Aussie World opens SX360 pendulum swing ride

Sunshine Coast amusement park Aussie World has launched its one-of-a-kind thrill ride today.

The SX360 is a $2.5 million investment into the park and is the Sunshine Coast’s first tier 1 thrill ride, as well as Australia’s tallest and fastest 360-degree pendulum swing.

The ride reaches speeds of 80km/h while launching 32 metres into the air and completing four inversions up to 5Gs, which is a never-before-seen feature on this style of ride in Australia.

The official launch was attended by representatives of Tourism and Events Queensland, the Queensland Department of Tourism and Visit Sunshine Coast who were among the first to experience the thrills of the SX360.

An exclusive ticketed event will be held tonight for 500 guests and, just in time for the school holidays, the ride will open to all guests from tomorrow morning at 10am.

To continue the celebrations, Aussie World will host a charity day on Sunday 20th June in partnership with Sunshine Coast radio station 92.7 MIX FM. For every ticket sold, $5 will be donated to Give Me 5 for Kids - raising money for sick children in the region.

Commenting on the addition of the new ride, Aussie World’s Shannon Fay stated “we are excited to be opening this much-anticipated adrenalin-fuelled ride for visitors and locals on the Sunshine Coast who are looking for a brand-new experience.

“As an Australian-first ride right here on the Sunshine Coast, the opening of the SX360 is such an exciting and hugely positive time for the park in what has been a difficult year for our local tourism industry.”

Aussie World has also revealed that construction is well underway on new spinning rollercoaster, to be known as the Dingo Racer.

Designed for all ages and will have a capacity of 960 people per hour, featuring seven cars, seating up to four people each, that simultaneously spins while moving around the track.

The rollercoaster car will reach a height of 14 metres before twisting and turning along the track reaching speeds of up to 72km/h.

Fay added “with so much more in the pipeline for Aussie World in the coming years this is just the beginning of our expansion and renewed focus on thrill rides for the older audience, as well as our family favourites.”

Image: Aussie World's new SX360 ride (top) and its soon-to-be-completed Dingo Racer.