The Warner Village Theme Park Group, with three parks located on Australia’s Gold Coast, have announced an unprecedented AUS$65m expansion plan.

The group’s plans are in recognition of the desire to continue to grow visitor numbers to the famous theme park mecca and holiday destination through innovative and contemporary new attractions and entertainment experiences.

Some of the plans include:

Warner Bros. Movie World

Traditionally home to the biggest and best movie themed attractions, Warner Bros. Movie World has brought out the big guns of the world’s most popular brands with the September 2005 launch of a new 4D Movie Adventure and the December 2005 launch of Superman Escape.

Now open, the new 4D Movie Adventure is a cutting edge multi-sensory attraction. It’s a totally new movie concept with spectacular visuals and multiple special effects yet to be seen, heard and felt in a four dimensional attraction in Australia.

Guests visiting Warner Bros. Movie World also have the chance to meet the characters from the movie joining the star-studded cast of characters appearing in the Park daily.

In December, Warner Bros. Movie World will launch its most awesome new ride experience to date – Superman Escape. This exhilarating ride experience will be the first of its kind in the world, with an exciting pre-show adventure themed around the world’s most popular super hero.

Superman Escape has been specifically chosen as a catalyst to build the family and teen market visitation to the park.

Wet’n’Wild Water World Wet’n’Wild Water World’s AUS$20m expansion includes a massive new children’s attraction, the all-new Buccaneer Bay (which opened on 17 September), as well as the 26 December launch of an incredible new thrill slide precinct offering excitement seekers the ultimate in extreme aquatic experiences.

Extreme H2O Zone will be located behind Calypso Beach and include seven oversized thrill slides like nothing ever seen before in Australia. The Mach V attraction will house the Park’s two longest rides that will have guests sliding through 160m of twists and turns in open air flumes as well as three adrenaline pumping high speed body slides. Extreme H2O Zone will also feature the Blackhole, two enclosed slides that will catapult riders into pitch black spirals of darkness.

By December, Wet’n’Wild Water World will have increased in size by a third and offer the biggest and best selection of water based rides and slides anywhere in the world. The expansion plans will simultaneously increase the capacity by 50 per cent, reducing queue times of the park whilst increasing its ever growing popularity.

2006 will see the launch of yet another thrill slide, the Tornado, adding a further dramatic dimension to Wet’n’Wild Water World’s total entertainment offering.

These exciting new additions to the park further cement its position as the country’s leading water park and one of the best of its kind in the world.

Australia’s Sea World

Australia’s Sea World has taken its popular ski show through a total revamp transporting the dynamic presentation back in time to the golden era of Surfers Paradise in the 1960s.

Waterski Wipe Out is full of catchy tunes, colourful costumes, sensational sets, slapstick humour and a very cool cast of characters, all themed in true 1960s style.

Australian Outback Spectacular The Australian Outback Spectacular is an enthralling new show extravaganza which will provide domestic and international visitors with a unique and exciting night time experience.

The new show helps to fulfil the current market desire for additional night-time attractions on the Gold Coast suitable for all age groups and enriches the destination’s overall appeal as one of the world’s leading holiday destinations.

The Australian Outback Spectacular will be the first of its kind in Australia and is a unique and exciting show capturing the grandeur of the Australian Outback with spectacular visual effects and raw energy all its own.

The attraction will open in April in 2006 and be situated between Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet’n’Wild Water World. It will be officially presented by one of Australia’s leading and iconic outback brands, RM Williams, and have a capacity of 1,000 seats. Visitors will also be treated to a full, traditional Aussie BBQ dinner to be served during the show.

The new Waterski WipeOut and Australian Outback Spectacular were written and choreographed by Ignatius Jones, the creative genius behind the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening ceremony.

Chief executive officer of Warner Village Theme Parks, John Menzies, said that the expansion plan will confirm the Group’s position as the leaders in premier theme park entertainment in Australia.

“The scope of this expansion program is unprecedented in the history of the Warner Village Theme Park Group, and the history of theme park entertainment in this country.

“We are expanding our horizons considerably in an effort to provide the ultimate entertainment experiences for people of all ages, which are comparable to anything found anywhere else in the world.”

“We also believe our efforts will contribute greatly to the overall appeal of the Gold Coast as the country’s leading holiday destination – now visitors from all over Australia and the world will have even more reason to come here and experience all this wonderful destination has to offer. Warner Village Theme Parks are committed to the tourism industry, and this can be qualified by our plans to introduce contemporary new entertainment experiences which will provide huge enjoyment for people of all ages visiting the region.” Details: For further information: www.theme-parks.com.au