On 13th December 1912 the now famous Mr. Moon, opened his great mouth and thousands of people rushed into Luna Park which is the city’s second theme park. One hundred years later it is still as popular as ever.
Thrill rides, rides for kids, family rides and carnival games are the attractions at Luna Park. There are several among the thrill rides that pick up riders, whirl them high in the air at blurry speeds and bring them back to terra firma in a groggy sate. The Enterprise, the Pharaoh’s Curse, the Spider, the Twin Dragon and the Coney Island Top Drop are famous for their scream inducing experiences. To enjoy awesome audio- visual effects visitors need to visit the Circus of Screams where all who enter are entertained by the most ghastly set of ghouls, a clever combination of theatre and sideshows. Riding the Scenic Railway is a must as it is the world’s oldest wooden roller coaster that has been in operation since the park opened. It is still providing thrills with its dips and loops.
Another ‘must ride’ is the park’s beautiful carousel, a heritage piece with hand painted horses that has been there since inception. The Sky Rider is where everyone takes a break from the never ending excitement. A classic Ferris wheel, it provides great views over St. Philips Bay and St. Kilda. For those who wish to be scared out of their wits, the Ghost Train is the ride to take. Ghoulish noises and weird forms that appear out of thin air create a suitable scary atmosphere. XRL8 which is a motion simulator will provide hours of entertainment for space junkies with galactic journeys where ‘no man has gone before’. Intergalactic creatures and other impediments impact on the journey’s progress at every turn.
Young visitors can get their thrills on the Arabian Merry, the Red Baron, a flying carousel and the Silly Serpent that is a roller coaster that moves at a more sedate pace. Other traditional fairground attractions that have thrilled the crowds for ages include dodgem cars and the mirror maze which was a feature when the park first opened in 1912.
Luna Park is listed by the Victoria Heritage Register in view of its historic importance as one of the first fun parks in the city and because of the heritage value of some of its attractions.
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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+