Sea World Australia: A Journey Through its Rise, Fall and Comeback

Sea World has been through a rise, a fall and a comeback. From becoming one of Australia's most popular attractions, to losing all of their classic rides in the space of a few years, and now rising back to the top, we explore all the nostalgia and history behind Australia's Sea World. It's a park that has changed a lot, and a fascinating case study in theme park evolution. Sit back and relax as we go on a roller coaster ride through the history of Australia's marine theme park, a true Sea World comeback story.
I have many people to thank for this documentary on Sea World history, including the wonderful Mitty Theme Parks, and Kieran from Ejector Beartime for their help.
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Footage:
Bermuda Triangle - / @parksonthecoast4085 / @chazable / @john-ch1so / @nintendo90s
Bermuda Triangle demolition - / @gary86
Commercial 1984 - / @retrooldcommercials
Commercial 1985 - / @australianadvertiseme...
Corkscrew - / @mittythemeparks / @loopingleerollercoasters / @timmc333
Dolphin Cove - / @sydneytravelconcerts
Dreamworld - / @gary86
Jet Rescue - / @airtimethrillsrawfoot...
Jet Stunt Extreme - / @gary86
Lassiter's Lost Mine - / @oztvclassics / goldcoastthemeparks
Leviathan - / @canobiecoaster
Leviathan construction - / @noah.creative / @jaggsjourneys
Looney Tunes River Ride - / @themeparkogre
Monorail - / @sonicbusterx2000 / @timmystoys6488
New Atlantis - / @themeparksvrtp / @authemeparkfan
Nickelodeon Land - / @authemeparkfan
Orca Show - / @echobeluga
Penguin theft - / @pottslawyers
Pirate Ship - / @haiphunguyen4535
Pirates Unleashed - / @nghiatranneo
Polar Bear Shores - / @ogreanimals1337
Resort - / @themeparkogre
Sea Viper - / @thecoasterrides / @themeparkreview
Sea World ads - / @gary86
Sea World 1990s - / @john-ch1so
Sea World 2024 - / @airtimethrills
Sea World Foundation - / @themeparkaddict
Sesame Beach - / @simonlau44
Shark Bay - / @themeparkogre
Sky High Skyway - / @greggygilgen5691
Souvenir Video 1990 - / @jozparks
Storm Coaster - / @canobiecoaster
Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens - / @vonneysmith2594 / @rjhq
Thunderbolt - / @coasternick3157
Thunder Lake Stunt Show - / @themeparkogre
Trident - / @tiaras1215
Vikings Revenge Flume Ride - / @timmc333
Vikings Revenge Flume Ride abandoned - / channel
Vortex - / @coasterlife .
Warner Bros. Movie World - / @aussievhsarchive
Waterski Wipeout - / @markrobinson9153
Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast - / @vladev10
Wild Waves - / @john-ch1so
Special thanks to Mitty Theme Parks & Ejector Beartime. Check out their channels below!
@MittyThemeParks
@EjectorBeartime
Music by National Sweetheart
#rollercoasters #themeparks #seaworld

[@MaloneysCoasters]

What are your thoughts on Sea World's transformation?

[@LY-jm9vu]

Bermuda Triangle was mind blowing. Feeling that heat from the flames at the end was amazing. That's Sea World's peak for me.

[@gpm9333]

I loved that Bermuda triangle ride. Was sad when it was gone

[@JoanneKime]

Bermuda Triangle and Vikings Revenge were some of the Park's best rides. A new dark ride and a flume ride are needed to make the park even more enjoyable.

[@noah.creative]

im 22 and bermuda triangle was my favourite ride growing up!!! it was heartbreaking when they never reopened it :(

[@Inaworldoflove]

Great recap! Lots of great memories. Four points I think should have been added: 1) Keith Williams visited Sea World San Diego in 1971 and decided to basically copy their brand without purchasing any licensing. 2) Sea World has expanded by filling in water over the years, removing boat ride attractions. Nickland was once water. Dolphin beach was once water. Leviathan was once water. 3) The waterslides waterpark was a huge addition to the park in the 80s, with slides from the castle as well as its own section with huge swimming pool and speed slides. The waterpark would close in 2010 when Castaway Bay was opened. 4) Sea World Nara Resort opened in 1988, which was a joint venture with Nara Resorts, a Japanese Hotel chain. The park was then geared more towards the Japanese market as a result. Village Roadshow bought out the Nara part ownership in 2006, dropping the name 'Sea World Nara Resort' for 'Sea World Resort'.

[@Lisa-x3n5x]

I could still walk around the isthmus late 70s. No such thing as crown land on an ever-shifting shoreline.

[@reekee2182]

I still miss the water park attachment, I used to go there all day with my family as a kid. idk why i just really liked those waterslides/pools

[@MultiAsh69]

We need another ride like Bermuda Triangle, nothing has come close to this ride

[@MitchBurns09]

@@MultiAsh69 💯 agree

[@Millsy1033]

With Storm Coaster not quite living up to Bermuda Triangle, the glaring omission of a flume/water based dark ride, and Leviathan not even lasting 12 months before it became severely rough, Sea World still has a long way to go...

[@IBISChannel32]

Great doco. I loved the deep-dive into Sea World's beginnings. Sea World was certainly at the top of its game in the mid 1990s. There was nothing else like the Bermuda Triangle ride and nothing has come since.

[@Reffidex]

I just organized an annual pass for the village roadshow parks, coincidentally the day this video was released; a birthday gift for myself. I was thinking back to being a kid in the 90s and how awesome Bermuda Triangle was. It really was just in a league of its own. Brilliant ride. Great video, the nostalgia here is so bittersweet.

[@coasterblocks3420]

Sea World also removed the railway and with the slow and painful removal of the monorail the last of the people movers for an awkwardly long narrow park is gone. I don’t think Leviathan is very good and was surprisingly rough for a new ride and has only gotten worse. Trident is down more than up so it’s a small mercy they have finally fixed whatever plagued Vortex, a ride with a criminally short ride cycle. I have no interest in a new Village pass until all their parks are improved and expanded with new thrill rides.

[@TOTN17]

Trident should be moved to Movieworld its too windy at the Spit for Trident

[@Steampete12]

I used to live sea world, but over the years they kept reducing the transportation options. My daughters used to love the Ansett skyway, or “buckets” as they called them. We stayed at Nara and used the monorail to get from the resort to sea world. Buckets long gone, trains gone, monorail gone, no mass transit for a large park where, on a hot summers day, it was nice to a break from walking and catch a ride on something. Disney still have their trains, but SeaWorld have nothing.

[@1515jet]

Great video. One thing you missed tho was the water park area. In the 90s it was full of multiple single slide water slides which were alot of fun aswell as a family raft slide. They were replaced with a....... rope course. To me, that's one of the strangest decisions ever.

[@paulpuppy9203]

Yes, Yes, Yes. The water slides are not mentioned. They were awesome. I miss them a lot.....

[@fruityhangout5940]

I got an ad for dreamworld during this video lol

[@the1barbarian781]

Riden the pirate ship at funfields countless times. Never knew it was from sea world. Great documentary

[@Lisa-x3n5x]

Keith Williams! I recognized him. This is a trip down memory lane for me. Thankyou so much! I have a photo of a very young me at MarineLand.

[@Parkitecture]

Another great video! Australia’s wonderland video when👀

[@jesseleibinger3189]

So cool to see Sea World in its hey day again. My dad worked there for 20 plus years and I always got special treatment and behind the scenes access. In fact you can see him briefly in one of the older commercial shots of the dolphin jumping over the guy in the water, that was my dad in the water.

[@SonicMrSumo]

I think early 90's was the peak for me. Still had the water slides, Corkscrew, flume rides, pirate ship. I think it's pretty good these days also, but misses a dark ride.

[@BaileyStephens_2002]

I can’t wait for more rides to come in the next decade.

[@nicolecarseldine988]

Bring back the 90’s that’s when the theme parks were at their primes. I have so many memories of spending school holidays there. After going to Disneyland and Disneyworld a few years ago and going to SeaWorld recently I just feels like we are so far behind the times with our technology and what we could do. Don’t get me wrong I still had a great time at SeaWorld with the animals but my heart broke seeing parts of the old rides and what once was.

[@nickcage1728]

I’m hoping this means a video about MovieWorld is on the way! Loved this one and your Dreamworld one also

[@EKRacingSedans]

Your vids are top quality mate. Love modern history of Australia. Thanks for your efforts. ❤

[@KeirEpton]

I have great memories of Sea World back in the early-mid 2000's. Bemuda Triangle and the Corkscrew were a blast, so was that swinging pirate ship ride. I remember going on that one like 15 times in a row one day as the line up was so small haha. I last went to Sea World in 2023, and it just seemed like a shell of its former self. The Leviathan was really good though.

[@samdaly799]

I loved Bermuda Triangle, always went for multiple rides everytime I was there, once I was there when it broke down and we had to be walked out of it, was very cool to walk through most of the ride.

[@BTP93]

I still remember attending SeaWorld during a Cyclone period back in 2002-2003. Riding the Corkscrew was an absolute vivid memory as was seeing Shark Bay under construction. Nowadays, Seaworld seems to be a shadow of its former self. The front white facade of the park with fading pink bricks didn't look the best 20 years alone, let alone now. And removing the Monorail is a backwards step for the park being unique.

[@samshepherd26]

Nice documentary, very well done 👍 I can remember going to SeaWorld as a young teenager with my family in the 90's and having my mind blown by Bermuda Triangle. Now I live on the Gold Coast and I often drive or cycle past SeaWorld without even giving it a second thought. I did go in there about a year ago, i really liked the jellyfish exhibit the most i think haha

[@Marty_NZ]

I think I missed the Bermuda Triangle closure by a few months unfortunately (Also skipped the "clone" at Moviepark Germany before I knew it was sort of similar!), but luckily got on Sea Viper, log flume and the monorail before they closed. Also didn't know the Seaword Eye ferris wheel existed. Noticed it in one shot and had to go Google! Was short lived by the looks.

[@noah.creative]

i was there on opening day of Leviathan was so lucky to be one of the first on the ride i was even on TV!!! i went back to the park later that day with a friend and we waited 4 HOURS cos of the technical issues people were MADDDDD it was so bad people flew across Australia for it not to work lol

[@jessisam3ss]

My first visit to Sea World was about a month after Bermuda Triangle closed! I will forever be pissed I missed out to ride it, those clips of it looked like so much fun!

[@thesnuggles0]

Bermuda triangle was the pinnacle of the the QLD theme parks. Even waiting in line was an experience. As a kid I have really fond memories of travelling to these parks with Mum or Dad and being able to experience these gems before they closed them. Can't believe burst gas line caused them to replace fire with neon lights. I went back to these parks in my 20's (2010ish) and they can't hold a candle to what they were when I was a kid. We skipped Sea World on our return.

[@Bve542]

Who remembers the monorail man they took away Australia’s final monorail

[@MACHlNATION]

Incredibly interesting to learn that the original rivalry was actually Sea World and Dreamworld instead of Movieworld And Dreamworld, you never hear about the SW and DW competition anywhere. Very interesting video, would love to see this for Movieworld/Dreamworld.

[@MaloneysCoasters]

I have done a history of Dreamworld recently, but I'd love to redo that video with a bit more of the depth and investigation I managed to pull together on this one. Movie World will be coming up soon, along with a lot of the other Aussie parks, so stay tuned!

[@MACHlNATION]

@@MaloneysCoasters Excited to see it!

[@maryhossack3706]

4:27 that's my mum and I standing to the right of the Viking flume ride, with the sunglasses, that's crazy!

[@aimeeatee]

so detailed love it

[@fruityhangout5940]

This was a very good and interesting video!

[@gemmaowens4165]

Every day I wake up and miss Bermuda Triangle. Bring her back!

[@TimChuma]

Still have a dolphin photo from when our family went to the park in 1986. I remember the log flume ride. Was to 'cold' during the winter months so Wet & Wild wasn't open then. My parents and sister went to the park in the 2000s and mum had to go on the corkscrew as they went on the helicopter, she didn't want to scream in case her teeth flew out.

[@BobSmith-o8c]

As others have mentioned, it is very sad that all forms of transportation (monorail, skyway, train) have been retired. At the moment the only way to get around the park is that one main walkway, which gets quite crowded, and blazing hot in the summertime. The monorail was great. It gave great views of the park and the surrounds. It was air conditioned - good if you needed some time out of the sun, and if you were unfortunate enough to go to the park when it was raining, it would have made the day not a total bust. It also would have been great for resort guests to get from one end of the park to the other.

[@falconmick]

I would love a deep dive into Adventure World in Western Australia!

[@perhapscoleiro3164]

I remember going to Sea World in 2009, my god didn’t I ride Jet Rescue at any moment I could. I think I did 7 in a day, plus wore the merch for the majority of that year (plus a SpongeBob hat from Dreamworld). I wasn’t allowed on the Corkscrew because of the sounds the frame made by Mum, but I would whole heartedly go back to the Gold Coast just for Jet Rescue

[@RomanSecundus]

similar history to dreamworld. it has a golden age, a fall and now a re-establishing

[@kristenrubymoon]

Magic Mountain here on the Gold Coast was originally named Magic Castle in the 70's and early 80's. They refurbished the place and named it Magic Mountain by 1984.

[@MittyThemeParks]

Awesome video! I completely forgot about Bermuda Triangles moving rotating platform!

[@noah.creative]

does anyone remember that one room in the Bermuda Triangle that was so loud it was like this constant buzzing coming from the aliens it was so painfull hhahhahha ugh good times

[@hazza5999]

Interesting video.

[@noah.creative]

was good i got that drone footage for ya hahahahah 💖

[@MaloneysCoasters]

Love that footage!!!

[@AusCardDad]

Do they still have the waterslides? My brother and I thought those where better than at wet n wild and NO LINES😁

[@parkesyreviewsstuff7587]

I reckon sea world needs a flume of some kind. The way I see it SeaWorld should have some good coasters but I don’t expect there to be a world class giga or hyper coaster. The woody was a good choice. Maybe a dive coaster themed around deep sea diving or maybe a cheeky RMC (although I wouldn’t be mad if Movieworld got one too)

[@jfwfreo]

I never rode the flume rides at Sea World (although I did ride the Looney Tunes one at Movie World and it was good) but I did get a ride on the Corkscrew once and its IMO the best rollercoaster I have ridden in Australia (no I haven't ridden any of the new batch of Gold Coast coasters like Leviathan, Steel Taipan, DC Rivals etc mostly because I can't afford the high cost of going to these parks).

[@mr.yumyum.youtube]

MBCU (Maloney-Bear Cinematic Universe)!

[@mr.yumyum.youtube]

Great video Maloney! Really enjoyed this one :) Will you make any similar videos with Movie World and Dreamworld? Also would be interested to hear the history of some New Zealand attractions such as Rainbows End and Footrot Flats. Also, question for @EjectorBeartime. Is your shirt intentionally the carpet pattern from The Shining or is that just a coincidence?

[@MaloneysCoasters]

Movie World and Adventure World Perth videos are on the way!

[@a5tro25]

I miss Lasseters Lost Mines

[@cayden216]

I would love to see a history of funfeilds and gumbya world! If you haven’t done them already! They are my funfeilds is my home park!

[@BobSmith-o8c]

It's academic now, but they could have at least replaced the fire in the BT with some cleverly red lit fog. Those neon lights were just insulting. But they probably knew the ride's days were numbered even then.

[@lorcanmtb13]

You should do a video of the history of adventure world in Perth

[@cayden216]

As a 15 year old that had only been to SeaWorld twice (once when I was 6 and another time when I was 15) I think that the best time it was in was after the pandemic when leviathan had opened, this is just my opinion.

[@williammongoose3007]

I think it really needs an indoor dark ride of some kind.

[@luifly88]

Can you do s video on Sydney Wonderland

[@nathan3053]

You forgot to mention the jet ski accident of 2002. A jet ski went into the crowd and injured a number of people. I'm sure this hurt the park for a while too.

[@kristenrubymoon]

I never remember the ride being called "Vikings Revenge" It has always been called The "Flume Ride" I live on the Gold Coast for 43 years and that's why I remember these things.

[@MaloneysCoasters]

I can assure you it was called the Vikings Revenge. Feel free to Google it

[@coreywickert1817]

Bermuda Triangle Attached Waterpark Monorail Those made Seaworld great.

[@Samiam300-n1o]

Interesting

[@buzzburnsen4590]

Could definitely use another coaster or something to boost the thrills a bit. I'd be happy with a Mako replica ;)

[@carncats07]

I lived on the Gold Coast from 84-2002. Seaworld was always my least favourite and I only visited 4 times. Still a fun day out though. I've been back once since in July 2022. Enjoyable but not exciting.

[@kristenrubymoon]

Personally I think SeaWorld was at its best in the late 80's.

[@johnmceleney1092]

Do they have any available land to add any more thrill rides? Unless they fill in some of the ski lagoon.

[@h-squared4690]

bro forgot the helicopter incident

[@MaloneysCoasters]

Sea World Helicopters are a separate company that licenses Sea World’s name but is entirely separate from the park. I contemplated including it, but it felt inappropriate considering that the tone of the entire documentary was about tracing the ups and downs of Sea World as an enterprise, and the helicopters are run by a separate company

[@h-squared4690]

That is fair and your video so your call although I can’t help but feel that to the incident no doubt affected Park attendance in a negative way although still a great video

[@eclipsey999]

For thrill seekers I think Sea World is the worst of the Gold Coast parks. The main things going for it are being so close to Surfers Paradise and being part of the village super pass with 7 days entry to any of the 3 theme parks. Otherwise I think it would struggle. They need another dark ride with great theming.

[@BlackoutTheDrunk]

It looks like bro is wearing a seat belt for his gaming chair 18:08

[@blurkkies]

Sea World has no really immersive rides anymore. Movie world feels cheap and Wet and wild is so extremely tired even the paving is eroded and sharp. There is an opening there for a competitor to blow them all out of the water or for village roadshow to get serious and build world-class parks. And make no mistake, these three are not world-class, not by a long shot. But they can be!!!

[@TOTN17]

Dreamworld has the Room to expand while Movieworld and Seaworld do not

[@blurkkies]

@@TOTN17 It's not about expansion. It's about correctly utilizing their existing footprints with quality attractions and guest services. And nothing for nothing, but if expansion was the goal. Movie World has a tonne of room behind it. Paradise Country feels like a placeholder until they figure out what to do with it-worst of all of Village roadshow properties.

[@Thedude8450]

Can you please do Movie World next 😄

[@russellatwell784]

When’s the comeback happening? Sea World now looks like a run down shadow of what it once was , you don’t have to look too far to find areas showing lack of maintenance and care as not much money being spent there these days to keep it looking fresh and good.

[@philstrachan]

I went there in 1989 and wasnt too impressed, to be honest. When I saw the prison cells the animals had to live in, i wasn't impressed and left very sad... 😊

[@Magpie_Mark92]

Thats funny drunk mean broke into seaworld

[@biz7764]

SeaWorld will slowly die unfortunately. I’ve been three times recently but won’t be returning. Unreliable rides and a rundown park is all they have to offer.

[@TR1XXTER44]

Under 30mins gang👇

[@RomanSecundus]

didn't know you could be 30 minutes old and on youtube

[@aperinich]

@RomanSecundus What do you suppose it might be trying to mean?

[@thechrispeebacon3950]

Bruheee

[@TR1XXTER44]

@RomanSecundus it means if you came across this video under 30mins

[@thechrispeebacon3950]

@@TR1XXTER44 well what if we just deleted bots?

[@Magpie_Mark92]

Yeh it was always a bypassed park as it was pretty boring

[@cameronheidelauf9623]

That last ride is really called wipeout ride all they did name changed it at all times

[@cameronheidelauf9623]

I went to seaworld WB and wet and wild with school camp trip the stupid dumb teachers gave us students teens a special times frames to go back towards the school bus and us students had to be back at the bus and we had to rush around it's was early 2001 and it's was the most boring school camp trip to gold coast but i smoked a bit of weed while i was up there whith overseas back packers lol😂😂😂😅😅😅 middle of the night