Townsville Mini Golf adds fair rides to its attraction

Townsville will miss out on a show this year but it doesn’t mean people will miss out on the rides.

Isabella, 8, and Hamish Heslin, 6 on the new dodge em cars at Townsville Mini Golf, a collaboration with ride operators who have found themselves without business after many shows and carnivals were cancelled. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Townsville won’t have a show this year but it doesn’t mean people will miss out on the rides.

Funtime Amusements will rotate its array of show rides, including dodgems and the “Big Octopus” spinning ride, at Townsville Mini Golf & Fun Park for the next four weeks until the end of the school holidays.

Owner Roy Johnson was grateful for the collaboration after COVID-19 forced his Rockhampton-based business to a halt.

“We haven’t done anything since Australia Day,” he said.

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Mr Johnson said he had to lay off 20 staff members but was able to keep his full-time employees in work. It was a decision that rocked the family business.

“It’s so good to see children smiling on rides again,” he said.

Operators Errol Spoor and Roy Johnson at the new dodge em cars at Townsville Mini Golf, a collaboration with ride operators who have found themselves without business after many shows and carnivals were cancelled. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Townsville Mini Golf & Fun Park owner Errol Spoor said about 50 people enjoyed the rides and a round of mini golf on the first day of opening on Friday.

Mr Spoor said the addition of the fair rides had turned the course into a “small amusement park”. The course has 4000sq m of space, allowing plenty room to move while abiding by social distancing measures.

A two-hour session on the rides and mini golf course costs $30 an adult, $25 for students, $20 for children aged 5-12 and $5 for children aged 2-4.

Originally published as Townsville Mini Golf adds fair rides to its attraction