Sea World reopens with COVID-19 safety plan after three months of Gold Coast theme park closures

After three months shut, the first of the Gold Coast’s theme parks was filled with happy customers after reopening this morning.

BIG lines formed outside Sea World as it opened for the first time in three months this morning.

Several thousand people are expected to pass through the park today, with a maximum capacity of 5000-6000.

Among those first in line were Paul and Sarah Lueth with their 18-month-old daughter Sofia.

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The Scarborough family arrived in Australia just weeks before the border closed, having been living in Las Vegas.

Ms Lueth said they had been waiting the entire three months to see the theme parks.

“We wanted to come as soon as possible, absolutely as soon as we could,” she said.

“I didn’t want to wait. I’ve waited how many years already (living in America).

“We’re just excited to get out as soon as possible and do whatever we can.”

Crowds lining up outside Sea World on its first day back open following the COVID-19 shutdown. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant.

Chief operating officer Bikash Randhawa said it was the first time “in a long time” he had seen park staff in high spirits.

“The best part is just walking around and seeing all the familiar faces back at the park,” he said.

“I have not seen so many smiling faces in a long time. Morale is high.

“(The closure) has certainly created a sense of appreciation for what we had and took for granted, and the team there is very passionate.

“I think the passion, the care and the effort that will go into (working there) will be absolutely supercharged.”

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The park has put comprehensive COVID safety plan measures in place, including a new app allowing people to avoid queues by booking their place on rides.

Rides will be cleaned before and after each use, all public areas will be regularly sanitised and markers will be in place to ensure social distancing.

The number of shows per day has also been increased because parks have to comply with limited seating capacity.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is celebrating the reopening, labelling it a step closer to pre-COVID times for the city.

“Every day we inch closer to returning to the Gold Coast lifestyle we all love and this is a milestone definitely worth celebrating,” he said.

“I hope they enjoy a bumper school holidays and that all the other theme parks are able to open their doors soon also.”

Village Roadshow COO Bikash Randhawa. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista said the reopening was a “positive sign” for the Coast’s tourism sector.

“There has been an incredible amount of work done by the theme parks to ensure they comply with COVID safe guidelines,” she said.

“And I know that Sea World and the Gold Coast are very eager to welcome back families and visitors.

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“Last week, Destination Gold Coast launched a new $1.5 million marketing campaign to entice Queenslanders to come back and play, and what better way to welcome them than the progressive reopening of our theme parks?”

Paradise Country and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary also reopened today, with Australian Outback Spectacular to follow on July 3.

Movie World and Wet’n’Wild will reopen on July 15.