Gold Coast theme parks Dreamworld, WhiteWater World, Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet‘n’Wild Gold Coast have reopened today after further severe weather events caused their closure on Monday and Tuesday.
With operations impacted since the Christmas night storm on the Gold Coast and flooding in recent days, each of the attractions in the Helensvale/Oxenford area had been open on sporadic hours since 27th December.
However, Topgolf and Paradise Country remain closed as a result of damage caused during the cyclonic of Christmas Day storms.
Sea World, in the less impacted suburb of Main Beach, has remained open since Boxing Day while Dreamworld’s Tiger Island, which has been closed over recent days is also expected to reopen today.
The severe weather of the past eight days has been a major blow to theme park operators Ardent Leisure and Village Roadshow industry during what should be its busiest period of the year.
As recently as Monday morning, before the latest round of flood events caused the closure of the theme parks that day, the Gold Coast Bulletin had flagged that Movie World, Wet‘n’Wild, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World were encouraging visits.
In the Monday report, Dreamworld Chief Executive, Greg Yong “our place is completely open for business - Dreamworld and WhiteWater World are open, everything is on offer after our teams have worked day and night.
“We have a full offer back in place. We are open and ready and would love to see the visitation back.”
Village Roadshow Theme Parks Chief Operating Officer, Bikash Randhawa added “we want to make sure the appropriate help is getting to everyone and my heart goes out to everyone absolutely.”
Noting that Movie World and Wet‘n’Wild reopened after damage assessments, thanks to “outstanding” help from the Gold Coast City Council, Randhawa went on to sat “we are fielding a lot of calls asking if it is safe to come to the Gold Coast. We must keep all the other businesses going and need the right messaging about visitation.”
In the Monday morning report, Experience Gold Coast Executive Director of Tourism Rachel Hancock said the Gold Coast’s charms were wide open for tourists from far and wide in January, stating “the Gold Coast is well and truly open for business, supported by a tourism industry that proves time and again its resilience and commitment to the city’s visitor economy.
“I have no doubt 2024 holds many opportunities as the international market continues to rebound through stronger aviation connectivity.”
As the flooding subsides it can be assumed that the sentiments of Hancock, Randhawa and Yong still apply.
Images: Warner Bros. Movie World's Hooray for Hollywood experience (top) and Dreamworld's new Big Red Boat Coaster (below).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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