Rainbows End’s iconic log flume to receive $1.5 million makeover

After nearly 40 years of thrills and spills, the iconic Rainbows End log flume is getting a $1.5 million renovation.

The ride will close for four weeks, beginning this week, while infrastructure is built to host three stages of upgrades over the next 18 months.

The ride, which opened in 1984, has been a hit for families since its creation and is the most popular ride in the park, says marketing and business development manager Susan Mudie.

“Many of our guests enjoyed the log flume as one of their first theme-park rides and [can] now look forward to sharing this experience with their children and grandchildren,” she said.

The flume has had regular scheduled maintenance and theming changes, but it is the first time in many years a project of this scale has been undertaken on the ride.

Some of the changes to the ride will include new characters such as dragons, unicorns and talking trees who will guide guests through the enchanted forest.

There will also be the addition of a fairy garden at the ride exit, which will be the venue of a meet and greet with a popular park character.

The three-stage renovation will be carried out by Rainbows End’s in-house builders, artists and landscape architects, all of whom are trade-certified.

As part of the renovations, the park will be closed from Tuesday to Thursday in terms two and three of the school year to allow for maintenance in preparation for a busy summer season.

Rainbows End opened in Manukau in 1982 on the site of a former skate park, with a council agreement committing $3million every three years for new rides and attractions.

The last significant changes to the park were the removal of its iconic pirate ship in 2017, and the addition of the Spectra 4D Dark ride last year.

“We are incredibly proud of our park and excited to bring more magical moments to our guests,” says Ms Mudie.

More information on closures can be found on the Rainbows End website or Facebook page.