Ever wonder where pure fun lives? Right here at Rainbows End. It’s Auckland’s premier theme park. Rainbows End is a place where laughter echoes and memories are made.
Rainbows End first opened its gates in December 1982. Imagine bumper boats. Think mini golf. Consider Can Am Cars. These were some of the original attractions.
Over the years, Rainbows End has grown. New rides and attractions were added. In 1983, Cinema 180 debuted. The Pirate Ship set sail. The Maze tested navigational skills. An Indoor Games Area opened.
1984 saw the arrival of the Log Flume at Rainbows End. Indoor Dodgems bumped into action. The Garden House Cafe provided tasty treats. Then in 1985 Kiddies Cars appeared. The Space Shuttle Zim Zam Zoo Children’s Playground opened. Staff Amenities were added.
The Coca-Cola Corkscrew Roller Coaster arrived in 1986. It quickly became a crowd favorite at Rainbows End. In 1992, the Motion Master offered simulated thrills. The following year Family Karts replaced the Mirage Cars.
December 1995 marked the arrival of another major ride at Rainbows End. This was the Gold Rush. Four people could sit in a mine cart. It took them on a thrilling journey through an abandoned gold mine. Rainbows End staff designed and built this ride.
In 1996, the Car Wash Convoy was purchased. It replaced the Caterpillar. This attraction catered to younger visitors to Rainbows End. December 1997 saw a new family play area built on the old maze site. This area included two new rides. These were Dragon Flight and Carousel. It’s themed inside a Castle and proved popular for the under 8s. Three more attractions followed in 1997. Castle Land was introduced along with the Carousel and the Dragon’s Flight. These rides catered for the Under 5 children.
Construction started in June 2001. It was for a $2.5 million free fall tower at Rainbows End. At 54 metres high, it added another white knuckle attraction. A Swiss company supplied the tower. Rainbows End engineers assembled it. It opened on time in October 2001.
The Power Surge and Jumpin’ Star arrived in December 2004. They came from Italy. Rainbows End personnel had already completed foundation work. Both rides took about one week to construct. They opened on December 18, 2004.
Since then, Rainbows End added the Invader in December 2009. It has been a huge success. Coming from Italy, it arrived in six 40 ft containers. It traveled from the Ports of Auckland to Rainbows End.
Development has been ongoing. Three new eateries were introduced. A brand new stage was built in December 2010 at Rainbows End.
The first stage of Kidz Kingdom opened on Boxing Day 2012. It had three brand new rides. These were the Choco Express, Magic Bikes, and Surf n Swing. This stage consisted of an outdoor covered area with a rainbow roof. Children can play in all weather here.
The second stage of Kidz Kingdom opened in April 2013. The new indoor area completed Kidz Kingdom. It included the Fortress of Fun. Enzo’s Country Raceway was added. There was also Comfyland and interactive games.
August 2013 saw Centre Stage undergo a transformation. Rainbows End also welcomed Andre Vegas. He performs magic shows on Centre Stage.
Stratosfear launched in April 2014. At the time, it was the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Stratosfear proved extremely popular at Rainbows End.
September 2014 brought new changes. Rainbows End changed its park logo. A new website was introduced.
In 2015, a new entrance way was unveiled. It had 8 lanes for entry and a new gift shop at Rainbows End.
In July 2019 Rainbow Playlab opened. It features Virtual Reality, Virtual Sword Fighting and Escape Rooms.
From its humble beginnings to today, Rainbows End continues to evolve. New attractions and experiences are planned. So, keep watching this space.
Rainbows End is more than just a theme park. It is a place where memories are made. It is a place where families come together. It is a place where fun never ends.