Theme park fanatics have shared a sneak peek inside a massive expansion of one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions.
Movie World recently announced that three new rides and a themed precinct will open at the Gold Coast venue in 2024 as part of a $40m upgrade.
The former Batman: Arkham Asylum precinct will be transformed into the colourful world of The Wizard of Oz as depicted in the 1939 children’s movie classic.
The new attraction is in addition to The Flash: Speed Force, the first ride-within-a-ride in the southern hemisphere set to welcome its first thrill seekers in April.
Work has already started on the Wizard of Oz precinct, which will include a Yellow Brick Road and two family-friendly rides.
Theme park TikTok account E-TicketParks this week shared an glimpse of early works onsite.
Work has also started on Movie World’s new 30-metre-high attraction The Flash Speed Force
A Wizard of Oz themed precinct (artist impression pictured) will open at Movie World in 2024
The tracks for the coaster rides have already arrived, ready to be erected.
‘From the concept art, the land looks to be extremely detailed,’ the clip is captioned.
The video was inundated with comments from excited theme park enthusiasts.
‘Wizard of Oz land sounds like a dream come TRUE,’ one viewer commented
Another added: ‘That’s so cool.’
A third wrote: ‘You can see all the parts of the coasters if you go to the top of the Mammoth falls at Wet N Wild.
But other theme park fans believed it could be improved with other attractions.
‘I would make a Harry Potter ride or more DC rides, one for Wonder Woman, one for Harley Quinn and one for Teen Titans,’ one enthusiast commented.
Theme park operator Village Roadshow has hailed the precinct as one of a kind.
It will feature two yet-to-be named rides which will see many young visitors experience their very first roller-coaster ride.
A 454m long and 19m high suspended coaster will travel at speeds of up 67km/h.
The Boomerang Racer will be a steel coaster consisting of two tracks and reach speeds of up to 58km/h.
The tracks of the Wizard of Oz coasters have already arrived onsite
A Yellow Brick Road will lead visitors to the new attraction precinct when it opens next year
‘This precinct is going to be like nothing we have ever done at Movie World and we are working closely with our partners at Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment to make this one of the most beautifully themed precincts in Australian theme parks,’ Village Roadshow chief executive Clark Kirby said.
Elsewhere at the venue, work has also started on 30-metre-high attraction The Flash Speed Force, which is a Southern Hemisphere theme park first.
The half-pipe shuttle coaster will be located inside the track of the Superman Escape Coaster to provide a unique ride-within-a-ride experience for adrenaline seekers.
The Movie World upgrades got a tick of approval from the Queensland government.
‘We’re seeing interstate and international visitors enjoying everything that Queensland’s great lifestyle has to offer. Our nation-leading economic performance sends a strong signal to business that now is the time to invest in Queensland,’ state treasurer Cameron Dick said after the upgrades were announced in July.
‘The Wizard of Oz will give tourists even more reasons to visit Movie World and the Gold Coast. And those tourists support jobs in hotels, restaurants and small businesses right across the coast.’
Opened in 1991, Movie World consists of movie-themed attractions and is the only film related theme park in Australia.