Sea World Gold Coast is an aquatic zoo and theme park offering animal exhibits, rollercoasters and family-friendly rides.

Located on the Gold Coast in Queensland and an easy day trip from Brisbane, here’s my full review of this theme park.

The Animals

The highlight of the park is the animals. All the animals you would expect to see in a marine wildlife park are here, including penguins, jellyfish, sharks, stingrays, seals and fish.

Our animal highlights were:

• King penguins – these are very similar to emperor penguins in appearance, very tall with striking colours. We saw them divebombing and swimming in the water as well as waddling around on the ice. The penguins are the first animal you’ll see as you walk into the park so that does help – everyone is fresh and excited at the beginning of their day.
• Polar bears – this is a very unusual animal to see in an Australian zoo because of the climate. There are three polar bears in total and I did feel a bit sorry for them because they were obviously hot. One was standing in the shade and one was sitting in the pool trying to cool off. Still, they are magnificent creatures so the opportunity to see them is fantastic. I’m surprised Sea World doesn’t advertise them more as they are such a unique feature of the park.
• Dolphins – how can you be anything less than enthralled by seeing dolphins? There are dolphin pools in the middle of the park and the dolphin arena at the top.

One animal that was missing was turtles, despite being featured heavily on the marketing for Sea World.

There is an interactive pool where you can touch the rays, but the pool is too deep for little arms to reach in. This is done better at the Mooloolaba aquarium.

Don’t expect to see killer whales in this Sea World. Despite sharing a name, Sea World Gold Coast is unrelated to the Sea World in the US and they are ethically opposed to housing killer whales.

The Shows

As well as daily animal talks there is a dolphin show and a seal show, both twice-daily. There is also a stunt show on the large lake that you’ll see as soon as you enter the park. Check the Sea World app for times.

The Rides

There’s something for everyone when it comes to rides. For the thrill-seekers there’s some maximum thrill rollercoasters including the brand new Leviathan, which dominates the Sea World skyline.

For families there’s a Nickelodeon precinct with some kid-friendly small rides such as a carousel, tea cups and banana flyers. The theming of this precinct is largely Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants, something Sea World might want to refresh as I’m not sure how many kids still watch these shows.

Where To Eat

There are a number of casual eateries dotted throughout the park. The main food court area has plenty of outdoor seating with fast food, coffee and pizza outlets.

The Layout of the Park

The long, thin layout of the park means a lot of walking. There was previously a monorail that would shuttle visitors up and down the park, but this has been closed down. I have been to Sea World quite a few times and by the time you get to the top of the park everyone is exhausted, then you have to walk all the way back.

Sea World Gold Coast: Final Thoughts

Sea World is a great choice for a day out with the kids. With some unique animals and a lot of fun to be had, this will be an enjoyable day out for the whole family.

Because of the layout of the park and the walking involved I would recommend visiting in the cooler months.

The tickets are pricey, so for the best value choose a combination ticket.

Tickets

Sea World is part of the Village Roadshow Theme Parks group, which also includes Movie World, Wet and Wild and Paradise Country.

For Sea World a single day ticket on the gate is $119, or $109 if you pre-purchase online.

You can buy multiple day tickets or combination tickets for all the Village Roadshow theme parks at discounted prices here.

Where To Stay

Sea World has an onsite resort with family-friendly accommodation, pools, buffet breakfasts and unlimited entry to the theme parks. For good deals on the Sea World resort have a look here.

Alternatively, Sea World is located in the Gold Coast where you’ll find a wealth of accommodation options. Start with this list.

Getting To Sea World Gold Coast

Sea World is only an hour from Brisbane, making it an easy day trip option. It’s located on The Spit, a peninsula of land just 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise. The Spit has parks, beaches, restaurants and large resort hotels.

Further Afield

Extend your stay with a weekend on the Gold Coast. Visit another theme park, enjoy one of the long stretches of golden sandy beaches or why not try one of these tours.

For more ideas of things to do in Brisbane and Queensland have a look at my previous reviews.