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In addition to the Brilliant antics of the Bawd Brothers, there were several very funny joke announcements on the train journey today. I don't know whether it's official or just the comments of the individual employee on the train at the time. Anyway, it adds a lot to the experience and makes it FUN, and not just transport!

Todays progress update

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That last sentence is very critic! It could be they already are "looking", specifically at Dreamworld perhaps. It probably goes without saying that if they are, only a couple of people at Ardent will know and they'll be sworn to secrecy. The public and other personnel at Dreamworld will hear nothing until such time as plans are absolutely confirmed.

I wouldn't pay to enter Paradise Country for two main reasons. 1. Most of the animals at PC are also at Dreamworld, and 2. Whilst I do like to see these animals occasionally, I'm not fanatical about it. I'll see them sometimes while I'm at Dreamworld, and a few times a year I'll stop by PC because it's included in my Village membership. But I wouldn't pay separately just to enter PC.

I just found another identical building! I think this one is in London or somewhere.

A, erm, "fun" visit to what's left of Sea World today. On entry I was greeted by this. and this sign informed me that several of the few remaining rides were not working. This reminded me of the all you can eat restaurant Sea World once had. And there really wasn't anything much else to see. Might take another look sometime in 2019.

But there's a large shop full of souvenirs which you walk through as you enter, and a long bar serving all sorts of drinks right at the front of the pre-show room. Don't those count? Oh, and photos they take as you enter, which they encourage you to buy during the show.

Unlimited entry to Paradise Country is included with the OnePass.

Of course! Iit's running today.

Does anyone know if this show continues after today? I hope so as it adds a lot to the train ride experience.

The second section of glass facade is just starting to be put into place right now.

By that logic you could even go so far as to say Sea World is a theme park (although I know that would be really pushing it)!

Facade progressing well, very curvy. First batch of windows in.

I don't regard that line as even slightly racist. Frankly there were several things said in the show (such as "Arse" and "Shit") which I would say are a lot more potentially borderline offensive than "Coupla days"! I'm sure it would be just harmless fun, and for those who remember Con the Fruiterer, a nice little nostalgic nod to the character Mark Mitchell is probably best known for.

What has well and truly had its day (if there ever was one) is the "Hollywood Stunt Driver" show with no stunts. That needs to go. Outback Spectacular doesn't!

I'm not going to be too specific so as not to spoil it for anyone but here are my initial thoughts. Special effects (projection mapping) - excellent as I was expecting. Story - Well to be completely honest not as intense or moving as I had been expecting. Also I just didn't feel like I got into the story quite as much as previous shows. This could very well just be because it was the first time I've seen it! Also it was the very first show tonight, and there were just a couple of parts where I could tell the performance still needed a little fine-tuning. Food - Very good, but (again just me being completely honest)I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the meals from previous shows. Still good though. Oh, and the helicopter from High Country Legends is back! Overall I'm glad I went. I will be going again very soon (tickets already booked for December). I highly recommend it to anyone who's never been before, as well as to those who have! Final comment for now: I was really hoping they'd have Mark Mitchell end the show with "Coupla Days!" The line could definitely have been made an appropriate response to a question and would have been a superb finish to the show. I reckon there's still enough people who fondly remember that line from watching Con the Fruiterer who would have loved that! The show did end with the same song as the previous show "I Still Call Australia Home". It's a wonderful song, but there are many others that could have been equally good, but also would have been fresh to the new show. To me it just seems a bit lazy to use the same song. I'm whinging though. It's fantastic! Go see it! 😆

Salute to the light horse was only ever intended to be a one year show. It was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC history, which was that year. Return of High Country Legends was not a new show but just a continuation of a previous show which had been temporarily halted by Salute to the light horse. No problem at all!

I get what you're saying Alex, but I think this new show "Heartland" is sufficiently different (both in the story and the visual effects) that it provides a great example of how to refresh the concept sufficiently that people will want to come and see it again. Plus also many guests from interstate and overseas (and even some from Queensland) will still be seeing it for the first time! I personally think as long as they continue to refresh both the story and visuals every few years, there's no reason it should ever get tired. If I was being very picky, I could say the only thing I wish had been refreshed more than it has is the food. That said, it's superb food considering how many they cater for, and they have made a couple of minor alterations to the menu, so I'm more than happy!

I understand that, but I'm a bit puzzled why there's no naming sponsor now. Doesn't bother me though.

They really love to show off that logo!

Scary stuff! Hope the worst has passed?

I really hope they won't call it "Gold Rush".