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Yes, but cable cars are chairlifts to me! Always have been. Always will be! That's thanks to my childhood Butlin's holidays, of which chairlifts similar to those at Sea World were a big part and helped create many very special memories. I haven't seen it yet but from the title of the new show I suspected as much. It's a theme park. It's supposed to be FUN. Not educational! I won't be in any rush to see it.

In 2007 it had an amazing immersive family ride (Bermuda Triangle), chairlifts, miniature railway, and better and more frequent monorails (plenty of transport rides), better dolphin show (animal show), a good pirate show (family show), Vikings Revenge (good family water ride), a water park (suitable for all ages but now replaced by a water splash play area suitable only for little kids), and Sea Viper (thrill ride). So it had various attractions and the whole family could easily find multiple fun things to do, regardless of their ages and preferences. Sadly the same cannot be said now.

I actually like chicken, fish, and lamb. You must be thinking of someone else!

It would be wonderful if they built something along the lines of Bermuda Triangle. Not a recreation of the same ride, but something equally immersive and with the same broad appeal to all ages. There are plenty of possibilities with sea related themes.

There's always been a 2nd monorail, and until a few years ago there was a 3rd when the park was busy.

Try living anywhere else in Australia, and possibly the world. See what fraction of the fun you can get for $139. I've lived in lots of places and trust me it's incredibly good value!

It really was a great park several years ago and it's sad to see what's become of it. I'd like to think there is a masterplan to seriously invest in it soon.

I've always enjoyed my meal. Maybeit's not quite as good as I'd expect in a top restaurant, but considering the number of people they cater for it's very good.

Definitely! It's also just far too good a show to watch through a camera!

I never saw any of the shows before High Country Legends so can’t compare it to the earlier ones.

Fair points. I guess when you've seen a show at what for you was its absolute peak, anything different is likely to seem not as good, unless of course it's something absolutely incredible which is an obvious improvement. Since High Country Legends is such a great show, that would be extremely difficult! I still enjoy it though.

I think the helicopter added a real "wow" to the opening scene, and was entirely appropriate as you'd just seen video of a flight around Australia, finishing up outside the Australian Outback Spectacular building, and then with the aid of the helicopter it seemed as if you were flying into the building. A superb effect I thought. For the show last year (Army related, I forget the name), they altered the back wall and apparently removed the roller door where the helicopter had come in. Maybe it was deemed too expensive to alter it back. I saw it a few weeks ago and have to say there was a few other changes, and whilst it is still a superb show it's not quite as good as it used to be. Another major change is they had a new actor playing "Bluey", who I consider the most important character in the show. He wasn't bad, but it was obvious he was still learning his lines, and he just didn't have the same passion for the role that the previous guy did. I could be wrong, maybe the guy I've seen many times in the past is still there but was just having a day off when I saw it a few weeks ago. Another thing I noticed was the introduction to the circus segment wasn't quite what it used to be, and seemed a bit rushed. Suddenly someone shouts "CIRCUS!" in the middle of something completely unrelated, and then the tent goes up! As I said it's still very very good, but not quite what it was!

All very good points I think. Seems those making the big development decisions at Dreamworld don't really understand what a theme park is all about!

Some of the friends getting in free will probably decide to buy a pass when they otherwise weren't going to. Sounds like a good marketing idea.

Very optimistic of you, but they'vealready said they have no plans for the area so far. To me that's a very clear sign that they aren't really committed. They've had ample time since the TRR incident and any fully committed theme park company would at the very least have a masterplan for the future development of not only Gold Rush, but the whole park. You don't just wait and see what happens 😨!

Despite the signs at the park entry saying it was still closed today, and the maintenance website saying likewise, the ride was open ("technical rehearsals" sign up) late this afternoon, so I had several goes. The only obvious sign of work having been done over the past year was parts of the trough you go through after you leave the station had apparently been replaced by new concrete. It had been painted, but no effort was made to match the colour of the surrounding, pre-existing parts. New parts are grey, older parts brown. As was the case prior to the extensive closure, many of the effects were not working, or working poorly. Long story short, very disappointed. Hard to see why it was closed for so long!

I doubt it was Dreamworlds choice, but yes it's unfortunate timing.

On the face of the information in the above posts, it sounds like the incident could have been prevented if the failure of the water pump had triggered an emergency stop of all moving parts of the ride. If so, I think that's something that should be implemented on all similar rides worldwide without delay.

Anyone know the opening date yet?

Absolutely fantastic! I can see many parallels with Butlin's history too. The way things got done in the early days, the steadfast determination of the founder, and the interesting and at times funny interactions with early competitors!

The pre-show is quite engaging (example below), although I really wish they'd bring back other interactive elements around the room like I remember seeing the first time I ever went to Roxy Theatre!

It would be very appropriate. They tell you you're in a theme park next to Legoland, called Brickworld!

Wow. So much more enjoyable (for me at least) than the Looney Tunes movie! It's set in a theme park (sort of, but more like Dismaland than Disneyland!) and there's some fun audience participation that will seem real to kids between about 5 and 9. Just a fun experience for all! I don't know but looks like a combination of both.

Great news, and not before time. I'm watching it right now!

and there I was thinking maybe we had a piece of a Butlin funfair here until recently! Oh well!