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Australia’s Newest Thrill - White Water World not to Forget Dreamworld

Prepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International

Australia has a new attraction—and it is truly a sensation—a one and only one-of-its-kind in the world. It’s called White Water World and is located in Brisbane along the fabulous Gold Coast. Eight other writers from Southeast Asia and I (see my last two Weekly Travel Features) were invited by the Queensland Tourist office to help promote some of the attractions of the Gold Coast and White Water World topped the list. When Ms. Leong, our director from the tourist office, gave us instructions the night before to bring along a bathing suit, towel and sunscreen, I was beginning to have some apprehensions. What were we getting into?

When we arrived at the park and saw the rides looming up ahead, the ones we were to take, I wondered how I could back out. They looked terrifying. I could have said that I forgot my bathing suit, but shorts, they said, were okay and I was wearing shorts. Besides, they provided all nine of us with yellow shirts, so that we would not get lost. That didn’t ease matters. How could we get lost?

Before we started, we were told that White Water World is the most technologically advanced water ride park on earth! As an extension to Dreamworld, it became a $60 million development and, as the brochure says, “with adrenaline pumping thrills.” The number one thriller is the Super Tubes HydroCoaster, a water-based rocket that would blast us down a narrow chute at a frightening speed. Did we want to take the HydroCoaster first? No, let’s start off easy, like with the Wiggle Bay. But, the director, a pretty blue-eye blond, said we would look rather silly. Wiggle Bay, although equipped with slides, sprays and colourful water cannons, is a mini water park designed especially for under fives.

To get us into the mood, and wet, we lined up and stood under a giant bucket that tipped over and dumped a load of water onto our heads. The die was cast. Now we were ready for anything.

How about sitting in an inner tube and floating at ease in a large basin of knee-deep water. Simple enough, until you suddenly hear from deep within the Cave of Waves the Surf God Huey releasing his wrath in what is called the perfect wave. The Cave of Waves pushes the boundaries of wave pool technology with surging 1.5m waves that travel over 50 metres to shore. It’s just not one wave but one after the other, and you can expect to go tumbling end over end. But never mind. You are under the watchful eye of lifeguards.

We felt pretty brave now and tackled the Nickelodeon's Pipeline Plunge, constructed to celebrate Hawaii's famous Pipeline for daring surfers. This one is a left hand tube that covers over 1000 square metres; Pipeline Plunge is the ultimate for Nick Heads. It’s filled with over 140 interactive water activities including water sprays, geysers and blaster cannons. I thought it was all over when the Pipeline bucket dumped a sea of water over us as we splashed into the pool below.

Next was the Green Room. Nothing secret about it—it’s a green room just like being encased in a giant wave. The Green Room actually drops into a crazy barrel. It's the centre of every surfer's universe inside the tube and into The Green Room. Towering 20 metres above the ground, it's a massive funnel. Four of us sat in a cloverleaf tube that accelerated us from a 2.7 metre tunnel into a 15-metre funnel before literally dropping us out into the open.

The rides became rather confusing after this, one after the other. There was the Blue Ringed Octopus, the world's first and only eight-lane octopus racer. Using specially designed sled mats, we fell head first from 14 metres high into a maze of thrilling twists and turns that reached the speed of around 50 km/h.

At The Rip we got swept down the nation's biggest gurgler. It was a bit baffling to sit in pitch black and then to find yourself blasted into a massive bowl of white water. “Don’t worry, girls, it’s almost over,” I assured the women journalists with me. We then found ourselves in a massive, high speed whirlpool, sucked into the corkscrew core, blasted through a huge curtain of water and launched into the plunge pool below. The women never believed me after that.

By now I thought we were prepared for anything, so they brought on the Super Tubes HydroCoaster. There is nothing that can prepare one for this ride. We intrepid nine journalists climbed the 18-metre high tower, with me wondering what on earth I was doing here, and found ourselves on a platform suspended in space, or so it seemed. A smiling attendant placed me on a sled, a kind of rocket raft, behind two very frightened women journalists, while they looked back at me for support and assurance. Of course, in moments like this, one must show fortitude—“There’s nothing to it,” I said trying to sound brave.

I remembered what I had read in the brochure that morning. “The Super Tubes HydroCoaster is a water-based hydro-magnetic coaster and the world's very latest innovation in water slide thrills and technology. An intense rollercoaster on water, complete with exhilarating drops and terrifying turns.” And that’s what it was.

They also call it a “magic carpet” but Aladdin, I am sure, never had a ride like this. In an instant we were off, zooming through a super tube, an enclosed flume, for 236 metres. We dropped through space, made terrifying turns and loops and then, an instant later, were being propelled up steep inclines at neck-jerking speeds only to fall again through a water-filled tunnel. It lasted 28 seconds, but an unforgettable 28 seconds it was.

Next came Dreamworld, home to some of the tallest and fastest thrill rides in the world. They call them the The Big 5 that includes the Cyclone Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, Giant Drop, Wipeout and The Claw. But there are more than thrill rides at Dreamworld. The place is a delight for families where they meet the Wiggles Farmyard Friends, dance with Dorothy the Dinosaur, shake their hips with Wags the Dog, wave to Henry the Octopus and sing along with Captain Feathersword.

We did it all, cuddled with koala bears, fed kangaroos, got up close with the big crocs and even watched a man shear a sheep at the Oakey Creek Farm Show.

I missed the train trip around the park but I did see real, live Asian tigers. I watched a most magnificent show with four tigers, one of which was an albino. They made incredible leaps from platform to platform (a Khmer ruin setting) and one actually climbed a tree 20 feet above ground.

Next week I will conclude our Gold Coast adventures with some extraordinary events—an ultimate space odyssey, a drink in an ice bar below zero, a cruise on a tall ship and an amazing journey into infinity.

Remember, Thai Airway’s Royal Orchid Holidays can take you there too.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
I encourage readers to write in and I will attempt to answer questions that may be puzzling about Thailand, or anyplace that THAI flies.

Q. Mr. Stephens, We will let you settle the debate between my husband and me. We have decided to come to Thailand for a vacation and want to spend time at the beach. Phuket sounds good. We also want to do some travelling. My husband was in the US Army during the Vietnam War and wants to travel to Laos. He says he only saw it from the air and would now like to see it from the ground. I want to go to Angkor War, ever since I can remember. We only have two weeks. What do you suggest? Barbara Wyckoff, Pasadena, California.

A. Dear Barbara, You certainly put me on a spot. But I’ll be honest. Thai Airways has domestic flights that can take you to all the destinations without loosing time. You can take a direct international flight to Phuket, soak up the sun in a week of fun on the beach, and then make a flight to Laos and to other destination to Cambodia. A few days in each destination and you both will be happy. Let me hear how it turns out. --HS

Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel

Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited.

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