unique bird's eye view of the park.Parkz Database: Sky High Skyway. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 1991, a Sea World helicopter flipped over mid-air and crashed on an island beach. All seven occupants on board were killed. In 1993, Sea World is taken over jointly by Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow. In 1994, Bermuda Triangle opened and replaced Lassiter's Lost Mine ride. It used the same ride system but featured updated ride theming. Sea World opened the 3D theatre Sea Dream. In 1996, Dolphin Cove opens. In 1998, Pirates 3D Adventure debuted at the 3D theatre. The film uses "a series of special effects that enables the audience to feel part of the adventure". In 1999, Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach opened, featuring five children's rides and an interactive water fountain. In 2000, Polar Bear Shores opens with a pair of bears from Beijing Zoo and Reid Park Zoo. In 2003, Pirates in 3D was replaced with Planet SOS in 4-D. This film features an environmental message presenting the issues of global warming, ocean habitat destruction, and deforestation. In 2004, the park opened "Shark Bay". This system of artificial lagoons allowed sharks to be viewed from both above water and underwater. Sharks exhibited include large and potentially dangerous tiger sharks and bull sharks. In 2005, the ski show received a makeover and became Water Ski Wipeout. The water park was renovated, with the relocation of The Plunge from Wet'n'Wild Water World. In 2006, the Sea World Eye was introduced for a limited time. Swiss manufacturer CWA Constructions built the 60-metre high wheel which featured 42 air-conditioned gondolas.Parkz Database: Sea World Eye. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 2007, Sea World introduced Sesame Street Beach. Sesame Street Beach replaced Cartoon Network Cartoon Beach with the addition of a new stage show and a new ride.Sesame Street Beach – Sea World. Retrieved from the official website .Parkz Database: Sesame Street Beach. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . In 2008, Jet Rescue opened. Jet Rescue is a motorbike launch coaster made by Intamin which features jet-ski cars. It is themed to a sea-lion rescue.Parkz Database: Jet Rescue. Retrieved from the Parkz Database . 'Ray Reef' opened featuring over 100 rays 'flying and gliding' under the water. It is Sea World's first new wildlife exhibit since 2004. In 2009, Sea World updated and renewed several things. In early 2009, the Pirate Ship attraction closed and was removed from the park. Waterski Wipeout performed its last show on 20 July 2009. Pirates Unleashed opened on Boxing Day as a replacement.Wiped out by an act of piracy. Retrieved on 13.09.09 from the Gold Coast Bulletin . In September, Sea World announced the opening of Ocean Rescue, a new film for their theatre replacing Planet SOS in 4-D.Ocean Rescue | Sea World. Retrieved on 13.09.09 from the official website .Planet SOS in 4-D. Retrieved on 13.09.09 from the official website . A new educational exhibit also opened in 2009 titled Shark Attack which replaced Dugong Discovery.Shark Attack | Sea World. Retrieved on 24.09.09 from the official website . The Corkscrew roller-coaster was re-themed and renamed to become the Sea Viper. In 2010, the park closed Shark Attack, the Sea World Aquarium, Ocean Rescue, Bermuda Triangle and part of the Water Park to construct new attractions. In September, Castaway Bay opened in the former location of the water park. It is a children's area featuring Sky Fortress (a climbing structure), Sky Climb (a set of high ropes) and Battle Sails (a water battle). In September, Ocean Rescue was replaced by the Happy Feet 3D Experience.School Holiday Fun Guide (12 September 2010). The Sunday Mail. In October, Sea World closed the Bermuda Triangle for routine maintenance before closing the ride permanently. Its replacement was expected to be open by late 2011, but ultimately was replaced in 2013 by the Storm Coaster. Sea World also opened Penguin Encounter, an Antarctic penguin exhibit where Shark Attack And Sea World Aquarium once stood on 26 December 2010. During the summer school holidays, Sea World ran Jet Stunt Extreme as a temporary jet-ski-based stunt show located on the Sea World lake. It operated for a limited season until 23 January 2011. Sea World has noted that it could become a permanent addition depending on the overall success of the show. In 2011, Pirates Unleashed had its final performance on 20 July. Jet Stunt Extreme returned on 17 September 2011. On 16 August 2011, Sea World announced a partnership with Nickelodeon which would see characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer appear in park shows from Christmas 2011. SpongeBob ParadePants and Dora's Best Friends Adventure began on 17 December 2011. Towards the end of the year, Happy Feet 3-D Experience was replaced with SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D. Sesame Street Beach was replaced with Beach Break Bay. In 2012, Sea World announced that they would be launching Dinosaur Island, an interactive dinosaur exhibit. The exhibit opened to the public on 16 June 2012. In December 2012, Sea World announced a "wild" attraction, set for a 2014 opening. Although the attraction was initially promoted in-park and construction began, Sea World has since removed all promotion of the attraction. A 2013 report in the Gold Coast Bulletin suggested the attraction would be a multimillion-dollar African jungle exhibit, including gorillas, hippos, and crocodiles. In 2013, the park officially opened Seal Harbour, a seal and sea lion exhibit, originally scheduled to open in December 2012. A water-powered jet pack was also added to Jet Stunt Extreme. In December, Sea World opened Storm Coaster, a Mack Rides Water Coaster, replacing the former Bermuda Triangle ride. In 2014, Sea Viper and Dinosaur Island were closed. In 2015, Beach Break Bay was replaced with Nickelodeon Land. In 2016, Sky High Skyway and Viking's Revenge Flume Ride was closed permanently. In 2017, Dora's Best Friends Adventure was replaced with Paw Patrol on Holiday. In May 2019, Sea World announced The New Atlantis precinct, which will feature three new rides: Vortex is an HUSS Top Spin and was originally projected to open in December 2019. Due to delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the ride opened to the public on 2 December 2022. Leviathan is a wooden roller coaster manufactured by Martin & Vleminckx and designed by The Gravity Group; in a world-first, its Timberliner trains will feature two backwards-facing seats. It is projected to feature approximately of track, and reach a maximum height of and top speed of . Vertical construction of the coaster began in September 2020, and opened on 2 December 2022, alongside the Vortex and the Trident. Trident is a SBF Visa Swing Tower and opened in Late 2022 alongside the Vortex and Leviathan rollercoasters.
The park
Rides and attractions
Storm Coaster is a Mack Rides Water Coaster. The ride soft opened on 2 December 2013 as a replacement for the Bermuda Triangle which closed in 2010. Nickelodeon Land is a themed zone featuring several rides specifically designed for children. The area was originally themed to Cartoon Network when it opened in 1999 before being re-themed to Sesame Street in 2007. In late 2011, it was re-themed to have the generic theme of Beach Break Bay. The area features 6 attractions including the Carousel and Beach Ball Bounce. In 2015 it was refurbished into Nickelodeon Land adding a Zamperla roller coaster and 4 new rides. Castaway Bay opened in September 2010. It contains a new children's area featuring Sky Fortress (a climbing structure), Sky Climb (a set of high ropes) and Battle Boats (formerly Battle Sails, an interactive water battle). It is located at the northern half of the water park.Promotional Cover for the Gold Coast Bulletin by Warner Village Theme Parks. Retrieved on 26.06.10 from Gold Coast Bulletin. The Reef opened in December 2017. It is a splash zone expansion to Castaway Bay with over 80 water cannons, spouts and an array of oversized marine animal sculptures.