Coaster reviews

Fun Discomfort

SBF Race Coaster, good little layout. One slight jolt but is probably my favourite kiddie coaster in Australia.

Intensity Discomfort

Project Zero is the relocated name of BuzzSaw from Dreamworld, and unfortunately it doesn’t ride any better. While it’s intense, it still has potholes and rattles, and the forces can border on uncomfortable instead of fun. The theming and presentation is definitely the weakest of the three coasters at the park. Essentially, nothing has really been improved from Dreamworld’s iteration, but for a small park, that’s probably fine.

Smoothness Capacity

TNT is a brilliant ride for the park. Smooth, much more forceful than intended, and with great presentation and theming. The overbank and first drop are spectacular, and I’m glad Gumbuya invested in giving the ride such cool effects like the smoke effect through the tunnel. Superb coaster.

Fun Discomfort

This is more playground equipment than roller coaster, really. However, it's on RCDB, so here we are. The experience of a human-powered coaster is kind of interesting, and it's worth going and checking it out. However, this thing just bangs and rattles its way down the track, smashing your spine to pieces along the way. And all for a ride that provides about as much thrill as a swing-set. Do it once because of how weird and unique it is, and then go to hospital to fix your shattered tailbone.

Intensity Discomfort

Wild Mouse should be protected forever. No one should ever say anything bad about this priceless gem. However, it is rough. That's undeniable. But is it worth it? Yes, a thousand times, yes. It's an unmatchable experience, hurtling around the track, feeling as though you may just spontaneously shoot off into the harbour below. For a family-thrill ride, this is an incredibly intense experience and I've never ridden anything remotely like it.

Fun Harness

This is a Vekoma hang-and-bang, and it sucks. The harnesses are very restrictive on the shoulders of taller riders, and that only adds to the pain on this very rough ride. There are no redeeming moments either, it sort of just glides and meanders around, which means it isn't really worth suffering for.

Theming Theming

The story of Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster is a roller coaster in itself. Previously one of the best-themed family rides out there, it became an absolute classic. Then, along came VRTP and decided to redevelop the theming. Now, it's trash. It looks cheesy and the animation and screen-based elements are very poorly executed. It seems as though it will undergo another redevelopment, which hopefully will restore its former glory, because this was once by far Australia's best family ride.

Theming Discomfort

Road Runner is a nice little family coaster. Nothing too intense. The area around it is well-themed, and the overall appearance of the coaster is nice. I have had mixed experiences in terms of comfort. In the back especially, it seems to deliver some intense laterals that can be uncomfortable for larger riders. However, I don't remember this always being the case, so it may be an age issue.

Fun Discomfort

It's a Pinfari Zyklon. What more do you need to know? This thing is pretty generic.

Theming Intensity

Snoopy's Great Race is not a roller coaster that I have a lot of memories of, but what I do remember was dazzling. The theming was immaculate. It was built by Senyo, but rode similarly to a Vekoma Junior Coaster. Not too intense, but all-around pretty fun, and the interactive theming made it a great experience.

Intensity Too short

BuzzSaw was a pretty terrifying experience actually. The SkyLoop inversion is absolutely crazy, and the X-car restraints only made it more intense. The speed is also great. However, it's ultimately a glorified flat ride. It lasts for about 30 seconds. Also, in the last years before its closure it developed a severe pothole near the station which made it rather uncomfortable.

Discomfort Intensity Lap Bar

This ride is stupid. Everything about this roller coaster is the worst. The layout is completely devoid of anything interesting. The harnesses are not even harnesses, they are torture devices. The operations suck because of how stupid the train design is, and the ride tracks poorly with its old age. There are no redeeming qualities about this ride. Avoid it.

Intensity Too short

Tower of Terror was an institution. There is no describing or matching this experience, except for riding its clone. The launch, the incredible speed, the feeling of being weightless at a height that seemed so unimaginable... If this ride wasn't consistently down for maintenance, running with low capacity and only 30 seconds long, I would give it five stars. I remember it so fondly.

Pace Discomfort

I first rode this as Cyclone. The trains have since improved, but the ride still remains overall the same. It's a decent length Arrow looper, but the layout is fairly average. There are some bad transitions, and the vertical loop is like a car crash. Overall, it's enjoyable, but you have to be trying to enjoy it.

Intensity Pointless

Why is SurfRider even here? It's a decent enough ride, but it runs more like a flat ride than a coaster. But more importantly, it's at a water park, and the operations and maintenance all suffer as a result. This really just is the most misguided ride of all time.

Theming Rattle

Space Mountain. Just the name elicits something special. It runs a little bit rough, but you'll forget all about that when you're racing through the darkness on the adventure of a lifetime. It's just a great ride. There's not much more to be said.

Theming Dead spots

Big Thunder Mountain is the strongest coaster at Tokyo Disneyland for me. It feels fast and fun, the theming is, as expected, great, and it's long! However it suffers from some dead spots, particularly having three lift hills which kills the pacing.

Theming Too short

Storm Coaster is another ride at Sea World that suffers from being far too short. It also lives forever in the shadow of its predecessor, Bermuda Triangle, which was a flume ride with Disney-level theming and presentation. Storm's theming is great, but a short Mack Water Coaster will never live up to that experience. Had it replaced anything else, Storm would probably be looked upon much more fondly by Australian enthusiasts.

Pace Too short

Jet Rescue is one of the great surprises on the Gold Coast. The laterals and speed, so close to the rockwork, it's a really surprising and forceful little coaster, particularly after the second launch. It could definitely be much longer, and the theming has kind of fallen into non-existence, but you can't go wrong with it. Great ride for Sea World.

Intensity Discomfort

Arkham Asylum was an intense experience in both a good way and a bad way. The inversions and intensity overall were unlike anything else in Australia, but there was no escaping the typical Vekoma SLC roughness. Even with the vest restraints that prevented headbanging, the tightening on your thighs and the slamming from side to side was incredibly painful. You would always leave this ride with a headache.

Launch Too short

Superman Escape is such an underrated treasure. First of all, the theming. This is an Intamin Accelerator with a pre-show. Can we appreciate that for a moment? The ride itself lacks a little bit in length, but the airtime is spectacular and the launch is smooth, graceful and incredibly forceful. I could ride this again and again. Great coaster.

Hangtime Too short

Green Lantern Coaster is a little bit out of place at Movie World. For a park that advertises itself as Australia's only theme park, it is a questionable decision to build a carpark S&S El Loco. But, it's a decent enough ride. The hangtime and laterals are really forceful and it's just a whole lot of fun. It will always play second fiddle to DC Rivals and Superman, but it's worth a ride if the line isn't too long.

Zamperla Family Coaster. Nicely themed, very short.

DPV Wacky Worm. Doesn't even do anything, but nicely themed.

First Drop Intensity Ejectors

How do you describe perfection? A first drop that is out of this world. A huge camelback with sustained strong floater. A non-inverting loop that might be one of the best elements on the planet. A turnaround that provides a pop of airtime followed by intense positives. S-bends that stack on the laterals and airtime. And then those final bunny hills, slamming you with ejector moment after ejector moment. It's a masterpiece of Mack Rides. And to top it off, you can ride backwards, which is so insane it's beyond words. The only element that doesn't absolutely slap is the Stengel dive, but we can forgive that on a ride that is two minutes of pure bliss.

SBF Visa Spinning Coaster. Boring.

Location Intensity

Scenic Railway is beyond a classic. It's an institution. You simply can't miss it because of its significance in roller coaster history. The views are great too, overlooking St Kilda Beach. Don't expect a proper roller coaster ride. There's really no speed, momentum or forces on this one. Just sit back and enjoy being on the world's second-oldest roller coaster!

SBF Visa Spinning Coaster. Dull as dish water.

Fun Dead spots

Boomerang is a fun little family ride! Going backwards in particular is a great experience, and of course, as with all rides at Luna Park, there is a great view. It doesn't really offer much in terms of forces, but that's to be expected with the target demographic of the ride.

Launch Inversions

Steel Taipan is a great step forward for Dreamworld! The swing launch adds something different to this Blue Fire clone, but more importantly, the spinning seats in the back are a great addition and a totally wild experience! Worth every cent! However, I do find that this ride seems to wander through a lot of its layout. The airtime hill is a misfire, and the first three inversions don't have a lot of force to them.