Ocean Parade (Dreamworld)

Ocean Parade is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It features 2 of the Big 7 Thrill Rides at Dreamworld. The Claw and Hot Wheels SideWinder.[1] Are within close proximity of each other. Ocean Parade has an Australian beach culture theme, and has beach-themed rides scattered around the area. It currently provides a link between Main Street, DreamWorks Experience, and the adjacent water park WhiteWater World.[1]

Ocean Parade

Theme	Beach
Attractions
Total	6
Roller coasters	1
Other rides	5
Status	Operating
Dreamworld
Coordinates	27.864475°S 153.316140°E
Opened	1993
Replaced	County Fair

History

Ocean Parade opened in 1993,[2] replacing the Northern end of Country Fair.[3][4] The area has since been extended to cover all of the area once occupied by Country Fair.[1] Since its opening, the most major change to the land was when The Claw was added in September 2004.[5] This installation required the redesign of the pathway, dining and merchandise shops.[6][7] In 2006, Ocean Parade opened a "park-hop" entrance to WhiteWater World, which is also owned by Ardent Leisure (the owners of Dreamworld).[2] On 25 June, 2011, Dreamworld opened a Zamperla Disk'O called Shockwave.[8] In 2014, Dreamworld renovated Ocean Parade with the rebuild of Wipeout, closure of Reef Diver and the opening of Tail Spin. In 2015, a new themed area, Motorsport Experience, took over a part of Ocean Parade which included two refurbished attractions and a new exhibit. In March 2019, The Wipeout was closed permanently.

The area was previously home to AVPX, Reef Diver, Stingray, Wipeout and Thunderbolt

Attractions

The Claw

The Claw

The Claw is an Intamin Gyro Swing which opened in September 2004. It is a one and a half-minute ride in which riders are swung from side to side on an axis in a similar fashion to that of a pirate ship ride. However, the seating arrangement on The Claw is in a circular formation.[5][9] Part of the Big 7 marketing campaign.[10]

Game Site

Game Site is a large indoor arcade with various attractions including bowling, video games and arcade machines.[1] The Game Site originally was home to a set of remote controlled trucks which have since been moved to Nickelodeon Central, these trucks were since removed during the transition from Nickelodeon Central to the DreamWorks Experience.

The Gold Coaster

Cyclone

The Gold Coaster is one of the tallest high-speed gravity steel roller coasters in the Southern Hemisphere.[11] When it opened in 2001, it was the tallest.[12][13] Part of the Big 7 marketing campaign.[10] The ride underwent a refurbishment in October–December 2015, and became Hot Wheels Hot SideWinder as part of the Motorsport Experience, which opened 26 December. In February 2020, Dreamworld announced that the ride would get a new look and theme. Soon after, repainting on the ride commenced with a new colour scheme to the tracks and trains. The ride reopened on 20 December 2020 as The Gold Coaster with a circa 1970s Gold Coast theme.

Kickback Cove

Kickback Cove

Kickback Cove is a chill out area which opened in November 2019 which replaced the Wipeout. Dreamworld describes the attraction as "Dreamworlds most Instagrammable spot for a break".

Shockwave

Set to open in June 2011, Shockwave will be a Zamperla Disk'O. Construction began in April 2011 in a location between Ocean Parade and Nickelodeon Central for the family thrill ride announced just days prior. On 18 May 2011,[14] Dreamworld officially announced that the ride would be called Shockwave.[8]

Tail Spin

"Tail Spin" is a Gerstlauer Sky Fly which opened in September 2014. The ride was the ninth thrill ride to be added to the park. Guests sit in a small aeroplane that they can swing. With enough swinging they can spin around and around in circles. The ride replaced Reef Diver. Tail Spin is the first of its kind in Australia.[15] [16]

AVPX

AVPX is a themed indoor laser skirmish attraction based on the Alien vs. Predator films. It is the biggest indoor laser skirmish attraction in Australia and is included in Dreamworld's admission price. It opened April 2009.

FlowRider

FlowRider

FlowRider is born from the roots of surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding and bodyboarding. It is set on an artificial wave created on a flexible, trampoline-like base. This was Australia's first FlowRider installation. During park hours the ride operates in bodyboard mode where groups of 15 riders share a 30-minute session on the ride.[17] After park hours, stand-up boarding is made available for a 12 rider, hour-long session.[18] The ride is a Wave Loch FlowRider.[19]

Grand Prix

Grand Prix was a go-kart track which operated from 1982 to 1992. The exact reason for the removal of this ride is still unknown, however it was possibly due to lack of popularity. The track was located beneath the Thunderbolt roller coaster.

Reef Diver

Reef Diver

Reef Diver is a SDC Enterprise which is painted bright yellow to stand out along with its Ocean Parade theming. The ride reaches speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph), and is suitable for guests 1 year of age and over (guests under 4 years of age must be accompanied by an adult). Riders can experience g-forces up to 3g, reaching a height of 18.3 metres (60 ft).

Rock Climbing Wall

Rock Climbing Wall is situated next to the Wipeout and is an ideal family attraction. Guests pay $5 to have a session on one of five different rock walls. It opened at the same time as The Claw, in September 2004.

Stingray

Stingray is a rotating ride featuring controlled lifting and tilting movements with a capacity for 36 riders per dispatch. The ride is a Trabant manufactured by Chance Rides. It was originally known as the Roulette when it opened in 1983. It remained under that name until 1993 when Ocean Parade opened and it was rethemed to suit the beach theme. Stingray closed in May 2012 and was relocated.

Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt was Dreamworld's original roller coaster which opened in 1982 and was closed on 8 August 2003. The Thunderbolt also originally had a Go-Kart track operating next to the roller coaster.

Vortex

Vortex was a park-model Gravitron. It was removed on 2 February 2009 to make way for the new Alien vs. Predator themed Laser Skirmish attraction named AVPX. The Vortex operated under the name Gravitron until 2002, when it was renamed to fit the Ocean parade theming. It was suitable for guests 1 year of age and over (guests under 4 years of age must be accompanied by an adult).

Wipeout

Wipeout

Wipeout is Vekoma Waikiki Wave Super Flip, costing A$6 million opened in 1993 with the opening of the Ocean Parade precinct. It is capable of handling 40 riders at a time with ride cycles lasting 2.5 minutes. A minimum of 20 riders must be met before the ride can be operated. In 2019, Dreamworld announced that Wipeout would be retired after over twenty years in service. Wipeout was replaced by Kickback Cove.

V8 Supercars Red Line

V8 Supercars Red Line is Australia's first full-motion virtual V8 Supercars experience. For a cost of $10, drivers can race against 3 other drivers (in other simulators) as well as 21 computer drivers. V8 Supercars Red Line closed in October 2019.

Shopping & Dining

Ocean Parade features many beach themed merchandise and dining outlets. [20] Merchandise can be purchased from: [21]

• Surf Central — surf themed store with brands from Billabong, Rip Curl, Roxy and Quicksilver
• Sacka Shack — beach themed merchandise store with clothing and accessories from Billabong, Rip Curl, Roxy and Quicksilver

Food & beverage items can be purchased at:[22]

• Barrels Burgers Bar — gourmet burger restaurant and bar
• The Hot Dog Stand

Character Appearances

Throughout the day, characters will be appearing between Kickback Cove and The Hot Dog Cart for photo opportunities.

• Kenny Koala (Dreamworld’s original mascot)
• Belinda Brown (Dreamworld’s 1983 mascot)

References

1. "Park Map" (PDF). Dreamworld. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
2. "Dreamworld History" (PDF). Dreamworld. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
3. "Dreamworld Map 1991". Historical Archive. Scottware. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
4. "Dreamworld Map 1994". Historical Archive. Scottware. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
5. "The Claw (Dreamworld)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
6. "Dreamworld Map 2000". Historical Archive. Scottware. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
7. "Dreamworld Map 2005". Historical Archive. Scottware. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
8. "Dreamworld's newest ride is on a mission to shock". Dreamworld. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
9. TheStorm79 (3 September 2009). "Dreamworld Ride - The Claw". Video. YouTube. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
10. "Man Up Landing". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
11. "Cyclone Rollercoaster Dreamworld". Your Gold Coast. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
12. Australian Associated Press (22 October 2001). "Fed: Big Dipper renamed as Cyclone at Dreamworld".
13. Macquarie Leisure Trust Newsletter July 2002
14. "Dreamworld's newest ride is on a mission to shock". Facebook. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
15. http://www.parkz.com.au/article/2014/09/16/345-First_look_at_Dreamworld_s_Tail_Spin.html
16. http://www.parkz.com.au/article/2014/07/27/338-Tail_Spin_coming_to_Dreamworld.html
17. "FlowRider (Park Hours)". Dreamworld. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
18. "NightRider (After Hours)". Dreamworld. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
19. "FlowRider (Dreamworld)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
20. Dreamworld and WhiteWater World Park Map (2009).
21. "Shopping and Photo Outlets". dreamworld.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
22. "Food and Beverages Outlets". dreamworld.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2021.