Big Kid Theme Park Fun

QLD blogger Andrew discovers that the Gold Coast’s Dreamworld is not just for kids.

Ye Old Stocks

Our busy lives seem to be full of running: ‘running late’, ‘running out of phone battery’, ‘running low on cash’, ‘running yourself ragged’.

It got me thinking about the word ‘running’ and if it could be applied to anything positive (other than running a nice warm bath). And then I found myself ‘running amuck like a kid in a candy store’ at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.

This wasn’t my first visit to the theme park, as is the case for most Queenslanders my age (that is, ahem, over 30), but have you ever stopped to think what it’d be like going back as an adult and experiencing everything again through different eyes, recalling the memories you had there as a child? Not your thing? Mine either, but let me tell you – Dreamworld has changed over the years (and changes all the time too!) so there’s plenty of action to be had for kids of all ages and my very own BFF and I checked our ‘grown-up’ at the gate and had an absolutely thrilling time.

Let’s go!

We look so relaxed, right?

The day started off, not on one of Dreamworld’s Big 7 Thrill Rides, but something even more terrifying – a photo shoot with a 200kg white Bengal tiger. An amazing experience, one of the park’s favourites, Mohan seemed un-phased by it all, bribed by full cream milk and a back scratch.

I wasn’t sure to begin with when he began licking his lips as we approached, but the handlers ensured us that he’s happy to be around people for photos and is an old pro when it comes to posing. This was a truly special and memorable experience and a must-do on your adult pilgrimage back! Highlight one complete – can the day get any better?

Adrenalin rush? Yes please!

Uh Oh! BuzzSaw!

We started our adrenaline junket off slowly, working our way up to the Buzz Saw (as sensible adults do) by riding the Shockwave and The Claw. It’s hard not to laugh uncontrollably on these rides and once we had these under our belt – we were ready to face anything (except the Giant Drop). I’m not sure who we’d become but this day was all about saying ‘yes’ and just throwing caution to the wind and pretending we were kids, only this time our heads firmly cleared the ‘okay to ride’ yard stick.

The latest craze at Dreamworld is the Buzz Saw, named for its treacherous shape of twists and turns. Travelling at some sickening speed of 105kms per hour, our faces said it all really as it whooshed past us whilst waiting to climb aboard and our heads swung around as we stunned each other with our own faces of sheer fright. But this was a ‘yes’ day so there was no backing out now.

The most awesome water park ride ever

One of the nifty things Dreamworld has to offer is Q4U – a small Tamagotchi-like device that you hire for the day and schedule in all your rides so you don’t have to wait in the queue. I have clear memories of this being the part my Dad in particular loathed about theme parks, but this way there was no lining up AND it also came in handy for the big kid in me as it allowed us to get seats at the front of the Buzz Saw.
Kristy thought I’d gone mad at this point, which was probably true, but once we got off the ride we were hooked, craving the rush and exhilaration of letting loose and screaming. And that’s when it happened, “Ok Andrew, we’re doing the Giant Drop.”

One thing about fear is that kids have none and when you’re a grown up no one is interested in anyone else’s fear. People often talk about what they’re afraid of, but ultimately no one cares. So when Kristy uttered this dreadful phrase, I reminded her of our pact to leave out the 39 storey-high free fall from the day’s events, whilst simultaneously realising that no matter what I say about riding the Giant Drop in this blog, readers will never fully appreciate what I went through by going on it.

So we did it and OMG it was incredible. I have never experienced anything like it and aside from the panic of getting off and having pee running down my leg, I survived, proud and amazed that we just went with the flow and actually had a good time. It is a strange feeling – and it does definitely feel like you’re falling – but you know you’re safe and the view from the top is glorious. A true rite of passage for all.

(Slightly) calmer activities

Flowrider

Other highlights of the day included cuddling a baby koala named Frank, watching the totally rad Flowrider attraction which was a surfing simulator, running around in the dark playing laser tag (scoring the third highest score among a platoon of seasoned 12 year olds mind you), lunching by the wave pool in a private kabana which we hired for the day and remembering the subtle mainstays such as Thunder River Rapids and having my picture taken in the stocks – something I can clearly remember doing when I was about 10.

So is being a kid for the day all it’s cracked up to be?
And now I hear the critics say, “Come on, was it all like being a kid again, seriously?” and in all honesty, the only thing that reminded me I was old was the need for a sanitary towelette for my hands after holding on to sweaty ride handles, and some of the rides require you to sit in slightly uncomfortable positions which you forgot about as soon as the ride started anyway – but those were merely minor things that we found funny in themselves.

After a day of thrills and spills, we relaxed later on with a cocktail, watching the sunset from the 77th floor at SkyPoint Observation deck in Surfers Paradise. What better way to see the entire coastline than sitting at a chic bar with good company, chitter-chattering about having a fantastic time and running through each individual activity and assessing its rank in the day’s overall awesomeness. We’re such grown-ups – most of the time!

Keen to experience your Dreamworld adventure? You can with a lastminute.com.au experience! We currently have 10% off a 21 day unlimited entry pass to Dreamworld & WhiteWater World. Was $99 now $89.99 pp! Click here for details

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