Gold Coast theme parks: which park should you pick

Gold Coast theme parks come down to three big parks and two water parks. Pick Warner Bros. Movie World for thrill rides and superheroes, Sea World for animals and young kids, Dreamworld for the most rides and tigers, and Wet'n'Wild or WhiteWater World for hot days in the water. Most families should choose two or three parks, not all of them.

This guide compares them by age group, queues and ticket types, using what each park and its owner had published by Christmas Day 2018.

Quick picks by age group

Wet'n'Wild sits next to Movie World, and WhiteWater World sits beside Dreamworld. Check what your ticket includes before you go.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World articles (December 2018 versions).

Warner Bros. Movie World

Movie World, at Oxenford, opened on 3 June 1991 and is owned by Village Roadshow Theme Parks. It is the best match for school-age kids and teens who like film and comic characters. The park has six roller coasters.

The newest is the DC Rivals HyperCoaster, which opened on 22 September 2017. Parkz described it as the largest roller coaster ever built in Australia. Other big rides include Superman Escape, Green Lantern Coaster, Arkham Asylum Shock Therapy, the Batwing Spaceshot and the Doomsday Destroyer, a giant looping thrill ride. Younger kids have Kids' WB Fun Zone, with a Looney Tunes carousel, the Road Runner Roller Coaster and the Junior Driving School.

The park also runs after-hours events, including White Christmas.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Warner Bros. Movie World (December 2018 version); Parkz, The best Gold Coast theme park pass deals for 2018 (18 July 2017).

Sea World

Sea World, on the Spit at Southport, opened in 1971 and is also owned by Village Roadshow Theme Parks. It mixes marine animals with rides, so it suits families with mixed ages.

For animals, look at Polar Bear Shores, Australia's only polar bear exhibit, plus Penguin Point and the dolphin and sea lion shows. The Seal Guardians show began in early 2018. For rides, Jet Rescue is a motorbike launch coaster, and Storm Coaster is a water coaster. Nickelodeon Land has rides for small children, and Parkz listed The Reef at Castaway Bay as recently opened and Sea Jellies Illuminated as opening in April 2018.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Sea World (December 2018 version); Parkz, The best Gold Coast theme park pass deals for 2018.

Dreamworld and WhiteWater World

Dreamworld, at Coomera, is Australia's largest theme park, with over 40 rides and attractions and five roller coasters. It opened on 15 December 1981 and is owned by Ardent Leisure. WhiteWater World, the water park next door, opened on 8 December 2006 and is closed on Christmas Day and Anzac Day.

Thrill fans should look at the Big 9 Thrill Rides: The Giant Drop, Tower of Terror II, BuzzSaw, Mick Doohan's Motocoaster, Pandamonium, The Claw, Tailspin, Wipeout and Hot Wheels SideWinder. Young children have Wiggles World, ABC Kids World and the DreamWorks Experience. Tiger Island opened in 1995 and is one of only two interactive tiger exhibits in the world. The Corroboree is a registered zoo with about 800 native and farm animals.

Visitors should know that four people died on the Thunder River Rapids Ride on 25 October 2016. The ride was permanently closed. The park shut for just over a month for safety audits and reopened on 10 December 2016.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World articles (December 2018 and September 2018 versions).

Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast

Wet'n'Wild opened on 30 September 1984 and sits next to Movie World. It has 17 slides, four pools and two children's areas. The pools and slides are heated in winter, so the park stays open all year. It took its present name in 2013 to set it apart from Wet'n'Wild Sydney.

It is the pick for teens and older kids who want slides over rides. For children under five, WhiteWater World also has two children's areas.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast (December 2018 version); Wikipedia, WhiteWater World (September 2018 version).

Tickets and queues

Single-day tickets are the simplest choice, but two or more parks often work out cheaper on a multi-park pass. In 2017, Parkz listed a VIP Magic Pass for Movie World, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild and Paradise Country, valid to 30 June 2018 at $169 for adults and children. It also listed a Dreamworld and WhiteWater World pass at $94 for adults and $79 for children, valid until December 2018. Both were reseller offers. Prices and rules change, so check the park or an official seller before you buy.

Movie World sells Fast Track, a virtual queue that lets you buy a place near the front for Superman Escape, Green Lantern Coaster, Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D and the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster. A similar Fast Track runs at Wet'n'Wild in selected peak seasons.

Education only. Rides, shows and prices change often, so confirm opening days, height limits and fees on the park's own site before you travel.

Sources for this section: Parkz, The best Gold Coast theme park pass deals for 2018; Wikipedia, Warner Bros. Movie World (December 2018 version).

Sources

1. Wikipedia, Warner Bros. Movie World: archived 20 December 2018
2. Wikipedia, Sea World (Australia): archived 20 December 2018
3. Wikipedia, Dreamworld (Australia): version of 8 December 2018
4. Wikipedia, WhiteWater World: version of 17 September 2018
5. Wikipedia, Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast: version of 15 December 2018
6. Parkz, The best Gold Coast theme park pass deals for 2018: parkz.com.au