Sea World on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia really does provide an entertaining and educational day out for families. There is so much to do here for all age groups – arrive early and spend the whole day learning about marine animals, brave the rides and adventure zones, watch the captivating shows, meet your favorite Nickelodeon character and enjoy the sweeping views of Sea World from the Monorail.
Rides
The newly opened Nickelodeon Land at Sea World is a fun area for those with younger kids. This area features rides and shows based on popular Nickelodeon characters including the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Dora the Explorer. There are character meet and greets in this area throughout the day so be sure to check to boards for the various times. You can check ride restriction heights here for the Nickelodeon Land rides. You can view our Nickelodeon Land Walk Through YouTube Video here.
For bigger kids the three main thrill rides are the Viking’s Revenge Flume ride (min. height 95cm and under 120cm must be accompanied by an adult), the Storm Coaster (min. height 110cm and under 130cm must be accompanied by an adult) and the Jet Rescue ride (min. height 125cm). Both our boys (aged 9 & 10) really enjoyed these rides and we were lucky enough that when we were there (March 2016) it was pretty quiet and it was a weekday, so not much queuing for the rides.
Another really cool part of Sea World that our kids loved was Castaway Bay which is an adventure playground where you can climb and explore the five levels of the Sky Fortress or ride the Battle Boats where the adults can take revenge on the kids and get them soaking wet! For something a little more challenging the kids can try the Sky Climb for an extra fee (min. height is 120cm and under 140cm must be accompanied by an adult).
There is also the Monorail which takes you around the park and is a nice way to get to see just what Sea World on the Gold Coast has to offer.
Shows
The affinity Dolphin show is one of the main attractions at Sea World. Here you get to learn a bit more about how these magical mammals live and their affinity with humans along with what we can do to help to maintain their safety. There are two shows daily at 11.15 am and 3.30 pm.
Another very entertaining show is the Fish Detective Sea Lion show. These cheeky sea lions will certainly provide the kids with plenty of laughs. This show is on twice daily at 10.15 am and also at 2.30 pm.
Jet Stunt Extreme highlights some of the world’s best jet ski competitors and is certainly action-packed with plenty of stunts and flips. You can catch this show daily at 1.30 pm or 4.15 pm.
For the smaller kids, there is also a Dora the Explorer show called Dora’s Best Friends Adventure Show which is held daily at 12.15 pm and 3.15 pm. If your kids like the TNMT there is also a Turtle Power Show held at 11.00 am and 1.45 pm daily. They will also enjoy the 3D SpongeBob film which is shown pretty regularly throughout the day.
Animals
There is no shortage of animals to observe and learn about here at Sea World. Our favorite exhibits were;
- Polar Bear Shores where you can watch these playful creatures from both above and beneath the water.
- Penguin Encounter where you get to taste a little bit of what life is like for the large king penguins in Antarctica.
- Penguin Point houses small fairy penguins.
- Shark Bay is a two-level exhibit showcasing stunning tropical fish as well as plenty of stingrays and sharks. It also has some interactive touch pools where you can feel starfish and other rockpool creatures.
- Ray Reef is full of stingrays of all sizes that actually come up to the surface and let you get a feel of their slimy bodies.
On top of all this, there are also many different animal adventures available at an extra cost, such as meeting the dolphins or swimming with the sharks. They also do Helicopter rides and whale watching tours at certain times of the year (from June-Oct) – you can access more information on these adventures here.
Gates open at 9.30 am and the rides start from 10.00 am with the park closing at 5.00 pm
General admission pricing is $79.00 per person (no child prices or family tickets available). Children under 3 are free.
