There’s a reason that the tagline for every second theme park is ‘fun for the whole family’. Surrendering control to heaving masses of metal, timber or water, we revert to our younger selves.
Uncontrollable giggles, smiles from ear to ear, the ideal amount of adrenaline coursing through your veins; theme parks turn every guest, no matter their age, into a wide-eyed child. And Australia is blessed with some absolute stunners.
But what are the very best theme parks Down Under? Here, in no particular order, are 14 that amusement junkies simply have to check out.
1. Dreamworld, Gold Coast, QLD
What better place to start than with Australia’s biggest theme park, and one of the world’s best?
Dreamworld more than lives up to its name. This sprawling park is spread over 85ha and is made up of eight themed lands. There are over 40 attractions to enjoy, including nine thrill rides. Perhaps the most intimidating (or exciting, depending on your perspective) is the world’s third tallest and fastest drop tower, the Giant Drop.
In 2006 Dreamworld even expanded to include its own water park, WhiteWater World. A fully-fledged theme park in its own right, this addition means that many visitors treat Dreamworld as a multi-day affair!
2. Sea World, Gold Coast, QLD
The Gold Coast hasn’t always been the theme park mecca that it is now. The transformation began in 1971, when Keith Williams began holding water ski shows in Surfers Paradise. Over the years this site transformed into one of Australia’s most beloved theme parks, adding animals, attractions and even its own resort.
There’s something for everyone at Sea World. Adrenaline junkies can enjoy three roller coasters. Animal lovers can get up close and personal with dolphins, penguins, rays, sharks and even polar bears. And those looking for a more relaxed affair can check out a live show or take a seat on the Sea World Monorail, which offers an elevated view of the park.
3. Luna Park, Sydney, NSW
Gazing out over Sydney Harbour, right next to the famous bridge, Luna Park is an Australian icon. As you walk through the mouth of the face that forms the entry to the park, you’re transported to a world that is part historic funfair, part modern theme park.
This dichotomy is seen in two of the most popular roller coasters at the park: the brand new Big Dipper III, which is the world’s first inline seating launch rollercoaster, and the Wild Mouse, a wooden coaster that is one of only three of its type left in the world.
The best bit? This is a rare park that is completely free to enter – you only pay if you want to enjoy the rides and treats!
4. Wet’n’Wild, Gold Coast, QLD
The name of this Gold Coast staple says it all. If you’re in search of water-based fun, there’s no better theme park in Australia than Wet’n’Wild. The waters of this park are heated over the (admittedly mild) Gold Coast winter, making it one of the few Australian water parks to be open all year round.
One of the few things that isn’t watered down at Wet’n’Wild is the adrenaline. The Extreme H2O Zone delivers exactly what it says on the tin, with the Kamikaze, Tornado and Blackhole slides every bit as exciting as they sound. At the other end of the spectrum you have Calypso Beach, a lazy river attraction that worms its way around the grounds.
5. Adventure World, Perth, WA
On the perfectly curated banks of Bibra Lake in the south of Perth sits Western Australia’s only theme and water park. Adventure World takes this responsibility seriously, offering over 25 rides and attractions to its excited guests.
Adrenaline lovers will be in heaven at Adventure World. You can strap into Goliath, a giant pendulum swing, or Abyss, a rollercoaster capable of pulling 4.5Gs. There’s also a little ride called Kraken, which just happens to be the longest, tallest and steepest funnel water slide on earth.
6. Adventure Park, Geelong, VIC
While Adventure Park sells itself as Victoria’s biggest water park, the truth is that it’s as much a traditional theme park, offering a complete suite of dry land attractions like a Ferris wheel, rollercoaster, arcade and multiple mini golf courses.
But the water is undoubtedly the main event. Amongst the 20+ attractions you’ll find seven waterslides, including the 7.5 story high, 172m long, triple-funnel Tsunami. Be aware that because Adventure Park is found in one of Australia’s cooler states and lacks heated water, it closes over winter months.
7. Raging Waters, Prospect, NSW
A half hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD, next to Prospect Reservoir and Western Sydney Parklands, sits Raging Waters, home to some of the tallest and fastest water rides in the world. Originally built as Wet’n’Wild’s third location (after Gold Coast and Las Vegas), this park became Raging Waters in 2019, but kept the same commitment to water-based fun and adventure.
The 30 slides that dot the expansive park offer varying levels of intensity, ensuring there’s something for everyone. There’s also the option of booking a private cabana where you and your friends can relax and recover!
8. Luna Park, St Kilda, VIC
Luna Park Melbourne is Australia’s oldest theme park, having welcomed guests through its open-mouthed entrance for over a century. The history of the place can be felt as soon as you walk in, as you’re met by an ornate carousel that dominates the centre of the park.
This isn’t a theme park that is trying to be the biggest or most extreme; in fact, it’s rather small. What you get instead is a glimpse into the past; an interesting sense of what a theme park may have been like in 1912, the year that Luna Park opened.
9. Funfields, Whittlesea, VIC
Set in the wide open spaces found 40km north of Melbourne, Funfields began life as Alpine Toboggan Park, where guests could travel down a steel track on plastic sleds. More and more attractions, both wet and dry, have been added over the years, to the point that Funfields now boasts a collection to rival the biggest theme parks in the land.
The pièce de resistance is the Gravity Wave, a monstrous, 200m+ long water slide that blasts riders from a launch pad suspended over 27m into the air.
10. The Beachouse, Glenelg, SA
Found on the foreshore of Adelaide’s most popular beach, the Beachouse might look like a small complex, but a whole lot of fun is packed inside. This is version 2.0 of the Glenelg amusement – the original, called Magic Mountain, was torn down in 2004, perhaps because it looked suspiciously like a giant poo.
Inside the far less faecal-looking Beachouse you’ll find three heated water slides, dodgem cars, a 120-year-old carousel, bumper boats, mini golf, an arcade and more, all on one of Australia’s best city beaches!
11. Aussie World, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Melding excitement with Australiana, Aussie World is the perfect theme park for international tourists who are looking for something distinctly local. Found an hour north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, this medium-sized, family-owned theme park is stacked with over 30 rides and attractions.
There’s a little bit of everything here, including the Dingo Racer spinning rollercoaster, Professor Bogglesworth’s Illusionarium and Platypus Ponds mini golf. Aussie World is particularly good for families, who can enjoy a generous array of kid-friendly rides.
12. Jamberoo Action Park, Jamberoo, NSW
Located 110km south of Sydney, near Lake Illawarra, Jamberoo Action Park is a seasonal water park that also features a sprinkling of dry theme park fun, including a bobsled track, a chairlift and a mini golf course.
Built on an old dairy farm, this family owned and operated establishment is very reasonably priced, with all-inclusive day passes priced at a little over $50. With construction of Velocity Falls underway – which the park promises will be amongst the biggest and best ride of its type in the world – Jamberoo is only going to get better.
13. Big Splash Waterpark, Canberra, ACT
The nation’s capital might be more known for politics, but when the bureaucrats need to blow off steam, Canberra’s Big Splash Waterpark is ready and waiting. Five pools, nine slides (including a few purchased from Wet’n’Wild on the Gold Coast), and a whole lot of fun await.
Because it resides in one of Australia’s colder cities, Big Splash is only open for around three months a year – usually early-November to early-February. But this just ensures that Canberrans make the most of it over the summer holidays, during which the complex is usually heaving.
14. Scenic World, Katoomba, NSW
Our final park is one that offers a ‘world’ of difference when compared to the rest of the entries on this list. You won’t find a single rollercoaster, water slide or amusement arcade here. Your excitement instead comes from the spectacular scenery that surrounds you, which you can experience in a number of equally spectacular ways.
Found in the UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains, which border Sydney’s western edge, Scenic World sees visitors drink in the views via four methods: the scenic skyway, the world’s steepest railway, the southern hemisphere’s steepest cable car, and kilometres of boardwalks. If you’re into nature, this is the theme park for you.
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