Sea World


 * For the unrelated US theme park chain of a similar name, see SeaWorld.



Sea World is a marine park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It includes rides, animal exhibits and other attractions, and promotes conservation through education and through the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.

History
Founded in 1958 by Keith Williams as the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens, the attraction was moved down the coast to a 64-hectare site on Southport Spit in 1971. In 1972 Sea World received its present name, reflecting expansion into animal exhibition.

Wildlife attractions
Various aquariums depict Australian aquatic habitats. Australian native animal exhibits include seals, rescued injured pelicans, a dugong and Australia's tiny Little Penguins (Fairy Penguins), the smallest penguin species in the world.

Sea World also has highly trained dolphins and sea lions that perform in circus-like acts. The dolphin shows are intended to excite audiences as the dolphins leap metres out of the water in unison, and as they are "surfed" by their trainers.

Sea World presently (2006) has four polar bears in the "Polar Bear Shores" exhibit, which aims to provide them stimulation through an enriched, naturalistic environment including things like deep water, logs, gravel for digging, a variety of foods and even simulated rain.

In 2004, the park opened "Shark Bay". This system of artificial lagoons allows sharks to be viewed from both above water and underwater. Sharks exhibited include large and potentially dangerous tiger sharks and bull sharks.

Other attractions
Sea World's many rides include a triple-loop roller coaster, a cable car and a carousel. A conservation-themed "4D" cinematic show called Planet SOS combines 3D visual effects with environmental effects, such as the action of sprinklers when an animated polar bear sneezes in the direction of the audience. A water park includes several water slides and adults' and children's pools. Sea World is also the only theme park in Australia with an associated resort/hotel - Sea World Nara Resort.

A 2km monorail circuit facilitates transport within Sea World and links it with Sea World Nara Resort. Opening in 1986, it was the first monorail in Australia and is a Von Roll MkII Installation. It gained an additional monorail set after the Expo '88 monorail was dismantled.

On December 17 2006, the "Sea World Eye" ferris wheel was added.

Commercial links
Sea World has commercial links to Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild Water World, two other popular theme parks on the Gold Coast. Heavily discounted '3 Park Super Passes' are available to lure customers into visiting these three parks on their trip to the Gold Coast. Sea World, Movie World and Wet'n'Wild are all Warner Village Theme Parks and include varying partnership arrangements between Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, and may also include the Seaworld Property Trust.

In late March, 2007, the childrens show Toasted TV changed their location of filming from Warner Brothers Movie World to Sea World.