DREAM WORLD @ GOLD COAST AUSTRALIA

I didn't expect to see such a long queue at Dream World. It took us almost 20 minutes to grab our tickets. Dream World is one of the top attractions in Gold Coast, offering thrilling (scary and heart-popping according to my standard) rides, IMAX theatre, Wiggles World, Nickelodeon Central, Tiger Island and Australian Wildlife Experience. Try guessing which attraction captured my heart most?


First stop, Nickelodeon Central for a show. All the kids were so attentive, most with mouth widely opened with occasion twitch on their faces for a smile or two. I didn't grow up watching SpongeBob and if not because of my nephew, I would still be kept in the dark until now. In short, I didn't feel sentimental meeting SpongeBob as compared to Mickey or Donald in Disneyland. Ahh....maybe this is what we called generation gap?


While Hubby accompanied my nephew at the SpongeBob show, sis and I decided to go for a ride. I didn't know what got into me cos I never go for rides. I am terrified with rides especially roller coaster or anything that involves spinning, height and speed. My weak heart could not take it and usually at the queue itself, I can feel myself shivering and out of breath. But that day, I was so brave. I went for the Runaway Reptar Rollercoaster!! I started to get a bit worried when I put on my seat belt but guess what? I went for a second round after that!
Picture courtesy of Dreamworld.


Poor Hubby who is also terrified of rides was pestered by my nephew to go for a ride with him. Hubby didn't want to disappoint him and went for a ride that goes round and round and round in high speed. He was lucky that the carriage doesn't swing cos I once sat on something similar and it was the swinging that kills!


I went on a few more rides but Hubby didn't capture those photos well. I stopped at this last ride, Swinger Zinger that got me really dizzy.

I didn't know my sister was that brave. This being her 3rd trip to Dream World, she proudly told me that she had tried all the rides here including the Big 6 Thrill Rides. She tried to convince me to go for The Claw. I was horrified when I saw the ride. On sitting position, it will swing you up to 9 storey high and it spins 360 degree!! I told my sis, nothing could convince me going into that thing, not even if she give me AUD1million (ok, maybe I will reconsider if someone genuinely offer me that challenge). And she went ahead for the ride, by HERSELF!


Giant Drop, the tallest free falling ride in the world. No kidding, this is stated in the Guinness Book of World Records. It takes 90 seconds to reach the top at about 120 meters above ground, let you enjoy a few seconds of scenery before it suddenly plummet down at extreme speed accompanied with high pitch scream!

Lunch time!!! Food here not worth mentioning. Hubby had fried chicken with chips. Not good!


I had beef steak burger with chips. Hubby said the meat tasted weird. No sauce given...dry dry dry.


Hubby and I were not interested with the rides so we both explored the theme park on our own. We went to the Tiger Island to see some tiger cubs.


Look at the two men chatting happily like as if the tigers do not exist. We saw a white Bengal tiger too but it was sleeping so no photos taken.


I enjoyed the Australian Wildlife Experience the most. I spent quite a long time at the Kangaroos Rest Area, where there were dozens of kangaroos, big and small lying on the ground resting. Best of all, we were allowed to go pat its head. I ended up sitting on the ground next to a young kangaroo, giving it a good back massage.


Awww....Koalas!! Most koalas on the gum trees were fast asleep with their head covered. Hubby and I paid AUD 19.90 to get a photo taken with a Koala. Expensive but it's ok cos the money goes to the Koala conservation fund anyway. The Koala I carried and took a picture with was named Lola. So soft and fluffy. They must have just bathed her cos she smelt of tea tree. I couldn't resist and ended up giving it a big squeeze and a kiss! By the way, it was a coincident that her name sounded so much like Louie, a Koala that I took picture with in Cairns two years ago.


Meet Mario, the Tazzie! I was really happy as I finally get to see a real Tasmanian Devil. In terms of physical appearance, it doesn't look like the cartoon character at all. But character wise, this animal is nasty and aggresive. They have to keep the Tazzies separated as they don't get along with one another except during mating season.


Apart from sharks, Hubby is also fascinated with crocodiles especially HUGE ones. As for me, I don't like them.


At the Outback Adventure, I saw my favourite Desert Wombat! So chubby and adorable!


This is not the normal 'Wong Choy' aka Pariah dogs. This is a Dingo, a kind of wild dog with both wolves and dogs features.


Snake soup anyone?


We were tired by the time we finished visiting those animal. We took a rest at the Peter's Ice Cream Parlour (Peter's is actually Nestle). Had a yummy scoop of Violet Crumble flavoured ice cream. Can you see those beautiful purplish flower in the background?


Yes, I was enjoing the scent of lavendar while having my ice cream. Such a bliss!