Answering the need for speed in Abu Dhabi's Ferrari World theme park

GOING from zero to 240km/h on the world's fastest roller-coaster gives me serious bragging rights with my teenage son back home.

escape ferrari

GOING from zero to 240km/h on the world's fastest roller-coaster gives me serious bragging rights with my son.

I'm not a roller-coaster fan (neck problems) so this is quite a feat - and I confess I let a friend do a reconnaissance run first - but with no loops or corkscrews I eventually give Formula Rossa a go.

I feel it's the least I can do for my son who's been reading about Ferrari World in Top Gear magazine long before it opened in November 2010.

In pictures: Inside Ferrari World

Set in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Ferrari World is the largest indoor theme park in the world and flying over the city its bright red footprint all 200,000sq m makes a mighty impression against the sandy hues of Yas Island.

The design is said to represent the profile of a Ferrari GT but to my untrained eye it looks more like a giant red crab with multiple pincers.

The idea of an indoor theme park seems a bit weird until I hit the heat of Abu Dhabi. Now I love its airconditioned interior, with soaring Meccano-like ceiling, and the roller-coasters shoot out into the sunshine for that authentic wind-in-your-face feeling. And there's plenty of wind on the Formula Rossa, which simulates the acceleration and speed of an F1 race car. I'm made to wear plastic goggles over my glasses, which immediately fog up (I blame it on humidity, not fear), but thankfully they clear before we're hydraulically hurtled out of the starting blocks, reaching 240km/h in five seconds, then shot vertically 52m. It's all downhill from there.

Having endured Formula Rossa's forced facelift, I'm secretly glad G-Force is closed for maintenance. This tower of terror gives riders a spectacular view of Yas Island as it rises 62m from the centre of the building before dropping in a gut-lurching plummet to earth.

So why a Ferrari-themed park in Abu Dhabi? Emiratis love their luxury cars and their motor sports. Adjacent to Ferrari World is Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the Formula One Etihad Airways Grand Prix, hugging a mega-yacht marina and passing through the futuristic-looking Yas Marina Hotel.

But it's not all about fast cars.

Abu Dhabi is now a gateway to Europe, Asia and Africa and is capitalising on its Arabian heritage and burgeoning economy to attract visitors. Already under construction are Guggenheim and Louvre museums due to open in 2013.

Consequently, the thriving emirate makes an intriguing stopover and a great family destination.

There's fun for all ages at Ferrari World, where everything is Ferrari or Italian themed, right down to the food. Tiny tots ride in Ferrari prototypes on the Carousel (indoctrination starts young) or cruise with mum and dad in a 1958 Ferrari 250 California through a miniature Italy on Bell'Italia.

At the Junior GT driving school children are taught the road rules while behind the wheel of a 430 GT Spider and can progress to an F1 Racer on a scaled-down track.

For big kids there are Scuderia Challenge full-immersion simulators where you can race your mates around Yas Marina Circuit or, for an extra fee, hop into a state-of-the-art simulator actually used by F1 drivers.

My favourite experience is V12 a flume ride through the heart of a Ferrari 599 engine. Some techie revheads had serious fun putting this together and it's not the place if you have a headache.

 Auto-themed attractions around the world

At Beto Carrero World in Penha, Brazil, Latin America's largest theme park, you can drive a real supercar around the track. Choose from a Ferrari, Mustang, Porsche, Hummer, Corvette and Lamborghini. www.betocarrero.com.br

BMW World in Munich, Germany, includes the BMW Plant and Museum. Tour the plant and delivery space before visiting the museum, covering 90 years of BMW heritage. www.bmw-museum.de

Cit de l'Automobile, in Mulhouse, France, says it is to cars what the Louvre is to art. The Schlumpf collection has 437 cars from 97 brands, including the world's largest collection of old Bugattis (and a Bugatti Veyron) plus Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Maserati, Maybach and Mercedes models. www.collection-schlumpf.com

Closer to home the National Holden Museum in Echuca is dedicated to preserving Holden's "models and memories" and the Ford Discovery Centre in Geelong showcases design and production techniques along with an extensive range of cars. www.holdenmuseum.com.au, www.forddiscovery.com.au

The writer was a guest of Creative Holidays.

See Briar Jensen's travel blog at www.briarstravelbeat.com.au

Getting there
Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi from Sydney. Ph 1800 998 995 or see www.etihad.com

Playing there
Ferrari World is on Yas Island, a 10-minute drive from the international airport or 30 minutes from the centre of Abu Dhabi. Open Tuesday to Sunday, noon-10pm. Adults (1.5m and over) AED225 (about $60), juniors (1-1.5m) AED165, children under 1m free.
See www.ferrari worldabudhabi.com

Staying & playing
Creative Holidays has two-night packages from $279 a person twin share (land only) including two nights at 3-star Park Inn Abu Dhabi Yas Island, full breakfast daily, entry ticket to Ferrari World and return airport transfers. Package valid until Oct 31 and travel until Oct 31. Stay at the 5-star Park Rotana Hotel with the same inclusions from $285 a person twin share. This package valid for travel until Aug 31.
For more, see www.creativeholidays.com or your travel agent.

Travel Tips: UAE destination guide

In depth: Inside the Ferrari World theme park

In pictures: Inside Ferrari World

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