South-east Queensland has three new theme park concepts in the pipeline as tourist numbers to the south-east corner of the state swell by an average of 8 per cent in 2015-16.
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Plus, in Brisbane there is a $15 million shake-up of Brisbane's Mt Cootha Park, including a new tourist information centre at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, with better-planned bushwalks and a future "zipline" through the bush by 2020.
Part of that could be improvements to a short Mt Coot-tha walk to the remains of a real 1940s Ghost Hole gold mine in the Mt Coot-tha bushland, that is not promoted, but is well sign-posted.
On the Gold Coast, Chinese leisure tourism company Songcheng Performance on Thursday revealed full plans for its $600 million "Australian Legends World" theme park at Nerang.
The concept includes guests entering the proposed theme park at Nerang through a cave in a mock-up of Uluru, before finding themselves in mixed replica zones including a "gold rush" area, a replica of Captain James Cook HMS Endeavour, or an aboriginal camp, then a Chinese community.
The Songcheng Group is also planning a ferry connection to run down the Nerang River with stops at Metricon Stadium and Surfers' Paradise.
Work could begin next year and finish after the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
On the Sunshine Coast, Aussie World – home of the old Ettamoggah Pub on the Bruce Highway - announced major expansion plans on Wednesday for new rides, new attractions and modern facilities.
Aussie World at Palmview is replacing its its old Ettamoggah Pub identity, as part of its new "Downunder Drive" vision to draw in younger, new audiences to new rides.
Lindsay Cooper, who designed the original Ettamogah Pub agrees it is time for a re-shaping of Aussie World's Ettamoggah Pub feel.
"I'm 67 years old and only people of my generation would really understand what the Ettamogah Pub was all about," he said.
"The young ones growing up today wouldn't have a clue and they think it's just a weird-looking pub sitting out on the highway.
"Aussie World, as it stands now, has well and truly surpassed the attraction of the Ettamogah Pub, way more than people give it credit for," Mr Cooper said.
Eight new rides have been added since 2011 and the family owners now want to make more use of the full 22 hectare site.
The first of the new rides – the Bombora Bounce, Drop and Twist Tower - opens in mid-December.
Also on the Sunshine Coast very, very preliminary concepts for a watersports and adventure-park theme park on Steve Irwin Way, about 10 kilometres on the Brisbane side of Australia Zoo are emerging.
Sunshine Coast man Brad Sutherland, his brother Greg and friend David Baird have spoken to Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson and this week with Tourism Minister Kate Jones about their long-term vision for an adventure-based outdoor lifestyle theme park.
Their concept is an offshoot of the Dubai-based investment group, Najibi.
Their early vision includes kayaking, bungee jumping, net climbing, flyboarding, Segways and electric skateboard hire, zorbing, ziplines and stand-up paddle boarding.
They received preliminary approval in April 2015 for the concept on the property on Steve Irwin Way and recently lodged a more detailed application with Sunshine Coast Council, which is being evaluated.
Back in Brisbane, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announced a new $3.4 million Visitor Information Centre for the 55 hectare Mt Coo-tha Botanical Gardens as the first part of $15 million to be spent on Mt Coot-tha Parklands over the next four years.
It attracts 700,000 visitors a year.
The larger new Tourist Information Centre at Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens will be open in mid-2017 and have information about the gardens, the Mt Coot-tha Lookout and the walks around Mt Coot-tha.
Seven proposals have been received for a future "zipline-styled flying fox"to run downhill along a fire break at a location in Mt Coot-tha Parklands yet to be chosen by Brisbane City Council, he said.
Brisbane's Parks and Environment committee chairman Cr David McLachlan said the $15 million would be spent on the new tourist information centre, upgrades to JC Slaughter Falls and the Simpsons Falls picnic areas.
"And on upgrades to the walking tracks that we've got," Cr McLachlan said.
"We are looking to improve people's experience of the forest that we have," he said.
Hong Kong visitor Horace Ko said the Trip Advisor website recommended visitors to Brisbane come to the Mt Coot-tha Lookout, but said the Mt Coot-tha walks were also mentioned.
"These walks are just a few hundred metres down the road from the car park," Mr Ko said.
"So it easy enough to find them, especially on the internet and with information from the hotels."
And that is on top of the forced revamp of Dreamworld after the tragic four deaths in October in a freak accident on the now-demolished Thunder Rapids ride.
Dreamworld re-opens December 10.
