The Parkz Update: Steel Taipan rises over Log Ride rubble at Dreamworld

Dreamworld's recovery continues, with Steel Taipan well on the way to completion, and further disused attractions being removed from the park.

Image: Dreamworld is a hive of activity.. It's out with the old and in with the new as trackwork nears completion on the new Steel Tiapan roller coaster, whilst the Rocky Hollow Log Ride is finally removed from the park after years of sitting stagnant.

Update By Parkz
30 May 2021

The skyline at Dreamworld has been permanently transformed with the additon of Steel Taipan

Also, since our last update, more Tower of Terror track has been pulled off the Giant Drop.

However, before we delve into the new coaster, we should pay our repsects to Rocky Hollow Log Ride.

After years of "standing but not operating" the Rocky Hollow Log Ride has had a sudden, rapid demolition.

The drop - gone.

The splashdown - gone.

The station - gone.

The various belts and mechanical systems are now just twisted metal.

The storage shed remains for now.

As too does the tunnel, which is almost passable as a bit of a barrier.

A temporary haul road was built over the tracks of the Dreamworld Express to allow demolition machinery to move in and out.

The ride operated for just short of 40 years.

As the saying goes, out with the old in with the new. Though, whilst the addition of steel taipain fills one major gap in the park lineup, the removal of the log ride exposes another one. The lack of water rides at a major theme park in a hot country like Australia is not ideal, especially considering the consistent crowds these would draw when they operated.

It's satisfying seeing such an impressive coaster finally coming together after months of waiting.

Or years of waiting if you've been wanting Dreamworld to build a modern, world class full circuit coaster.

Like it or loathe it, this is the skyline of a new Dreamworld.

Fewer and fewer parts are remaining in the car park. This appears to belong to the final brakes.

Notable parts still to be built include the "reverse twisted halfpipe" at the back of the swing launch, and the barrel roll at the end of the course.

This thing is used for transporting and calibrating the cars.

The station looks like it will have a contemporary, reptilian inspired design, with these triangular features on one side.

The transfer track for the swing launch system and the bank of LSMs.

Owing to the triple launch system, this coaster will use a shorter bank of LSM's compared to other Mack "Blue Fire" clones. Instead, the bank of LSM's will be used three times in each cycle, as the train passes forwards, backwards and forwards again.

From the launch the train will travel up and over the highest point on this wide high banked turn.

It certainly ensures the ride is visible from main street.

The first inversion is the loop, which stands at the end of the pathway leading to the ride. Let's hope the park makes something of this area, because it currently feels like you're walking down a back alley.

You can see how the track before the loop actually drops into a trench below ground level. Expect to see the announced themed tunnel element around here.

Out of the loop is a very hard right turn, which banks quite severely. At what will essentially be close to full speed, it's sure to thrill.

The track heads up to a trim brake, which washes off a bit of excess speed. On other "Blue Fire" clones this section is used as a mid course block brake to allow additional trains to operate.

Strangely, our version of the coaster has additional smaller supports between the main columns at some high load sections.

You drop off the trim brake into a corkscrew.

Actually two corkscrews, mirrored against each other in a "twisted horsehoe" arrangement first seen on Maverick at Cedar Point.

Fun Fact: Steel Taipan is the 2nd orange roller coaster in the history of the Gold Coast to feature two corkscrews.

After the corkscrews is a funky airtime hill that threads through the loop.

A good chunk of the layout. All that remains to be installed at this end includes the helix after the airtime hill, the barrel roll, and the final turn and brakes.

Looks like an oil refinery.

There has been much anxiety about whether the train will re-open at all, given the amount of track that has been disturbed or covered over to allow the coaster to be constructed, but here the park is reassuring guests it will return.

It'll look good strolling towards giant drop. Unintentionally, this end of the park has become a cluster of thrill rides.

Steel Taipan, a colab between Mack Rides, Buchan Architects, Condev Construction, Rider Levett Bucknall Quantity Surveyors and the Queensland Government.