For almost 40 years, Dreamworld at Coomera on the Gold Coast has been a popular theme park for families, with people travelling from all over the country to visit.

Brisbane Kids are fortunate to have Dreamworld, Australia’s biggest amusement park, right on their doorstep! There’s something for all ages – shows to watch, rides suitable for toddlers through to teenagers, animals to meet and a variety of eateries spread over 85 hectares.

And if that wasn’t enough, adjacent to Dreamworld is WhiteWater World, a large waterpark that is included in the price of a ticket to Dreamworld.

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Rides at Dreamworld

Dreamworld has many rides across several themed areas of the park which can be broken down into kids’ rides, family rides, and thrill rides.

Our Top Tips for Rides at Dreamworld

Parent Swap – Many rides have a ‘parent swap’ service, which allows one parent to ride a thrill ride while the other parent stays with the children. The second parent can then ride the same ride without having to queue again. How good is that!

Height Restrictions – For safety reasons rides have minimum and maximum height restrictions (some even have weight restrictions), so check specific details before visiting to avoid disappointed children. You can get measured when entering the park, so you know just how tall you are (just ask a staff member).

Planned Closures – From time to time, particularly in the low season, rides need to be closed for routine maintenance. If you have your heart set on a particular ride, we suggest check for closures prior to planning a visit.

Ride Express- In addition to your Dreamworld ticket you can purchase a Ride Express pass (a 5 ride or unlimited pass), which reduces your time in line for certain rides. Ride Express has a few restrictions so please read the T’s and C’s carefully before purchasing.

Photo Passes – If you love to have photo proof of the rides you went on consider purchasing a photo pass. There are a few options available, and some even include photos from WhiteWater World too.

Kids’ Rides at Dreamworld

At Dreamworld you can find rides suitable for younger children located in Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland, though you may find other rides dotted around the park suitable for younger children too (depending on how adventurous and tall they are).

Big Red Planes
The Dreamworld Flyer
Bananas in Pyjamas Carousel
Bananas in Pyjamas Fun Maze
Belinda’s Tree House
Deep Sea Dodgems
Play School Wheel
Seabed Splash

Family Rides at Dreamworld

For those with children who are a little older, there are a number of rides suitable for the whole family at Dreamworld. Whether you are partnering an adult with a child, or just sending the older kids on by themselves, there is guaranteed to be plenty of rides to enjoy.

Murrissippi Motors (like the old vintage cars)
Jungle Rush
The Dreamworld Flyer
Deep Sea Dodgems
Big Red Planes
Kenny’s Forest Flyer
Shockwave
Big Red Boat Coaster
Humpty-Go-Round
Sky Voyager (flying theatre simulator ride)
Belinda’s Tree House

Thrill Rides at Dreamworld

If you’re daring enough (and tall enough) there are a number of high thrill rides many will love at Dreamworld, especially teenagers and young adults.

Prepare to scream, close your eyes and throw your hands in the air in excitement (or perhaps terror) when you ride these thrilling (and slightly terrifying) rides at Dreamworld:

Jungle Rush
Steel Taipan
King Claw
The Giant Drop
Serpent Slayer
Motocoaster (closed permanently on 2nd February 2026)
The Gold Coaster
Tail Spin

Waterslides at Dreamworld

While there are not actually any waterslides at Dreamworld, you will find them next door at WhiteWater World. There is however a little water play area (Seabed Splash) in Ocean Parade where you can cool down on a hot day.

You can read our full review of WhiteWater World.

Shows at Dreamworld

Dreamworld offers a few shows for kids and famous appearances at different locations around the park, so it’s worth viewing the current timetable at the entry or online, so you know where to be and when.

Guests can be treated to Kenny and Belinda’s Dance Party, the Wiggly Friends Show and Dreamworld’s Sock Hop Rock.

Appearances from the popular Bananas in Pyjamas, Kenny and Belinda and the Wiggly Friends will see the smiles on little one’s faces grow as the give their favourite characters a high five and pose for a picture with them.

Animals at Dreamworld

Dreamworld is not just about thrilling rides, they also have an array of animals on display, with a large component of Australian wildlife to marvel at. With the exception of the tigers, who are homed at their very own Tiger Island, other animals can be found in the Corroboree and Australian Wildlife section of the park.

Animals you can find at Dreamworld include:

Tigers (see Tiger Island for more details)
Greater bilby
Koala
Southern cassowary
Lumholtz tree kangaroo
Wedge-tailed eagle
Saltwater crocodile
Dingo
A variety of reptiles
Tasmanian devil and more

There are numerous animal experiences you can book for an extra charge, including feeding a croc, dingo encounters, tiger feeds or getting a photo with a koala.

Educational talks regarding the animals are held throughout the day, with schedules available online or at the entry of the park.

Tiger Island at Dreamworld

Dreamworld has an excellent display area of tigers that gets you (safely) up close to this amazing animal. Children can even climb through tunnels to see the tigers (but with thick glass between them) or you can look up and watch the striped creatures’ pace above your heads on the new aerial bridge.

The Bengal and Sumatran tigers at Dreamworld are ambassadors for their wild cousins who are sadly under serious threat for survival. There are a number of tiger experiences you can pay extra for, with the proceeds going towards the Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation, which is the largest zoological contributor to tiger conservation in the world.

One such experience is Tiger Feeding, which allows guests to ‘tong-feed’ a tiger (from a unique hole in the glass). Tickets must be booked in advance, and children need to be over the age of 13 to participate.

In December 2024 the daily Tiger Show at Dreamworld was paused. Check back regularly for updates.

Food Options at Dreamworld

While you will probably be busy dashing from ride to ride during your visit to Dreamworld, there is no doubt you will need to fill hungry tummies.

Lucky for you, there are a number of food and beverage outlets across the park, selling everything from hot dogs, pizza, chips, sandwiches and more.

The main venues to eat at include Food Central, where you will find gourmet burgers, hot dogs, and kids’ meals, and the newly opened (February 2025) Jane’s Rivertown Restaurant. In this sit-down restaurant, not only will you find delicious food but you will be met with an interior that will keep little ones occupied while you wait for your meal (think a moving gorilla, flapping birds and a snapping crocodile).

When it is time for a treat be sure to visit the ice cream parlour, candy store or the Churro’s Stand – the hardest part will be deciding what to eat first!

Unfortunately, Dreamworld does not allow you to take in your own food and drinks, so you need to factor this into your day’s budget, or pop outside (with a valid pass out) to have a bite to eat.

Special Events at Dreamworld

Throughout the year, and usually to coincide with special events and seasonal festivities, Dreamworld holds a variety of fun events. These events are often included with your Annual Pass or can be accessed via a separate ticket for others. Check out the Dreamworld website for specific details.

Popular events held at Dreamworld include:

After dark
Winterfest
Dreamworld Night Markets
Happy Halloween
Dreamworld Fun Run
Dreamworld Country Fair

Who Would Enjoy Visiting Dreamworld

Although we think everyone would enjoy a visit to Dreamworld, there are a few types of people we think would definitely get a kick out of a visit to this Gold Coast theme park.

Interstate and Overseas Visitors – Queenslanders might take for granted we have many fantastic theme parks on our doorstep, but not everyone is as lucky as us. Interstate visitors, especially those from down south, love nothing more than a visit to a theme park, especially coupled with Qld’s gorgeous weather.

Animal Lovers – While the park doesn’t solely focus on animals it does care a great deal about the wildlife that calls Dreamworld home. Being able to watch the tigers walk above your head in the aerial bridge is pretty amazing, as is having the opportunity to feed them (with tongs through a whole in the glass). Getting up close to the other wildlife, is also wonderful for those who adore animals.

Kids of Any Age – Whether you have a daredevil teenager, a shy primary schooler or a toddler just finding their feet, there really is something for everyone at Dreamworld.

Rides are graded due to their ‘thrill level’ so you can easily find the ride perfect for your child and in addition to the rides there are shows, special appearances, water play, and animals to gaze at.

Things to Know Before You Go to Dreamworld

Tickets are cheaper if you book online (compared to gate prices)
Dreamworld is generally open from 10 am until 5 pm, 7 days per week, though these times do vary seasonally (check online for current details)
Toilets have baby-changing facilities and disability access
Lockers (for a fee) are available near the entry
A first-aid station, parent centre and pram and wheelchair hire are also available
A visual story is available for download here and a Calming Cottage is available at Dreamworld. Dreamworld also partake in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program.
Exiting Dreamworld is via the LEGO store. This is an epic shop for any LEGO fan, with life-sized LEGO structures to marvel over, a build-your-own Minifigure area and a ‘pick a brick’ LEGO wall. You can also enter the LEGO store without paying for entry to Dreamworld.
Free on-site parking is available

For more information, or to book your tickets, visit the Dreamworld website.

Review of Dreamworld – Australia’s Biggest Theme Park