Theme park rides Gold Coast: First look at new Sea World attraction

Get your first look at the Gold Coast’s newest theme park ride, a thriller which will be opening sooner than expected. Here’s when you’ll be riding The Vortex.

TWO major additions to the Gold Coast skyline and much-needed tourism infrastructure are starting to take shape.

Star Gold Coast’s third building on site housing Australia’s first Dorsett hotel plus apartments is progressing with piling work.

It will add to its Star Grand hotel and resort plus Darling suite hotel tower. Pre-sales have already started on a fourth hotel and apartment tower.

Artist impression of The Vortex ride at Sea World's The New Atlantis. Picture: Village Roadshow

Ground works are also under way for new thrill rides in the New Atlantis Precinct being added at Sea World by Village Roadshow.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief operating officer Bikash Randhawa said it was an exciting period at Sea World with ground works starting for both the Vortex and Leviathan thrill ride attractions.

Construction for The Vortex would “ramp up” in coming weeks ahead of the official opening of the ride in December, he said.

“The New Atlantis precinct is going to be a game-changer for Sea World. It is a thrilling and immersive precinct which will transform the park into a new era with the three world-class rides.”

Aerial shot of the Dorsett hotel and apartments construction site.

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Heading north to Movie World, work is also ongoing on a new WB Studio Showcase with props, costumes, vehicles and set pieces from Shazam, Wonder Woman, Max Max and A Star is Born. It will open in November.

Tom & Jerry will be at the park for the upcoming September holidays.

At Village Roadshow’s Paradise Country, construction has also begun on the Tasmanian Devil exhibit to open in December.

Star turned the first sod on the $400 million Dorsett at the start of the year.

It will have 316 hotel rooms and 423 apartment residences when completed early in 2022.

Star Queensland managing director Geoff Hogg said it was on track and new dining and beverage outlets would be revealed soon too.

Star’s $2 billion-plus masterplan for the site envisages a further four towers each with hero pool features and additional new hospitality offerings.