Visiting Australia's Best Theme Parks

Move over, Florida, Australia is fast becoming one of the best destinations for families looking for endless opportunities for theme park fun! Whether you’ve got kids that are true thrill seekers and won’t settle for anything less than terrifying, adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters, or whether you’ve got little ones that would love to discover some amazing Australian wildlife, Australia’s theme parks hit the spot every time. From movie madness to calm and serene natural scenery, if you and your family are looking for fun and exciting road trip destinations, check out these incredible parks located across the country:

Dreamworld

Australia’s biggest theme park really needs no introduction. It’s simply unbelievable. The best aspect of this park is that it boasts not just one, but seven different themed areas, appealing to every single member of the family, right through from babies to the grandparents. For older kids who get their kicks on extreme rides, Pandamonium ticks all the right boxes, but there’s plenty of tamer options for younger ones. Kids will love heading on a swing adventure with Puss in Boots, for example. What’s more, Dreamworld is home to more than 800 native Australian breeds that you can see up close and personal, including crocs, koalas, and kangaroos. For road trippers the park couldn’t be easier to reach, located just off the M1, roughly midway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Movie World

If your kids are big fans of movies and cartoons, you absolutely must take a trip to Movie World  - it will blow their mind! Movie World is like the Warner equivalent of Universal Studios, and features all manner of rides and attractions based upon some of your kids’ favourite films and TV. If they’ve ever wanted to go ghost hunting with Scooby-Doo, exploring with Sid, Manny, and Diego, or flying with Superman, then this is the place! There’s plenty to see and do for all ages, so you can be sure no one will be bored. Movie World is just a 25 minute drive from the Gold Coast, along the M1, so it’s a great place to stop on your way to, or from, the city.

Adventure World

While many of Australia’s best theme parks are located near to the Gold Coast, there are actually some really great parks all around the country, one of which is situated in Western Australia, overlooking the Bibra Lake Reserve. Adventure World is a slightly older, more traditional park, and it certainly has a charm that many others do not. Despite its age, it boasts some of the scariest rides you can imagine, particularly the Tunnel of Terror which always has children’s screams echoing from it! The park is a mere 20 minute drive from Perth, so it’s easy to combine a day out at Adventure World with a road trip to Perth or the west coast.

Keeping Your Family Safe on the Road

Regardless of whether you’re driving to a theme park in a different state, or visiting one locally not far from your hometown, it’s important to take precautions to make sure your family, particularly your young kids, stay safe on the road, especially if you’re traveling in very high heats. One of the most important things you should check before you set off on the road is that you’ve not only got adequate roadside assistance for your vehicle, but that you have the necessary contact details with you in case you break down. If you’ve chosen to hire a car rather than use your own (after all, you’ll need a larger car to bring home all the souvenirs from your trip!), you’ll also need to make arrangements to have the right child seats fitted prior to setting off. Under Australian law, babies and children weighing less than 32 kg should be placed in a special car or booster seat for safety. Incorrect restraints are responsible for 36 percent of all crash fatalities in the country, so don’t take the risk. Of course, always be sure to have a supply of drinks and snacks to last much longer than your intended trip, in case you’re delayed.

Banishing Boredom in the Back Seat

“Are we there yet?” is possibly the worst question in the English language! It’s something all parents dread hearing, so it’s really important you do all you can to take your kids’ minds off the fact that they’re stuck in the back of the car. Games and snacks are ideal for this purpose! Pack some small picnic nibbles (if you’re traveling long distance, try to stick to things like crisps, cookies, and flapjacks that won’t spoil in the heat) and create some simple games before leaving home. To really help your kids get excited about the trip, base the snacks and games on the theme park that you’re planning to visit. If you’re heading to Movie World, for example, write a list of movie questions and challenge your kids to answer them all correctly, or bake up some movie-themed cookies to munch on and keep the hunger at bay!

Article by Melissa MacArthur