Gold Coast Theme Parks

Head to the Gold Coast (a city in Queensland, Australia named for its golden sand beaches) and check out the theme parks. At Sea World watch a dolphin show. Be amazed by dolphins tossing their trainers into the air and gliding through the water top speed in the clear-water sand lagoons. Watch a daring trainer surf by standing on the back of a dolphin before being tossed onto shore.

Laugh at the clever seals with their dog-like faces and playful antics in a hilarious cops and robbers show. Watch a seal doing mock mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Seaworld's seals are like highly trained dogs that respond to visual cues and verbal cues in the narrative.

Watch the marine life in ultra-clear filtered seawater - rays, sharks and brightly coloured tropical fish. You can pay a little extra and go snorkeling in the tank if you wish. The sharks are well-fed and leave the tropical fish alone, so no fears about them eating you.

You can touch a ray, sea cucumber and sea star in the shallow touch tanks too (they all feel slimy).

See dolphins up close. One of these cheeky dolphins picked up a piece of seaweed and tossed it at spectators. You can pay extra to have a dolphin encounter (swim and photo with dolphin).

After seeing penguins, polar bears, sharks, rays and more, head over to Castaway Island. Cool off by getting drenched by shooting water at and from the moving pirate ships. The monorail goes around the theme park to Sea World Resort, which has lagoon pools, water-slides and restaurants. Let the kids club take the kids for a while and enjoy a relaxing massage and dinner.

Watch the stunt cars and motorbike burn rubber in a Hollywood-style demonstration. Witness daring action, skill (madness?) and special effects.

Watch a parade of Warner Bros characters and have your photo taken off various characters. Get a fake tattoo or your caricature drawn. Have your photo imposed into a Warner Bros setting. Go on rides.

Enjoy rides for all ages. Big thrill rides for adults and Nickelodean and Wiggles rides for children. Plus family rides such as the log flume. See Australian animals up close, including crocodiles and dingos. Watch a tiger show.

Sometimes Dreamworld has an evening light show with special effects using lasers, sprays of water and smoke. Awesome.

The other big two theme parks are Wet'n'Wild Water Park and Whitewater world. These parks feature rides and thrills involving water. The Gold Coast is warm all year round and hot in summer (December - February), so one dries off quickly after getting drenched.

A pass to multiple theme parks can be purchased at a discounted price. A combo pass can be purchased for Seaworld, Movie World and Wet'n'Wild Water World. A separate combo pass can be purchased for Dreamworld and Whitewater World. The water parks have similar rides with different themes.

Go for the Seaworld/Movie World combo if you want to see a dolphin show, seal show and stunt cars. Go for a Dreamworld combo if you want to see a tiger show. Sea World Resort can discounts on family accommodation or deals with free theme park entry with accommodation.

Queensland residents can get an annual pass with unlimited entry to multiple parks for a little more than a day pass. Discounted offers start at beginning of year and half year. Buy at the beginning of a 'year' so you get your full 12 months worth.

Surfer's Paradise is around an hour's drive from Brisbane CBD, Queensland, Australia. A train goes from Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast and overseas flights can go directly to the Gold Coast.

All photos by Xanthe Wyse (Baileybear)