Sea World Attractions and Rides

Which Sea World Attractions and Rides Will You Try?

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A Selection of the attractions past and present at Sea World! Bermuda Triangle ride, Sea World Helicopter flights, Sesame Street kids area and sharks in Shark Bay.

Sea World attractions include shows, animal exhibits, rides and tours.

Try Jet Viper ride, fly in Sea World helicopter, play in the Sesame Street zone and watch the Jet Ski Extreme show or get up close and personal with the sharks in Shark Bay or the Penguins in the new Antarctic Exhibit.

Planning Is Essential!

Planning is the key to making the most of your day at Sea World AND avoiding the embarrassment of explaining to the kids why you missed Seal Show or the Polar Bears!

The show schedule changes, which means I cannot give you a failsafe itinerary! We always grab the schedule on the way in and then work out what we plan to do.

Planning your itinerary at Sea World will help you to maximise your visit, unless you buy a special combo Theme Park Pass in which case you can spread your fun out over a couple of days.

Sea World attractions, rides and exhibits are mostly open all day (except for maintenance, extreme weather conditions or other reasons). However, the shows only run at certain times.

We try to plan around the shows we want to see. Without an itinerary for your day at Sea World you can easily find yourself hiking from one end of the park to the other several times. Not good if you have young children!

Obviously, if you have booked an animal adventure, helicopter tour or Sea World Whale Watch or Cruise, you need to work around those times as they are not flexible!

The main animal attractions at Sea World on the Gold Coast are:

• Dugongs
• Seals
• The famous Sea World dolphins!
• Polar Bears - amazing viewing above and below the waterline.
• Shark Bay - incredible viewing of sharks, fish and rays from above and below the waterline
• Pelicans
• Penguins

Please note, especially if you are visiting from overseas:  There are NO whales at Sea World on the Gold Coast. That means there are no orca's, no killer whales nor any type of whales. However, there are Sea World whale watching tours from June to November each year to see the migrating humpback whales off the coast.

Planning Is Essential To Get The Most Out Of Sea World Attractions!

Sea World Attractions - Shows

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• Fish Detectives Seal Show
  This is a great show for kids and adults! Sit in the arena, but don't sit too close unless you want to smell a little fishy...

• Sesame Street Show
  Great show for the little, little ones

• Jet Stunt Extreme (from September 2011) - on the Sea World Lake see extreme jet ski manoeuvers and aerial jumps. Sounds very exciting.
• Imagine
  Sea World dolphin show is a must see.  The dolpins at Sea World are incredible, make sure you have your camera ready. If you don't mind getting a bit wet sit in the front row! 
• Happy Feet in 3D - a lot of fun and and a bit of edu-tainment. Prepare to tap your feet and move along to the catchy songs. Fun for all the family.

One of the best attractions of Sea World?
Seeing the kids enjoying the show!

Don't forget to photo the children's faces as well as the Sea World attractions or shows.  

Some of the photos I have like this are priceless memories of happy holidays and fun together as a family.

Please Note: Retired Sea World Shows
Gold Coast Sea World Shows that have been retired and are no longer running include:

• Waterski Wipeout Show (Last show in 2010) which included a bit of nostalgia about the original use of this Gold Coast theme park and some Australian humour!
• Hunt for Golden Seal was a fabulous, almost Indiana Jones style show with the amazing Sea World seals. It was replaced by Fish Detectives in 2008.
• Planet SOS in 4D was a mix of entertainment and education. Personally, I found it a bit scary for little kids but the older kids will definitely enjoy. I am quite pleased this Sea World attraction has now been replaced by the more small child friendly Happy Feet in 3D.

Sea World Attractions - Rides

Sea World has a range of rides. On some rides there are height restrictions or requirements for adults to ride with children under 14 years. Some rides are definitely NOT suitable for smaller children, whilst some are specifically for the littler kids! Footwear must be worn on all rides.

• Sesame Street Beach (formerly Cartoon Network Beach) - awesome area for the little visitors! Rides, gorgeous old fashioned horse carousel and some water fun too. In late 2011, Nickelodeon and Nick Jnr themes are being introduced to Sea World, I am not sure if this means a change to Sesame Street Beach. Will try to keep you posted, but sounds fun with a Sponge Bob Squarepants themed Parade being a major new attraction.
• Grand Central Train Tour - sedate train ride that takes you around the park. Great for the little ones and to get a really good perspective of the park and you get to see a bit of the behind the scenes of the dolphin areas.
• Sky High Skyway - Cable Car ride that takes you from near the park entrance to about halfway. You get a great view of the dolphin ponds, Shark Bay and Polar Bear Shores from above. I think you can get about 4 in a pod. It is open air and closes in high winds.
• Sea World Mono Rail - Takes you around the park in a monorail car which is totally enclosed. Stops at top of the park, the water park area and Sea World Resort.
• Castaway Bay - a "Pay as You Play" attraction at Sea World that is NOT included in your entry ticket nor theme park PASS. Fun for the whole family, but do expect to get WET! Some of the elements of Castaway Bay have age, height and health restrictions, check the information displayed at each ride. Castaway Bay at Sea World includes:
  
  
  • Battle Boats including massive fun with water cannons!
  • Sky Fortress is a kiddies adventure heaven with 5 levels of rope bridges, tunnels and adventure!
  • Sky Climb is a rope challenge 12 metres above the ground. Not for the faint-hearted!
• Jet Rescue - board your jet ski and go on a jet ski rollercoaster ride to save the sea lions and aid their escape from the cave! Board as a Sea World visitor and exit as a marine hero! Quite a thrill ride this ride has age, health and height restrictions. This ride closes in certain weather conditions.
• Sea Viper - an exhilarating roller coaster ride with a triple loop the loop. Sea Viper Rollercoaster at Sea World has age, size, shape, health and height restrictions. This ride closes in certain weather conditions.
• Vikings Revenge Flume Ride - float along the river in a viking style canoe, up onto the top of a castle and then splashdown the other side! Kids have to be over 95 cms tall to ride this ride, but great for the family. Expect to get a bit wet, but awesome for the whole family to enjoy together.

Please Note: Retired Sea World Rides:
Gold Coast Sea World Rides that have been retired and are no longer running include:

• Sea World Eye - A large ferris style wheel with enclosed capsules that took about 6 people on a birds eye trip up 60m with views all along the coast. Removed in early 2008 - sadly as it was an awesome view! The "Eye" was relocated to Surfers Paradise is is now known as The Wheel of Surfers Paradise.
• Cartoon Network Beach - kids play area transformed to Sesame Street Beach.
• Bermuda Triangle was a boat ride that took you inside a volcano. I think they had a few fires through the years! Finally, retired in 2010 or early 2011 I think.
• Corkscrew Rollercoaster - This was the thrill ride of Sea World until the newer rides like Sea Viper and Jet Rescue were created in 2010. Our older daughter would spend all afternoon on this one!
• Pirate Ship - another old favourite at Sea World was replaced by the new rides Sea Viper and Jet Rescue.

Sea World Attractions - Sesame Street Beach

Carousel at Sea World

Children's Area includes several rides specifically for the younger children including a carousel.  

We often do a couple of rides as a family and then split up with our older child doing the roller coaster and pirate ship, whilst the younger one does the Sesame Street Rides.  It works well for everyone. Then we all have an ice-cream!

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Sea World Attractions - Animal Adventures

The Animal adventures just keep growing... at last count you can do the following!  But it does change a bit so make sure you check it out. I really recommend you book before you visit, otherwise you may be disappointed.

• Meet the Dolphin Animal Adventure - New for the winter season (and possibly only limited to that season). You don't get too wet and cold as you only venture into the water to your ankles!
• Penguin Antarctic Adventure - NEW - 45 minute adventure with 20 minutes on the ice with the King and Gentoo penguins. This one has me very excited to try it, I LOVE penguins...
• Glass Bottom Boat - NEW - view the sharks in Shark Bay from above. The adventure takes about 20 minutes with 15 minutes on the water. I think this sort of replaces the Reef Helmet Dive, but certainly opens up the audience to those who don't fancy getting wet or that close to the fish and marine animals.

Manta Ray in Shark Bay

• Tropical Reef Snorkel - you need to set aside an hour for this, though you will only be in the balmy reef lagoon with it's 26C water temperature for about 20 minutes. Great option to get a feel for what snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef would be like. Good for kids 10 years and over through to adults.
• Shark SCUBA - this adventure is seasonal and only available during school holidays. Allow an hour with about 20 minutes in the water.You actually need to be able to SCUBA and have a dive certificate to do this dive. You only dive in the reef lagoon and will see an array of colourful fish and stingrays as well as smaller sharks. You can see the larger sharks through in the main lagoon.
• Shark Encounter - how do you fancy being involved in feeding the large sharks? From the safety of an acryllic cage you will be accompanied by a shark bay diver who will feed the large sharks in the main Shark Bay lagoon. SCUBA with certification or snorkel if you don't. You'll need to allow about 2 hours for this tour with 30 minutes in the water.
• Behind the Scenes at Polar Bear Shores - this tour takes you behind the scenes at the home of the Gold Coast polar bears, but you will not have contact with the polar bears. Still looks awesome. Expect the tour to take about an hour.
• Dolphin Aqua Adventure - Learn and interact with the dolphins in their environment. Allow about 45 minutes with 20 minutes with the dolphins. Be prepared to get wet, you will need to put on a wet suit! There are three versions of this Sea World attractions. All slightly different:
• Adults Only - deep water experience
  Kids (5 yrs to 13 yrs) - shallow water experience
  Family - for adults with children 13 years and under.
• Trainer for a Day - spend 4½ hours walking in the shoes of a Sea World Animal trainer! Spend the time learning about dolphins and dolphin training. Open to adults and children 14 years and older.
• Seal Safari - 45 minute education and interaction with the seals, although you won't get wet on this one... but may ending up smelling a little fishy!
• Seal Aqua Adventure - allow 45 minutes with 20 minutes in the water with the seals. You will put on a wet suit and get up close and personal with the seals!

If you stay at Sea World Resort there is also an exclusive Dolphion Discovery that they put before the park opens exclusively for resort guest who stay for 2 or more nights. Sea World Resort guests also have unlimited access to the Sea World Water Park which is a seasonal activity. Apart from the convenience, this is another great reason to stay at the resort!

Please Note: Retired Sea World Animal Adventures:
Gold Coast Sea World Animal Adventures that have been retired and are no longer running include:

Reef Helmet Dive was
suitable for non divers.

• Shallow Reef and Ray Adventure
• Reef Helmet Dive
• Dolphin Backstage Pass
• Corkscrew Rollercoaster - This was the thrill ride of Sea World until the newer rides like Sea Viper and Jet Rescue were created in 2010. Our older daughter would spend all afternoon on this one!
• Pirate Ship - another old favourite at Sea World was replaced by the new rides Sea Viper and Jet Rescue.

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Sea World Attractions - Excursions

• Sea World Helicopter Tours - Enjoy a birds eye view of the Gold Coast with tours from 5 minutes to 30 minutes!
• Sea World Whale Watching Tour - 10am and 2pm tours take about 2½ hours to 3 hours during whale watching season (June To November).
• Sea World Cruises - when the amazing Sea World boat isn't doing the whale watching tours they do cruises from Sea World.

These Sea World attractions and the Animal Adventures are not included in the price of your Sea World tickets.  

You will need to book your tickets for these separately.

This should give you a taste of what you can expect on a day at Sea World. Attractions are obviously sometimes not open due to scheduled maintenance and other factors.  Best to check when you arrive at the park so you can plan around it. This is usually quite well signed in the park.

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