Sea World voted number one tourist attraction in Australia beating Taronga Zoo and Dreamworld in Newspoll study

SEA World has been named the top tourist attraction in the country cementing the Gold Coast’s reputation as Australia’s holiday playground.

Seaworld has been crowned Australia's best tourist attraction. Visitors take in Shark Bay. Pic by Luke Marsden.

THEY don’t call it Australia’s holiday playground for ­nothing.

Sea World has been voted Australia’s most popular tourist attraction of highest, with the Gold Coast claiming three of the top four spots in a new study released yesterday.

The Newspoll study, which surveyed adults around the nation, found 56 per cent had been to Sea World, pipping Dreamworld (51 per cent).

Both parks beat out the world-famous Taronga Zoo (47 per cent), with Movie World fourth and Wet’n’Wild equal fifth.

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Garth and Hannah Banks with son Fletcher, 2 enjoy their day at Sea World. Pic by Luke Marsden.

The Sunshine Coast’s Australia Zoo came in 12th in a top 20 featuring such Aussie icons as Sydney’s Luna Park and Sea Life Aquarium.

Sea World’s win over fierce rival Dreamworld can be tempered by the fact the aquatic-themed park has been operating for 10 years longer than its cross-town competitor.

Dreamworld turned the tables in a follow-up question on the survey, coming in first place in the list of attractions people want to visit in the next two years.

It is a significant achievement for both theme parks, with the Newspoll survey coinciding with the release of new tourism statistics showing international visitors to the Gold Coast increased by 10 per cent last year — more than double any other region in Queensland.

Gold Coast Tourism spokesman Ben Pole said the Newspoll result showed the Tourist Strip was justified to claim the mantle as Australia’s holiday capital.

“The Gold Coast is Australia’s most popular holiday destination, and it is thanks to quality attractions like these that we continue to entice nearly 12 million visitors every year,” he said.

Fletcher Banks checks out Sea World’s long-time walrus. Pic by Luke Marsden.

“This is the best kind of recognition as it comes straight from the people who are investing their money, their time, and their hopes in the Gold Coast as their holiday destination of choice.”

Founded in 1971 by the late Keith Williams, one of the Gold Coast’s most colourful entrepreneurs, Sea World transformed a piece of vacant scrub on the Southport Spit into a world-famous tourist attraction which welcomes more than five million ­visitors annually.

Park spokesman Darrin Davies said Sea World was constantly evolving with baby polar bear Henry and a new roller-coaster set to keep crowds pouring in.

“This is a great honour for Sea World and all who work here,” he said.

Hannah Banks, of Brunswick Heads, yesterday took her young family to Sea World and agreed with the park’s No. 1 ranking.

“It has the wildlife and that whole conservation message which I find really appealing,” she said. “It’s definitely my favourite out of all the parks.”

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Top Five attractions:

1. Sea World

2. Dreamworld

3. Taronga Zoo

4. Movie World

(Equal 5th) Wet’n’Wild

Luna Park Sydney