Get soaked on the log flume, take the plunge on the drop tower, or take the kids for a family day out. This theme park has something for everyone.
Extending over 9.3 hectares just 20 minutes from Auckland city centre, Rainbow's End is known for high-speed, adrenaline-filled rides like rollercoasters and drop towers. However this theme park also has plenty of classic funfair rides like dodgems and carousels, as well as cinemas, and great kids' entertainment.Thrill rides such as the rollercoasters are generally the most in demand, so show up early and prepare to queue for these. The Invader is always popular – visitors sit on a disc which spins rapidly on its own axis while also travelling along a track that hits heights of 15 metres. If you have a head for heights, try the Fearfall, a drop tower which plunges towards earth from a heights of 18 storeys, at a staggering 80 kilometres an hour. The Corkscrew Coaster does exactly what it says on the tin, while the Gold Rush coaster takes you on a journey through an abandoned gold mine. Just make sure to watch out for falling beams!If you're visiting with the family, and all that high-octane entertainment is just a little too much, Rainbow's End has plenty of other, more suitable attractions for you. Kids and parents can go head to head on the bumper boats or the karting track to see who gets bragging rights for the rest of the day, while Kidz Kingdom is perfect for those with young children. This area has slower, more manageable rides and plenty of colourful costumed characters to keep the little ones happy.If you need to slow your theme park experience right down, you could always try a trip to one of the park's two cinemas. The 3-D Motion Master cinema shows family-friendly films throughout the day, while the Cinema 180° shows 12-minute films on a curved screen, allowing the viewer to feel part of the action.Open every day except Christmas Day, the park is quieter during the school term, particularly on weekdays (though some of the on-site amenities, such as restaurants, can be closed during these periods also). Check online before your visit to find out what's on and what's available.Rainbow's End is located 20 minutes by car from Auckland city centre, in the Manukau area, and there are plentiful buses and trains running here too.
