Sea World on Queensland's
Gold Coast has mastered two new attractions. The 21-year-old fun place has come up with ways of having fun while learning and Dermott Brereton jumped at the chance to give it a go.
Jet Rescue
The ride is themed around the rescue of a sea lion. You hop on a jet ski and take off at 70km/h on a mission to rescue the animal. You fly past rock pools and take sharp, twisting bends to the blowhole sea cave. The ride is powered by hydraulics and travels along 560m of track at a 2.5 G-force. As you travel through the cave, there's an exciting second boost of speed which allows the animatronic sea lion to escape.
As the jet ski passes through the cave, get ready for a blast of misty water, but you will forget that as you "rescue" the sea lion which gives a nod of thanks.
Ray Reef
The other new attraction is a hands-on feeding pool where you get up close and person with more than 100 stingrays, one of the ocean's most misunderstood creatures. They are quite majestic as they show off their graceful ability to manoeuvre their way around their eco-system home. You can feed, touch and watch their antics and learn more about them with live educational presentations.
Dermott was a little apprehensive about them — he reckoned their eyes gave him the heebie-jeebies, but after spending time and learning about them from Sea World's marine science director, Trevor Long, he thinks they aren't too scary after all.
Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation has supported more than 120 projects to date. It's home to more than 30 dolphins, 40 seals, 10,000 sharks and fish, three polar bears, 19 fairy penguins, a variety of turtle species, 100 rays and injured and rehabilitated marine birds.
Location
Sea World, 3km north of Surfers Paradise in Queensland.
Cost
Entry is $69.95 for adults and $45.95 for children. If you purchase tickets on their website, you will save 10 percent. The Ray Reef attraction is included in the entry price, and cups of food are $5. There are three feeding sessions a day. It's open every day except for Christmas Day. It's free to become a MyFun Club member.
Virgin Blue has flights to the Gold Coast.
One-way fares from:
- Sydney $69
- Melbourne $79
- Adelaide $119
- Perth $310
There are limited seats which may not be available at peak times or on all flights. Fares quoted are one-way booked on the Internet. An extra $15 will be charged for phone bookings. A credit card surcharge of an additional $2 per person per one-way flight is applicable. Fares are correct at March 19, 2009 and are subject to change.
Prices correct at March 19, 2009.
For further information
Virgin Blue
Ph: 136 789
www.virginblue.com.au
Jet Rescue Ride and Ray Reef
Sea World
Sea World Drive
Main Beach 4217
Ph: 133 386
Fax: (07) 5591 1056
www.myfun.com.au
seaworld.info@wvtp.com.au
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