Rainbow's End (theme park)

Infobox Amusement park
name = Rainbow's End


location = Auckland
location2 = New Zealand
location3 = flagicon|New Zealand
address = Cnr Great South & Wiri Station Rds, Manukau City
previous_names =
season = Year-round
opening_date = 1982
area =
rides= 15
coasters = 3
water_rides = 2
owner = Rainbow's End Theme Park Limited
slogan = "N.Z's Premier Theme Park"
homepage = [http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz www.rainbowsend.co.nz]

Rainbow's End is a theme park in Auckland, New Zealand that opened in December, 1982. The park, wholly owned subsidiary of New Zealand Experience Ltd, is currently New Zealand's largest theme park. The park currently employs between 50 and 200 staff both full time and part time depending on the time of year. Its main attraction is New Zealands only Corkscrew Roller Coaster.

Rides and attractions

* Power Surge - The latest of the rides at the park the Power Surge is a thrill ride that can spin on both a horizontal and a vertical axis.
* Cinema 180 - The C180 is a dome cinema providing a 180 degree field of view. Guests stand inside the dome in front of the screen and watch a 12 minute movie.
* Dodgems
* Cadbury Land Castle - A themed area targeted at younger guests. Attractions can be rented out for birthday parties, including kids rollercoaster Dragon Flyer.
* Corkscrew Roller coaster - An Arrow Dynamics steel looping roller coaster, and the only one of its kind in the country. It contains three inversions, a vertical loop and a double corkscrew.
* Goldrush - A mine themed roller coaster ride consisting of short drops and sharp corners.
* Log Flumes - The Enchanted Forest log flume is one of park's best rides, with 2 minor drops and a larger drop at the end with an onride picture booth.
* Fear Fall - An 18 storey tower. Not unlike the Giant Drop ride, riders are lifted up the tower and dropped with the ride vehicle being stopped by magnetic breaking.
* Family Karts/Scorpion Karts - A Go kart attraction with two levels of suitabiltity- one for families, one for older guests.
* Pirate Ship - A giant swinging ship.
* Bumper Boats - Guests are seated in Bumper Boats and are free to drive around 'bumping' into other guests.
* Motion Master - A motion simulator attraction. Recently upgraded to a Spongebob Squarepants 3D adventure.
* Crazy Sideshows - A range of carnival rides open on weekends and holidays.
* Centre Stage - A large covered stage and eating area with shows on the weekends and the holidays.
* Interactive arcade - A large arcade with lots of interactive games and gifts.

Accidents

On the 2 February 2008, Michael Ross Stuart, a 21 year old park worker died while carrying out maintenance work on a ferris wheel, located in the Cadbury Land Dream Castle attraction. The worker became trapped between one of the carriages and the frame of the ride, and had to be cut free by firefighters, but died at the scene. The accident, which occurred before the park opened, caused the park to be closed down for two days because of "unforeseen circumstances". Michael Ross Stuart had been working at the park since 2005. [Police name man killed at Rainbow's End [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491644] ] [Theme park stays shut after tragedy [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=110&objectid=10491741] ]

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz Official Site]