14 Dec 2005

Dreamworld are busy extending their existing carpark, allowing for the construction of the new waterpark, to commence in Januaray.

It's most likely that the entry road to Dreamworld will be shifted to the left (near to the Big Brother Auditorium).

Meanwhile at the far end of the carpark, a significant pile of earth is building up from the expansion of the carpark.

Part of the new carpark. This should be up and running before the end of January.

Construction is also underway on the Dreamworld entrance building, no doubt a non-related project.

25 Jun 2006

Construction is progressing nicely on the new water park at Dreamworld.

Two of the park's three slide towers are in place.

The integration of this tower with Cyclone is sure to create added thrills for both rides, much in the style of Morey's Pier in the USA which integrates slides and coasters in a tangled mess of thrills.

The Cyclone tower will hold at least three different slides. Judging by the splashdown pool seen here, they will most most likely be tube slides.

Slide parts now scatter the construction site.

The slides off the Cyclone tower will be three colours - blue, green and purple.

In the background are some light blue slide parts that will make up a body slide.

14 Jul 2006

Construction is well underway on Whitewater World with the park opening in under six months.

Little by little the rides and attractions of Whitewater World are being revealed.

The area with the wooden poles will be the main entrance to Whitewater World.

Guests will enter through here. The building to the left will most likely be a shop.

Looking along the carpark edge of the construction site towards "Tower 2".

This building will most likely contain shops and/or guest relations.

At this stage it's hard to even guess the architecture and theme that will accompany Whitewater World.

Tower 2 is located at the western tip of the water park.

It will feature no less than two separate slide attractions.

The upper level will be for the Tornado, while the lower for the second attraction.

The Tornado will wrap around the top level of the green support, leaving the lower level for the second attraction.

From the top level, the slide will come out, spiral down around the green pole.

A closeup of the top level.

The Tornado will then go past the first level. Notice that the first level attraction will dive under the Tornado at this point.

The second attraction will be a smaller slide, based on the support design.

The unique construction process for the Tornado involves constructing the support for the funnel face-down, then hoisting it into place once complete.

The structure for the funnel is constructed by hammering in each of the beams, then bolting the nodes tight.

This support is for the second attraction on Tower 2.

In the far right corner you can see one of the green supports for the Tornado as it dives into the funnel.

The tube slides over at Cyclone are nearing completion.

There will be three similar tube slides - green and gold, purple and blue.

The green and gold and purple slides will start on this side (west), while the blue will commence on the other side.

These slides are very well integrated with Cyclone, adding new thrills to both the coaster and the slides.

Sections of the purple slide awaiting joining.

The concrete in the middle will be splashdown pools for the Tower 2 rides.

Behind this area is the wavepool.

Slide parts for one of the attractions on Tower 2.

The purple tower is the last to be going up.

At this stage little has been revealed about the slides that will be on this tower.

One last look at the site. The supports seen here are for the second attraction on Tower 2. Stay tuned to Roller-Coaster.com.au for further updates.

16 Sep 2006

Whitewater World is really starting to come together, with only a few months until opening.

The Tornado is nearing completion of its funnel, with a distinctly green/aqua colouring.

Only about a third of the fibreglass awaits installation onto the frame.

Components of the shell awaiting installation.

These slide components are for the second attraction on Tower two. Both the tubular and the flat, open pieces will make up this slide.

This slide is a Rocket Slide - the flat parts will make up the dips and hills that this style of attraction are famous for.

This attraction will be one of Whitewater World's many Australian firsts.

The Rocket slide is revolutionary in that it is more like a roller coaster crossed with a slide, with uphill sections that propel riders at great speeds .

A closeup of the top edge of the Tornado.

This is the final splashdown for the Rocket slide, with a gentle spiral into the pool.

The arm here will hold both slides for this attraction on different levels.

At the far end of the park from the Tornado lies another of the park's Australian - and world - firsts. The 8 Lane Octopus Racer.

A look at Tower 2 from a different angle.

This slide is very similar to Wet'n'Wild's Super 8 Aqua Racer, but with an enclosed helix start that adds a new element of thrill to this style of racing slide.

The slide, like all at Whitewater World is very, very bright.

Notice the shields on each side. Anyone who is familiar with Wet'n'Wild's Super 8 Aqua Racer knows that getting airborne off each crest is one of the best ways to win the race.

The helixing creates quite a tangled spaghetti of slides, which will be very appealing from the highway.

Like Super 8 Aqua Racer, riders start in a straight line. Hopefully it will also feature a timing and disqualifying system.

This will be home to some of the pumping equipment for the attractions off this tower.

There is still one attraction to go for Tower 3. This will be the last known attraction of Whitewater World.

There is also a Nickelodeon play area that will be aimed at school-aged children.

The play area features all the staples of modern water play areas, such as tipping buckets, water cannons and several small slides.

The area is Nickelodeon orange and features many of the popular Nicktoon characters. Universal Studios parks in America have similar Nickelodeon water play areas.

The area is quite similar to Wet'n'Wild's Buccaneer Bay.

The slides are a step between small toddler slides (which will be featured in other parts of the park), and full-scale slides.

The tipping buckets are always a highlight of this style of attraction.

Some of the theming elements beside the wavepool.

Recent rains have caused parts of the site to become a bit flooded, with crews having to run water pumps to keep some of the lower sections dry.

The entrance and ticket booths to Whitewater World.

The front entrance to the park features a bright aqua colour scheme.

This is the back-of-house area behind the wavepool. It will be home to all the water treatment and other facilities required to keep a water park functioning.

A plaza area is also being built out the front of the entrance.

25 Oct 2006

With under two months until opening, WhiteWater World is piece-by-piece becoming a water park. The entrance plaza is nearing completion.

Behind the entrance plaza is the main hub of the park. The building directly to the right is where Guest Relations and staff areas will be located.

A mural based on the park's beach theme has been painted along the outside edge of this building.

The Australian-first Rocket slide's structure is completed.

This slide is the next generation in water slides, utilising conveyors to create upward sections to mean the ride can feature more dips than conventional slides.

The slide will start midway up the tower, where immediately guests will be greeted by a big steep drop.

Thanks to its uphill sections it is also considerably longer than most conventional slides.

The start of WhiteWater World's Tornado.

The first drop on the Rocket slide is not for the faint-hearted.

The drop is around 15 tall and has a drop angle of roughly 45�.

After the first drop riders aren't given a chance to take a breath thanks to a conveyor belt zipping riders straight back up and into a turn.

The second drop is significantly tamer.

The extensive motors required for pumping the huge amounts of water needed for these two slides.

It is followed by - of all things - a bunny hill. This should be one of the more exciting elements of the slide.

This part of the slide is reasonably close to the wave pool which is behind it in this photo.

After the bunny hill there is an enclosed helix,

Back to the first drop, you can see it features an enclosed turn before going down into the main drop.

In the foreground of the bunny hill is the parts for the only slide which is still in major construction.

After the bunny hill the slide goes up a bigger uphill section.

The drop after the helix. At this stage the ride is nearing the end.

After one final uphill section the ride meanders gently towards the plunge pool.

A closeup of one of the uphill sections.

There is a lot going on around this tower with three slide crossovers and the Rocket slide's return conveyor belt. Riders will not ride on the return conveyor.

The Tornado is one piece away from completion. You can see the final gap at the bottom of the funnel.

Over the other side of the park, the 8-Lane octopus racer has been completed and work has started on the final slide.

This slide could be best described as Wet'n'Wild's Super 8 Aqua Racer - with an obvious twist.

Supports are in place for the final slide.

It will do a semi-helix at the start before dropping down.

The final slide is of course a Behemoth Bowl from ProSlide.

This ride sends four riders at a time in a cloverleaf tube down a large drop into the bowl where they spin around the inside edge several times.

ProSlide make three types of Bowls. WhiteWater World will feature the largest of the three.

The single-rider body slide versions of these feature a freefall plummet of several feet from the centre of the bowl into a pool below.

But because of the obvious difficulties associated with dropping four people in a tube straight down into a pool below, the Behemoth Bowl features a gentle splashdown into a plunge pool much like the Tornado slides do.

A closeup of the end of the ride. We should see a waterfall over the end of this slide.

Some more of the turbines that pump the water for this tower's two slides.

The remaining slide parts for the Behemoth Bowl.

Further slide parts. Unlike Tornado's straight drop, the Behemoth Bowl's drop twists as it does down which creates a very thrilling sensation.

The original tower over by Cyclone is having its finishing touches put on as opening day draws near.

Shade has been installed.

This gives an idea of just how intertwined Cyclone and these three tube slides are.

They are predominantly enclosed however all three slides feature open sections where safety etc. permits.

A fa�ade has been installed on the wall that faces the wave pool.

As seen from the opposite angle.

Landscaping is well underway, crafting the construction site into a lush tropical water park. Lighting poles also dot the grounds.

The park will also feature extensive shade which will be vital in the Australian summer.

Theming elements are being installed, further emphasising the park's Australian beach theme.

Much work still remains aside from just the attractions.

A look at some of the completed lighting. The extensive lighting should answer questions about whether the park will frequently operate at night.

The park is making the most of their licensing agreement with Nickelodeon and Wiggles World, with age-appropriate attractions being branded with their many characters.

Planting in the gardens is well underway so they have time to settle for the opening in December.

Just some of the extensive water treatment facilities that WhiteWater World will have in place.

Watering is also taking place, both on plants which have been planted as well as those which are awaiting positioning.

The major components still require installation.

Here we have the Bowl's return conveyor belt. This will mean guests don't have to battle with the giant tubes while queuing for any of the big slides.

They will be covered in mesh to give them a more attractive appearance.

A closeup of one of the two pulleys that will be installed at the belt turnaround on the Bowl's return conveyor belt.

The piles of wooden framing that were required to keep the fibreglass slide sections safe and secure during transit.

An overview of all the remaining parts for installation.

WhiteWater opens in December!

This slide will in fact feature a LIM powered launch system, not the conventional conveyor belt system that previous models have used. This will mean the launches will be quiet, smooth and efficient.

The black boxes seen at regular intervals are the electromagnets that will launch the boats up the hills.

This is the first Rocket slide in the world to feature such a system.