Sunday 12 January 2003

Get 'Nicked' at Dreamworld

Dreamworld’s all-new family attraction, Nick Central, is now open, bursting with 16 different rides and attractions based on Nickelodeon cartoon characters including the Rugrats, the Wild Thornberrys, Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Angry Beavers and Blues Clues.

At a cost of more than $7 million, it is the newest and now the largest kids zone at a Gold Coast theme park for families with children aged four to 12 years.

Oozing with interactive family fun, Nick Central is the first of its encompasses 16 different rides and attractions including two firsts for the southern hemisphere:

1. The first suspended family rollercoaster – the Runaway Reptar Rollercoaster - standing 18 metres high and offering lots of tummy jumping thrills for the whole family.

2. The first ‘Interactive Foam Ball Factory’– The Wild Thornberrys Rainforest Rampage - where Nick fans can blast Mum, Dad and friends with 20,000 foamballs as they rampage through an interactive two storey adventure playground.

In between ruling the rides, kids can hang out in The Slime Bowl – an open-air theatre featuring daily Nickelodeon shows including Slime Time Live and Blues Clues Live.

Dreamworld Chief Executive Officer Tony Braxton-Smith said Nick Central had made a great debut with the new coaster proving the most popular attraction.

"Within the first fortnight of operation, more than 50,000 people rode the Runaway Reptar Rollercoaster which has been running at capacity every day. Instantly it was the second most ridden ride in the park.”

In addition, kids can splash-out in the SpongeBob SquarePants Water Play, spin themselves mad on the Swinger Zinger and the Angry Beavers Spooty Spin rides, and bump their way through the Rocket Powers Bumper Beach dodgem cars.

Kids can also mingle with Nickelodeon’s stars like the Rugrats, SpongeBob SquarePants or get hold of the latest Nickelodeon gear at one of the largest Nickelodeon mechandise outlets in the country.

Nick Central also features special Nick Jr. activities for the under five’s with Dreamworld’s younger guests entertained for hours as they join Dora the Explorer on the sea planes; play a range of Blue's Clues puzzles and challenges; soar on the Dream Copters; colour in the pavement with their favourite Nickelodeon characters;
and cruise on the Nick-O-Round carousel.

Dreamworld Chief Executive Officer Tony Braxton-Smith said Nick Central combined all the fun and crazy antics of the leading kids’ entertainment brand, Nickelodeon, with the excitement and adventure of Dreamworld, the nation’s premier theme park.

“Dreamworld is a fantastic place for families to spend time together having fun,“ Mr Braxton-Smith said.

“Nick Central fits this charter perfectly, with 16 great rides and attractions built around some of today's top cartoon characters, for the enjoyment of the whole family.

“Gone are the days where Mum and Dad stand around watching the kids play. At Nick Central, most of the attractions are designed to include the parents in the fun too. Nick Central is about getting the whole family involved, playing around and having fun together.

“It’s a place where you can really enjoy being a kid, no matter what age you are.”

General Manager of Nickelodeon Australia, Catherine Nebauer shared Mr Braxton Smith’s enthusiasm saying, “Nickelodeon is thrilled to be working with Dreamworld to create a truly hands-on ‘all Nick’ experience for kids. Every element of Nick central reflects the madness and irreverence of Nickelodeon and we know that kids will love the fact that their favourite entertainment brand is now even more tangible and accessible.”

Located opposite the main entry, Nick Central covers almost 2.5 hectares, or more than one and a half football fields, within the existing area of the park, replacing the old Kenny Land and Village Oval.

At a cost of more than $7 million, it is one of the largest redevelopments at Dreamworld in the past 10 years.

“Nick Central will mark the first ‘Big Brand’ attraction designed specifically for kids at Dreamworld,” Mr Braxton-Smith said.

“This all-new experience will strengthen our family offerings alongside our current portfolio of signature attractions including Tiger Island, the Australian Wildlife Experience and the ‘Big 5’ thrill rides – Cyclone, The Giant Drop, The Tower of Terror, The Thunderbolt and The Wipeout.”

Nickelodeon, now in its 23rd year and seventh year in Australia, is the number one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. Nickelodeon Australia airs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is seen in over 1.2 million households via Austar and FOXTEL.