General SeaWorld
Information

Opening Times

Daily:            10.00am to 5.00pm (gates close 5.30pm)

Exceptions:   Closed Christmas Day 25th December.

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. Buying Tickets You can buy tickets at the gate when you arrive, online or at ticket booths around the coast.

View of Sea World from monorail.

I have not found anywhere that "discounts" the theme parks significantly, you might save a couple of dollars a ticket, but it is minimal. But there are some smart ways to buy theme park tickets in the Gold Coast.

You should not pay any more for the convenience of buying tickets online and usually there is a small discount. The benefit you get is that you get to go in the pre-paid line which usually just as long, but much quicker!  

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Getting To Sea World

Sea World Qld is on Sea World Drive, Main Beach.

There is plenty of parking, so driving is a great option - byo car or hire a car.

Use Con-X-ion for transfers directly from your accommodation or use their Roo Pass which is a great option including airport transfers and theme parks transfers.

Surfside Buslines run the public bus sustem on the Gold Coast Tel: 131 230 - I have used this and if you are going to Helensvale Station there can be delays - the day I used the service I waited for an hour (covering what should have been 3 buses and at the end of the day).  I was told by other people there that this was quite common!  That's why you are better to pay a bit extra and go with a private service such as Con-X-ion.

By train, get off at the Helensvale Station. Buses run to Sea World from the station.  They take about 25 minutes - see above!

More details on transfers to theme parks.

Things To Consider

You cannot take commercially prepared food into the park, neither can you take sharp knives or glassware.  You can take a picnic and there are lockers in the middle of the park where you can store picnic etc so you don't have to carry it around.

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.

Sea World Monorail helps save your feet and gives a great view of the park.

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.

Sea World Sky Way goes from near main entrance to the centre of the park.

We enjoy this ride and it saves a bit of the walking.

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 water park at Sea World too, so take your swimming gear (trunks, bathers, swimmers or whatever else you call them!) and a towel.

This is especially important if you are a parent - your kids will not forgive you if they cannot get wet!!!

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!  

It is quite exposed out on the spit and the wind whips up there - so a raincoat can double as a wind cheater.
 

Book ahead for your Sea World Reef Adventures to avoid disappointment

There are EFTPOS machines and ATMs at Sea World, but I find cash easier.   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 - they are well worth organising 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 SeaWorld

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

Food in SeaWorld

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 Sea World

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.

The ultimate places to stay close to Sea World are

• SeaWorld Resort - formerly known as Sea World Nara Resort.  This resort is located at the northern end of Sea World and is particularly suited to families.  It was renovated in early 2008.

• Palazzo Versace (6 star) - this is a truly opulent place to stay situated next door to Marina Mirage.

• Sheraton Mirage (5 star) - fabulous accommodation set in a brilliant location opposite Marina Mirage and a short trip to Sea World, Main Beach and Surfers Paradise.