Theme park enthusiasts have previewed a massive expansion of one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions.
Movie World recently announced that three new attractions and a themed area will open at the Gold Coast location in 2024 as part of a $40 million upgrade.
The former Batman: Arkham Asylum precinct will be transformed into the colorful world of The Wizard of Oz, as depicted in the 1939 children’s film classic.
The new attraction complements The Flash: Speed Force, the Southern Hemisphere’s first ride-within-a-ride that will welcome its first thrill-seekers in April.
Work has already started on the Wizard of Oz area, which will include a Yellow Brick Road and two family-friendly attractions.
Theme park TikTok account E-TicketParks shared a glimpse of early work on site this week.
A Wizard of Oz themed district will open in Movie World in 2024 (artist impression shown)
The tracks for the roller coaster rides have already arrived, ready to be set up.
“From the concept art, the land looks extremely detailed,” the clip’s caption reads.
The video was flooded with comments from enthusiastic amusement park enthusiasts.
“Wizard of Oz land sounds like a dream come true,” one viewer commented
Another said: ‘That’s so cool.’
A third wrote: ‘You can see all the parts of the roller coasters if you go to the top of Mammoth Falls at Wet N Wild.
But other theme park fans felt it could be improved with other attractions.
“I would do 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 calls the area one of a kind.
There will be two yet-to-be-named attractions where many young visitors will experience their very first roller coaster ride.
A suspended roller coaster measuring 454 meters long and 19 meters high will be able to travel at speeds of more than 300 meters 67 km/h.
The Boomerang Racer will be a steel roller coaster consisting of ttwo tracks and reach speeds of up to 58 km/h.
The traces of the Wizard of Oz coasters have already arrived on site
A Yellow Brick Road will lead visitors to the new attraction area when it opens next year
“This district will be something we have never done at Movie World and we are working closely with our partners at Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment to make this one of the most beautiful themed areas in Australian theme parks,” said the Village Roadshow CEO. said Clark Kirby.
Elsewhere on the site, construction has also started on a 30-meter-high attraction The Flash Speed Force, a theme park in the Southern Hemisphere.
The halfpipe shuttle coaster will be placed in the path of the Superman Escape Coaster, offering adrenaline seekers a unique ride-within-a-ride experience.
The Movie World upgrades received approval from the Queensland Government.
“We see interstate and international visitors enjoying all that Queensland’s great lifestyle has to offer. Our industry-leading economic performance sends a strong signal to the business community 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 across the coast.”
Opened in 1991, Movie World consists of film-themed attractions and is the only film-related theme park in Australia.
Work has also started on Movie World’s new 30-metre high attraction, The Flash Speed Force