Hopes, aspirations, ideas, improvements and creations of amusement parks and resorts in New Zealand.

Amusement Park and Theme Park are terms for a group of rides and other entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining large numbers of people. An amusement park is more elaborate than a simple city park or playground, usually providing attractions meant to cater to children, teenagers, and adults.
The field of amusement parks annually attracts a large slice of the tourism market. There are different types of amusement park: water, wildlife, educational and theme parks.

The resort is a structure that offers the customer various services: hotels, restaurants, casinos, convention center, sports facilities, swimming pools and spa, theaters, amusement parks, shops ...
Over the past decades have spread all over the world, inspired by a different theme.

Theme parks don't really exist in NZ compared to other countries. We do have one in the form of Rainbows End (http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz/) down in Manukau, but it's a little embarrassing.

As for hotels and resorts, now that's another story. I know we have an awful lot of top quality resorts and hotels here - Mr KF and Sydney would be the best people to answer this given they have toured the country using hotels and resorts more than the rest of us.

Ok, but what kind of theme park would be built there?
For example, a theme park based on the film "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed as ch in NZ ... inspired by that of Harry Potter in Orlando in the USA.

Ok, but what kind of theme park would be built there?
For example, a theme park based on the film "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed as ch in NZ ... inspired by that of Harry Potter in Orlando in the USA.

That would be a very good idea. Also, since NZ has the world-wide reputation for it's huge, beautiful nature-oriented outdoor recreational activities, then why not a themed park that revolved around that concept? I know that in Dubai there is a building that is at over 25 stories tall. It is an indoor snow skiing facility. Why not have a bigger and better one in NZ Make it at least twice as large/tall. Every day of the year anyone would be able to ski, snow board or whatever all in one huge facility. There would also be dining and shopping.
then have another indoor facility that was the world's largest indoor and outdoor skate park. It would contain every extreme sporting activity imaginable. Then you could have a very tall hotel with an indoor climbing wall. Maybe it's the tallest in the world? That would be cool. Incorporate other popular outdoor activity-based events, regardless if the event or individual activity is relaxing or strenuous or anything in between. Add some gaming, some amusement park rides, some shows and maybe even a museum or gallery or two and you could have a very cool themed park. I know Queenstown is noted for it's natural beauty and it's outdoor attractions and activities. Maybe placing a theme park like I just mentioned near Queenstown might be a great complimentary attraction? Well, that's my two cents. :)

That would be a very good idea. Also, since NZ has the world-wide reputation for it's huge, beautiful nature-oriented outdoor recreational activities, then why not a themed park that revolved around that concept? I know that in Dubai there is a building that is at over 25 stories tall. It is an indoor snow skiing facility. Why not have a bigger and better one in NZ Make it at least twice as large/tall. Every day of the year anyone would be able to ski, snow board or whatever all in one huge facility. There would also be dining and shopping.
then have another indoor facility that was the world's largest indoor and outdoor skate park. It would contain every extreme sporting activity imaginable. Then you could have a very tall hotel with an indoor climbing wall. Maybe it's the tallest in the world? That would be cool. Incorporate other popular outdoor activity-based events, regardless if the event or individual activity is relaxing or strenuous or anything in between. Add some gaming, some amusement park rides, some shows and maybe even a museum or gallery or two and you could have a very cool themed park. I know Queenstown is noted for it's natural beauty and it's outdoor attractions and activities. Maybe placing a theme park like I just mentioned near Queenstown might be a great complimentary attraction? Well, that's my two cents. :)

^^^^^^^^^^
Exactly! To give you another three diverse example from which we could take inspiration are some amusement parks in Italy, I do not know if you know them.


* Gardaland, in northern Italy, is the largest in the country, opened in 1975 over the years, it has expanded and improved. It also has a structure called Gardaland Sea Life, and a resort hotel.
http://www.gardaland.it/resort/index-en.php


* Rainbow Magic Land, near Rome, will be inaugurated in the coming months of 2011. The park will also be featured in the cartoon of the Winx, in the future is destined to grow, more and more to compete with Disneyland Paris.
http://www.rainbowmagicland.it/
and here put the website of the Winx http://www.rbw.it/winx.asp


* Etnaland, in Sicily, started as a zoo, water park has been transformed in recent years and is adding other attractions to become a theme park.
http://www.etnaland.eu/

Other big parks is:
Mirabilandia http://www.mirabilandia.it/
Zoo Marine http://www.zoomarine.it/Default.aspx?l=en&r=965409165
Canevaworld - Movieland and Studios Aqua - http://www.canevaworld.it/
Oltremare http://www.oltremare.org/eng/
Miragica http://www.miragica.com/

Theme parks don't really exist in NZ compared to other countries. We do have one in the form of Rainbows End (http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz/) down in Manukau, but it's a little embarrassing.

As for hotels and resorts, now that's another story. I know we have an awful lot of top quality resorts and hotels here - Mr KF and Sydney would be the best people to answer this given they have toured the country using hotels and resorts more than the rest of us.

I found this on Rainbows End http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4vME7TMg-o

That would be a very good idea. Also, since NZ has the world-wide reputation for it's huge, beautiful nature-oriented outdoor recreational activities, then why not a themed park that revolved around that concept? I know that in Dubai there is a building that is at over 25 stories tall. It is an indoor snow skiing facility. Why not have a bigger and better one in NZ Make it at least twice as large/tall. Every day of the year anyone would be able to ski, snow board or whatever all in one huge facility. There would also be dining and shopping.
then have another indoor facility that was the world's largest indoor and outdoor skate park. It would contain every extreme sporting activity imaginable. Then you could have a very tall hotel with an indoor climbing wall. Maybe it's the tallest in the world? That would be cool. Incorporate other popular outdoor activity-based events, regardless if the event or individual activity is relaxing or strenuous or anything in between. Add some gaming, some amusement park rides, some shows and maybe even a museum or gallery or two and you could have a very cool themed park. I know Queenstown is noted for it's natural beauty and it's outdoor attractions and activities. Maybe placing a theme park like I just mentioned near Queenstown might be a great complimentary attraction? Well, that's my two cents. :)

Yes. It's called Ski Dubai with 22.500 square meters of indoor ski area. Opened in November 2005, the indoor resort features an 60-meter high indoor mountain with five slopes of varying steepness and actual difficulty, Including a 400-meter-long run, the world's first indoor black run, and a 90-meter-long quarter pipe for snowboarders. A quad lift and a tow lift carry skiers and snowboarders up the mountain. Adjoining the slopes is a 3,000-square-meter Snow Park play area comprising sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slides, climbing towers, a snowball shooting gallery, an ice cave and a 3D theater. Other attractions include a mirror maze and a snowman-making area. Winter clothing, ski and snowboard equipment are included in the price of admission. :banana:

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/Ski-Dubai-Ski-Resort.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/SkiDubai2.jpg

I wanna see a Jurassic Park type set up in Fjordland!

Yes. It's called Ski Dubai with 22.500 square meters of indoor ski area. Opened in November 2005, the indoor resort features an 60-meter high indoor mountain with five slopes of varying steepness and actual difficulty, Including a 400-meter-long run, the world's first indoor black run, and a 90-meter-long quarter pipe for snowboarders. A quad lift and a tow lift carry skiers and snowboarders up the mountain. Adjoining the slopes is a 3,000-square-meter Snow Park play area comprising sled and toboggan runs, an icy body slides, climbing towers, a snowball shooting gallery, an ice cave and a 3D theater. Other attractions include a mirror maze and a snowman-making area. Winter clothing, ski and snowboard equipment are included in the price of admission. :banana:

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/Ski-Dubai-Ski-Resort.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/SkiDubai2.jpg
Cool! :) You've been there? Sounds like a great time for sure.

^^ We do have an indoor ski slope/Snowboarding slope. It's a little small, but it's fairly good for beginners - it's called Snowplanet (http://www.snowplanet.co.nz/) and it's just north of Auckland. I like going there when I can to work on my snowboarding/skiing. ;)

Cool! :) You've been there? Sounds like a great time for sure.

no ... but I have heard from my friends. In Italy is under construction an indoor ski in the Alps of Piedmont will be ready for 2012

^^ Very cool. :)

^^ We do have an indoor ski slope/Snowboarding slope. It's a little small, but it's fairly good for beginners - it's called Snowplanet (http://www.snowplanet.co.nz/) and it's just north of Auckland. I like going there when I can to work on my snowboarding/skiing. ;)

Did not know that. Any links to it? :)

^^ There is a link to Snowplanet in the very post you quoted. Click the name "Snowplanet" - I hyperlinked there.

^^ There is a link to Snowplanet in the very post you quoted. Click the name "Snowplanet" - I hyperlinked there.

Very nice. :) Thanks! :)

Very nice. :) Thanks! :)

Small and overpriced would be my opinion, but it's the only one in NZ and well worth the trip if the mountains are off-season.

Exactly. :)

I wanna see a Jurassic Park type set up in Fjordland!

That could seriously inconvenience a lot of my friends who hunt there. Unless they got bigger guns.

A Lord of the Rings something would be a great asset to NZ. Especially with two more Hobbit films coming in the next few years, NZ will be in the spotlight again and need a legacy from it.

I'm not sure the investment of rollercoasters etc... would pay back, and probably wouldn't be in keeping with the films, but surely a permanent exhibit of memorabilia - perhaps a whole museum with rebuilt sets to explore, might be interesting.

The more interactive and tactile the better, so if not rides, certain experiences would be good (Hobbit large/small photos, kids playgrounds, rafting on an Elven boat?)

There could obviously be a big Hobbit style pub again with lots of artefacts from the films - Hard Rock Cafe style I'm imagining. And it should be in Wellington!

A Lord of the Rings something would be a great asset to NZ. Especially with two more Hobbit films coming in the next few years, NZ will be in the spotlight again and need a legacy from it.

I'm not sure the investment of rollercoasters etc... would pay back, and probably wouldn't be in keeping with the films, but surely a permanent exhibit of memorabilia - perhaps a whole museum with rebuilt sets to explore, might be interesting.

The more interactive and tactile the better, so if not rides, certain experiences would be good (Hobbit large/small photos, kids playgrounds, rafting on an Elven boat?)

There could obviously be a big Hobbit style pub again with lots of artefacts from the films - Hard Rock Cafe style I'm imagining. And it should be in Wellington!

perfect! also your idea is not bad! :banana:
Although it would take something like this http://www.youtube.com/user/gardaland?blend=3&ob=5#p/u/0/xitmGHAuzYY
Nightmare! what do you think? :)

An "exclusive function" in a "mystery location" this month will launch a luxury alliance in Queenstown, comprising multi-award-winning accommodation providers, retailers and transport operators, delivering a "clear profile of luxury in Queenstown".

Ten of the resort's leading luxury tourism providers have joined forces to form Queenstown Prestige, aiming to market New Zealand's leading resort to national and global visitors, bringing their passion, experience and marketing efforts under one umbrella.

Foundation members of Queenstown Prestige are Eichardt's, Touch of Spice, Blanket Bay, Matakauri Lodge, Sofitel Queenstown, Louis Vuitton, Queenstown Opal Centre jewellers, Over The Top Helicopters, Mount Edward Winery and transport company Black.

Eichardt's general manager Holly Taylor and Touch of Spice general manager Fiona Stevens said the alliance had evolved to deliver a clear, consistent message about the standard of luxury providers in Queenstown.

"Most of us have worked together to some degree or other in the past on a co-operative basis to deliver a seamless standard of the highest level of service to clients," Ms Taylor said.

"Now, collectively, we're going to work together to showcase the finest that Queenstown has to offer, and as a group there's a lot of strength in that."

Ms Stevens said the new initiative would be launched on May 23 at an evening attended by a "small, select group of key luxury buyers and media from around New Zealand and overseas".

Ngai Tahu education ride aims to make big splash
NZ HERALD
6:15 AM Monday May 2, 2011

Ngai Tahu is developing a multi-million-dollar high-tech water ride in Rotorua that plans to take up to 500 tourists an hour through the ecological evolution of New Zealand and finish with a 12m splash. "Always got to have a big splash at the end," said Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park project director Stewart Brown. The $10 million-plus project at the park will include an outdoor 400-seat free-flight bird-show auditorium, interactive playground and reptile enclosure. The water ride would aim to tell a story that educated people and encouraged action on environmental issues.

"This will certainly stand as one of the larger developments in New Zealand's tourism history," Brown said. The ride would take visitors back to New Zealand before the arrival of humans and travel nearly 500m, with life-size animatronics including a Haast's eagle attacking a moa. "[The] Haast's eagle was the biggest flying predator in the world at that stage, [its] wingspan was over three metres," Brown said. "It was quite feared when Maori first arrived." Visitors will travel through the arrival of Maori and Europeans, including a depiction of a village and tree-felling.

Then in a cave the nearly 6m boats will be lifted 12m to travel through the tree canopy before dropping into a large splash pool. Brown said the main planning was completed and the development, the biggest single investment since the park started in 1932, was expected to open early next year. The initial planning was for a capacity of 500 people an hour, with an ability to extend. The cost was being met by Ngai Tahu Holdings, the shareholder of Rainbow Springs owner Ngai Tahu Tourism.

Ngai Tahu Tourism chief executive John Thorburn said the development was great news for Rainbow Springs and the whole of Rotorua as a tourist destination. "The development will heighten both domestic and international interest in the region as a place to visit," Thorburn said. "Ngai Tahu Tourism is investing for the long term. "As one of the integral hearts of New Zealand tourism, with its strong culture and New Zealand history, Rotorua is a key focus for us."

Regarding The Lord of the Rings, you can visit the movie set which portrayed HOBBITON (http://www.hobbitontours.com/) but it is closed at the moment while they film The Hobbit. Once they finish filming they will leave the site intact and will be a huge drawcard for tourists and LOTR fans :)

A huge Ski Resort is planned for PORTERS. You can see renders and also watch a video HERE (http://www.skiporters.co.nz/index.php/expansion-plans/).

Regarding The Lord of the Rings, you can visit the movie set which portrayed HOBBITON (http://www.hobbitontours.com/) but it is closed at the moment while they film The Hobbit. Once they finish filming they will leave the site intact and will be a huge drawcard for tourists and LOTR fans :)

I had already seen this in some pictures on the web. :) Apart from this beautiful place, I meant to say the construction of an amusement park, whose main feature is the Lord of the Rings,that the characters in the film are played by actors in costume in the park. The park would also contain many attractions. To give you an example: here in Italy in Rome a few weeks will be open to the public an amusement park called "Rainbow Magic Land " http://www.rainbowmagicland.it/, whose main protagonists are the stars of the cartoon "Winx Club" http://www.rbw.it/ (do not know if you know them, but is an Italian product exported to the world), however, besides these, there are also many attractions. Now you see what kind it was my proposal? So, which calls for investment in the billions, but if I could, I would do many things, over there!

See work in progress of RAINBOW MAGIC LAND… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQhM0nOc8Lw&feature=related

Hilton Queenstown and Kawarau Hotel

The new Hilton Queenstown and neighbouring Kawarau Hotel, managed by Hilton, in Queenstown’s new Kawarau Village are now open for bookings and stays from Thursday 19 May 2011.
The newly built and stunning properties will be the only Queenstown hotels positioned directly on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the year-round resort town. They are located just 5 minutes drive from the airport and 15 minutes drive from both the centre of town and The Remarkables Ski Area access road. A further four ski areas are in close proximity. Hilton will run a shuttle services by water and road into Queenstown centre.

Each hotel has a sunny, northerly aspect and offers glorious lake or mountain views. Both hotels are within the newly built Kawarau Village. In addition to many exciting in-house food and beverage outlets — including the Hilton Queenstown’s signature restaurant Wakatipu Grill, helmed by renowned New Zealand chef Peter Thornley and Me & Mee Noodle Bar located in the Kawarau Hotel, managed by Hilton — Kawarau Village offers more dining options, including The Lake Counter cafe, grocery & deli and Stacks Pub. Self catering is an additional option for guests of Kawarau Hotel, managed by Hilton, as each room features a kitchenette with oven, microwave, and fridge/freezer.

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/ZQNHQHI_Hilton_Queenstown_gallery_accom_guestroom01_large.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/ZQNHQHI_Hilton_Queenstown_gallery_accom_executive_large_2.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n634/ItalicSiciliano/ZQNHQHI_Hilton_Queenstown_gallery_accom_bathroom02_large_3.jpg

I think the Pirate Ship is the most fun thing at Rainbow's End.

I think the Pirate Ship is the most fun thing at Rainbow's End.

:)

Rainbow's End to spend $3.5 million on upgrade
New Zealand Experience, which owns the Rainbow's End amusement park, plans to spend $3.5 million upgrading its 'Castle Land' area, which is expected to boost earnings when it reopens next Easter.

The development is expected to lift medium-term profitability, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. It affirmed annual profit guidance of between $1.2 million and $1.4 million, even though it flagged short-term earnings may be hit during the construction phase.

"The expected growth in revenues and the reduction in our exposure to unfavourable weather for this targeted business, together provide opportunity for improved profitability at Rainbow's End," the company said.

NZ Experience cut its forecast annual earnings of between $1.4 million and $1.6 million after first-half trading was hit by competition from the Rugby World Cup and unfavourable weather.

The company also said it has agreed to a new $5.1 million banking facility with Bank of New Zealand.

The shares, the bulk of which are held by Canada's Garlow Management, the trustee for the Estate of George Ryerson Gardiner, last traded at 40 cents apiece, valuing the company at $14.8 million.