The 8 best theme parks in Australia

Potterheads and Tolkienites rejoice, there’s a little slice of the mystical medieval right in rural Victoria, of all places. This theme park got a fairy godmother makeover in 2013, transforming into a more family-friendly land of fire-breathing dragons and wizard workshops. As the park is a replica of a 700-year-old castle, expect fewer rides and more experiences, like round table knight meetings and jousting shows. The best part is you can even stay the night on site where bricked walls meet modern plumbing (thank goodness for that).

Get the best of both worlds with a park that has everything from the twistiest of rollercoasters to the wettest of waterslides. Board the Goliath for a pendulum ride that not only swings up and down but spins in full 360 mode as well. To cool off, change into your togs and battle friends and family on the Sea Serpents waterslide to see who can escape the tunnel the fastest. When it's time for a break, you can rent out one of the Hawaiian-inspired cabanas by the pool and order food and drink right to you, while the little ones burn off their energy in the water.

The largest theme park on the Gold Coast (and that’s really saying something) is home to a dizzying variety of rides, as well as live performances, interactive shows and animal attractions. Adrenaline addicts can put their tonsils to the test on scream-worthy rides like The Giant Drop, the world’s tallest vertical free-fall tower ride. If terror isn’t your drug of choice, then there are plenty of rides with a lower fear factor, like the Rocky Hollow Log Ride, plus 11 rides dedicated to smaller children, including the Bananas in Pyjamas Maze and the Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup Ride.

Thrillseekers, don't say we didn’t warn you that Funfields is home to the Gravity Wave – the longest and highest (nine storeys to be exact) water slide in the world of its kind. It actually seems that Funfields has a penchant for ridiculously high water slides because the Supanova towers at the same nine mighty storeys. For those who like to keep their heart in their chest and out of their throat, daybeds and lounges are available to rent for your visit. Plus, they’re perched conveniently near the heated Volcano Beach wave pool.

While there’s a pretty renowned stretch of big theme parks on the Gold Coast, it is worth your while venturing north for the Sunshine Coast where you’ll find the smaller but mighty Aussie World. Try your hand at the hoops or laughing clown heads for sideshow plushies and show bags galore, or really test your bladder in the haunted Mayhem Maze. When you’re all buggered out from bouncing up and down Australia’s 'tallest and fastest 360-degree pendulum', you can grab a bite to eat at the cartoon-like Banana Bender pub.

The slogan of this little slice of fun on the South Coast of New South Wales is ‘where you control the action’. Action you can control whether you’re racing down the pitch-black tunnel of the Taipan water slide, or holding on for dear life during the Perfect Storm’s wild twists and turns. Jamberoo Action Park isn’t just for the adrenaline junkies though – take a moment to lazily drift in a doughnut around the Rapid River, or hop on the chairlift that offers spectacular views of the vibrant green and mountainous region the park is secluded in.

This nostalgic carnival funland happens to grace the shores of both Sydney and Melbourne. If it had to be a competition, it would be a pretty close call between the view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from Sydney’s ferris wheel up against St Kilda’s heritage-listed roller coaster that zooms above Port Phillip Bay. Luna Park in St Kilda is actually Australia’s oldest amusement park, but don’t mistake it for the shabbiest. Whether you think the pearly white gates to the parks are a little creepy, or full of joy, they’re pretty much a fixture of Australian culture.

If you’ve ever wished you could step through the big screen and into the thrills and spills of your favourite action movie, a trip to Warner Bros. Movie World might just be the closest thing. Inspired by the cinematic adventures of the eponymous film studio, this theme park is packed with white-knuckle attractions, just as you might expect from a theme park, but also a roving troop of live performers bringing beloved film characters – including Batman, Catwoman and the Joker – to interactive life. Both live-action and animated filmmaking underpins every adrenaline-filled, edge-of-your-seat experience in the park, from the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster to the Hollywood Stunt Driver show.