SeaWorld Gold Coast Information

SeaWorld Gold Coast Australia All You Need To Know About Planning A Day At The Park

On this page you will find general Sea World Gold Coast information. Information changes and so I have tried to keep it general but useful. This Gold Coast theme park has many attractions which I have tried to describe both in words and pictures. It is also unique as it is the only theme park in Australia with its own resort. Sea World Resort is a great option for families and there are many additional benefits to staying in the resort. You can also read some reviews or you can leave your own comments!

SeaWorld on the Gold Coast Qld Australia

Opening Times for SeaWorld Gold Coast

Show Schedule

Show schedules change but you can get a current schedule upon entry of the park, and there are signs that also tell you what that day's schedule will be. Theme Park Map and Show Schedule.

View of Sea World from monorail.

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Buying Tickets for SeaWorld

Main benefit of buying your tickets before you go to Sea World is that you get to go in the pre-paid ticket line. This is usually just as long as the other lines, but much quicker because they are not having to process money at every transaction!

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Getting To Sea World Gold Coast

Sea World Qld is on Sea World Drive, Main Beach. Coming from Brisbane, it is well signposted from the M1 turn off to Southport along Smith Street Motorway. There is plenty of parking, so driving is a great option you can byo car or hire a car. Sea World Transfers Con-X-ion are great for transfers directly from your accommodation. Their Roo Pass is a flexible option including both airport and theme parks transfers that will save you money too.

Sea World road sign!

Surfside Buslines run the public bus sustem on the Gold Coast Tel: 131 230. They run theme park services which stop at Sea World, including services from Helensvale Railway Station and Pacific Fair Shopping Centre amongst many others..

Translink run the train services which run from Brisbane to Robina. Helensvale railway station is the best stop for Sea World with Surfside buses providing the bus connections.

Personally, I think it is better to pay a bit extra and go with a private service such as Con-X-ion as the public bus service can be frustrating. One visit I was left waiting for over an hour at Sea World for Surfside bus to show.

If you want to be really decadent you could transfer by helicopter so you don't have to mix with the riff-raff! More details on transfers to theme parks.

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Things To Consider

Food and Drinks
SeaWorld changed their food policy in 2009. You cannot take any food into the park unless it is a dietary requirement or baby food (check their exact requirements). They have even started to check your bags. You also cannot take sharp knives or glassware. This means you are captive to the food inside. They do have Halal and a variety of food options. You may take in a water bottle with water in it.

There are a limited number of strollers for hire and free wheelchairs - the park is mostly wheel friendly - but there are some restrictions on some rides, so you will need to check. Accessibility and Getting Around To help get around the park and reduce some of the traipsing up and down - there is a monorail and Sky High Cable Car.   The Monorail goes around the outside of the park.  You can get on or off at the Main Station near the entrance, the Mid Station which is close to Shark Bay and the Centre of the Park or Resort Station for resort Guest only. The Sky High Skyway cable car has a station near the main entrance and another near the centre of the park. Only four persons to a car. They close it during high winds. Halfway you stop whilst they load and unload and you are directly over the sea world dolphin pools. This is a great way to see the dolphins. We enjoy this ride and it saves a bit of the walking.

Sea World Monorail helps save your feet and gives a great view of the park. Sea World Sky Way goes from near main entrance to the centre of the park.

Things to Take
You are going to be out and about most of the day, so make sure you have the following essentials:

• Water Bottle
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sunglasses

On some of the rides you have to take off your hat and sunnies, so it is worthwhile having a bag to put them in safely.

There is a small water play area at Sea World for the kids, so make sure they are wearing clothes that are okay to get wet or bring a change of clothes and a towel! This is especially important if you are a parent. Your kids will not forgive you if they cannot get wet!!!

There used to be a larger water park but that is now part of the Sea World Resort and can only be accessed by guests in the resort, or for an additional fee. It does not generally operate during the cooler winter months.

Weather
Sea World do have plastic capes that they sell when it rains.  If you can take wet weather gear if it looks like rain, you will save yourself a bundle on a one use cape, that is nearly impossible to get back in its bag!  

It is quite exposed out on the Spit and the wind whips up there. A light raincoat or rain jacket can double as a wind cheater.

Don't forget the sunscreen. Even when it is overcast and in the winter, the sun is very strong.

Book ahead for your Sea World Reef Adventures to avoid disappointment

Money There are EFTPOS machines and ATMs at Sea World Gold Coast, but I find cash easier.   As with any tourist spot you need to be careful with your wallet and precious items. A good rucksack or bum bag (fanny pack for our friends from USA) can be useful. You'll need money for lockers if you want to use them, souvenirs, ice creams, drinks and foods.And for any extra Animal Adventures or behind the scenes tours.

Pre-paid Tickets

I always buy my tickets ahead of time, as the pre-paid lines are much faster than those where you have to buy the tickets at the gate.

If you want to do any of the extras like the Animal Adventure Tours or Sea World Reef Adventures make sure you organise them ahead of time. You can be lucky and turn up on the day and there be spots, but you may be disappointed particularly at the peak times.

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Shops at Sea World Gold Coast

I must admit I don't go to SeaWorld to shop, but there are shops inside.

The usual Sea World souvenirs you would expect including variations on T-shirts, toys and general souvenirs.

Towards the end of the day, they sometimes have really good deals on the soft toys as you are exiting the park. If you look through the entry gates before you exit through the souvenir shop you should be able to see what they are selling! Can be quite a good and money saving move!

There is also a Chocolate shop, photo shop where you can get prints and enlargements from your camera and an environment shop.

Food in Sea World

At the main entrance there is the Terrace food court, the Paradise Room which offers an international buffet and the Endeavour Coffee Bar.  This is the best place to get coffee in Sea World!

Tucked away behind the Monorail station and the donut factory is the Broadwater Cafe.  This is one of three food outlets in Sea World which has Halal certified foods.  The other two are Paradise Room Restaurant and the Plaza Burger Bar.

Sea World Plaza in the centre of the park for shopping and food.

Most of the rest of the food is fast-food. Fries, burgers, fish, chicken, but you can also get pizzas, pies, fresh fruit, rolls, wraps, foccacias, sandwiches and salads you just have to be prepared to hunt it out!  We usually eat in the central plaza area and the Plaza Bakery is usually our pit stop. You are a captive audience, expect to pay more to eat inside Sea World than out and it isn't exactly gourmet food!   Sweet treats and real holiday food like churrios, fairy floss, popcorn and ice-cream are available in a couple of locations too.

Once you go past the plaza heading north towards Sea World Resort, there is very little in the way of food.  During the peak times there are carts with drinks and fast food and down by the water park is the the Water Park Snack Bar.

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Where To Stay Close To SeaWorld Gold Coast

Sea World is on the Spit and is just north of the main part of Main Beach. It is about 4kms north of Surfers Paradise.  Southport and Labrador are within a 10 minute drive and Broadbeach takes just over 10 minutes by car.

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