Luna Park Sydney

Compared to other amusement parks, Luna Park Sydney is a rarity! It's a 1930's Boardwalk-styled theme park located in the Sydney harborside suburb of Milson's Point.  

The iconic entranceway, which features a 30-foot broad fantasy face with an enormous mouth set between two tall towers, is the handiwork of Robert Barton, the artist-in-resident in 1935. The idea was to pattern it after the fantasy character from the British nursery rhyme, Old King Cole, the merry old soul.   

The park features Art Deco-style architecture, which was at its height in the 1930s. This style featured buildings designed with geometric shapes and mismatched colors.  

Entranceway to Luna Park Sydney taken 2018

The number of Luna Parks that exist in the world today are in the double digits; most of them are small-scale and based on the first Luna Park, which opened in Coney Island, New York, in 1903.

American entrepreneurs brought the idea to Australia and opened the first parks in the cities of Melbourne and Adelaide before Luna Park-Sydney opened in 1935.

Even after changing hands and altering The Face many times, Luna Park-Sydney has maintained its vintage style and Coney Island connection throughout its 86-year history.

  

Today the park in Sydney is owned by an agency of the New South Wales government and protected by legislation. 

Luna Park, Coney Island, New York 1903

Because the park is in the middle of a residential community alongside the harbor, it is accessible by land or water.  

The neighborhood makes an interesting backdrop, and the blue water is striking against The park's vivid carnival colors. 

Luna Park Sydney's Ferry Station at Milson's Point

Visitors should be prepared to take in the whole park experience for an exciting time, including rides, attractions, arcades, and food! It's a family park, and many of the rides are simple, like those you might find back in the day.  

The park is not gated - which is terrific. Anyone can check it out. Pay-per-ride tickets are available along with day passes. For someone like me with no interest in riding, a single ticket is sufficient.  I've never been a fan of amusement park rides!

Ticket Booth at Luna Park Sydney

A relatively small park in comparison to most US theme parks, Luna Park-Sydney's lot size is 3 acres, and its 2,000 feet long.  The maximum guest allowance is 3,000. 

Compare this to Six Flags in the US, where lots average 260 acres and can accommodate 54,000 guests.  

Luna Park-Sydney's slogan is "Just For Fun", and how can you not amuse yourself at a cheeky amusement park from the 1930s.  

The backside of the entranceway, directly behind the Face

The Midway is the park's main artery and runs almost the length of the park.  Following it will take you to all the rides and activities.

The beginning of the Midway 

The center of the Midway

The park is bursting with energy! It's quite a spectacle to see noisy costumed mascots and clowns parade around while street dancers entertain children with live singing and choreographed routines. Not unique, but fun! 

Parades every hour

Park singers perform live!

There are plenty of sideshow games to enjoy if they don't creep you out. The exaggerated faces and largemouths on the Crazy Crooners and Knockem challenge games are a bit much but add to the park's vintage carnival flair.

One of many sideshows

Crazy Crooners

Knockems

Painted clowns are on the sides of buildings, and large cardboard cut-outs of them are everywhere and anywhere. There are even clown games, clown murals, and clown rubbish containers throughout the park! 

Clowns have gotten a bad rap in America - thanks to Stephen King and the evil clown archetypes, but at Luna Park-Sydney, the clowns are very entertaining! 

 

The park has a variety of rides, many like the ones you would find in a traveling fair.  While I won't post about the 23 operating in the park that day, I do want to mention a few. 

The Rotor, which seems to defy gravity, literally leaves you hanging in mid-air pressed against a wall. It was installed in 1951 but was destroyed in the late 80s and reconstructed in the 90s. An observation deck is inside the ride for folks who do not want to be spun around themselves but want to see others pressed against the walls when the floor drops!  I would definitely be one to watch.  

The ride is close to the front entranceway and one I'd recommend going on before you eat.  

The B&B carousel, which is my speed, plays carnival music and has a classic American design. Situated close to the park's entrance, it's a great meet-up place before or after a day at the park. Now, this is my idea of fun!

Luna Park Sydney's carousel

 

Ferris wheels are usually well-liked by most at amusement parks because of their heights and how they provide riders with panoramic views of the surrounding areas. The one at Luna Park-Sydney does not disappoint! 

Once at the top, you are in eyeshot of two of Sydney's most famous landmarks: the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. 

Ferris wheel at Luna Park Sydney

The bumper cars at Luna Park Sydney are in a structure that is enclosed on three sides and open in the front, called Dodgem City. Although there are cheerful pictures on the walls and lights, the layout reminds me of an underground parking lot. 

I'm used to walking around the outside of the ride to get glimpses of my family's reckless driving, but there was only one good vantage point, from what I could see, and everyone wanted it. Being the American I am, I fought for a view!

Found them!  My son-in-law and grandson on the bumper cars 

Since this post is about amusement parks, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the classic Wild Mouse wooden roller coaster, which soars as high as fifty feet and runs for sixty-one seconds.

With my fear of heights, speed, and turns, even a minute is too long for me!

The Wild Mouse - 2018

As part of a 30 million investment, Luna Park-Sydney has just this year replaced a few of the older rides with newer ones, making room for nine new rides, including a sleek new inline coaster with loops called The Big Dipper (pictured below). It is the park's most significant upgrade since 2004.  More to come about the new additions in a later post.  

New 2021 recent additions to the park

There is a kiddy ride section with a few simple rides for small children at the end of the park, called Maloney's Corner, after a long-time park employee, Tom Maloney. It's a perfect location where parents can take their kids to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Midway.

A fantasy face and clown point the way to the kiddy rides

Maloney's Corner entranceway

For those who don't like to ride, there is Coney Island - Funnyland, the last funhouse of its kind in the world! The architecture design of the building is consistent with the park's 1930's Art Deco style, which classes up the carnival environment.  

Everything about the funhouse is busy! The artwork covering the walls showcases old school Aussie humor, and pop culture memorabilia is scattered throughout. While there are no electric rides inside, there are giant slides, a mirror map, a joy wheel, rotating barrels, vintage pinball machines, and other wacky devices for amusement. 

Luna Park-Sydney is genuinely an old-school amusement park with a Coney Island feel that will have you reminiscing about American pop culture for the duration of your visit.

Entranceway to Coney Island Funny Land

Popeye the Sailor Man

Giant slide inside the funhouse

Funhouse activities

There are two large venues: the Crystal Palace's large dance floors are perfect for large social functions, such as weddings. For those interested in getting married at a carnival, it seats between 50-300 guests. 

On the other hand, this location is perfect for the Big Top, a venue that hosts concerts throughout the year and can accommodate 2,000 seated or 3,000 standing.  

Luna Park Sydney's Big Top Entranceway

Although I didn't see any funnel cake, most deep-fried and sugar-laden junk food options are available for takeaway at park kiosks, such as french fries (chips), snow cones, and cotton candy, which Aussies call "fairy floss".   

Cotton Candy

If you want to sit to eat, there are plenty of restaurants that offer dine-in services and healthier options, like Helter Skelter Cafe & The Hungry Horse, which have American-inspired menus, and The Deck, a contemporary Aussie-style restaurant & bar that is open to people not attending the amusement park.  

Because of its proximity to the harbor, the Deck is worth checking out regardless of whether you are interested in the park.   

Popular Aussie spot

In my opinion, the Luna Park-Sydney gift shop, and my last stop, is a real jewel. It's full of colorful themed merchandise and old-fashioned novelties that will not only catch your attention but keep you browsing for a while. 

It's crazy how being inside the gift shop brought on a sense of nostalgia for an era that existed even before I was born.

Everything about it made me think about what it may have been like during the golden age of Hollywood.  

Coffee Mugs

Snake oil salesman, I bet

Trinkets from the Past

Not sure where you would wear this

Propeller Beanies- Yes!

When it comes down to it, Luna Park-Sydney is just an amusement park, after all. 

You can experience the same thrills, smells, sights, and screams at any theme park, but what makes this one different is its throw-back attractions and vintage appeal.  

For me, it was a mental trip back in time. To embrace the moment, I purchased an endearing symbol of my visit . . . "Just for Fun!"

Me in my propeller beanie

Countless clowns   . . .

 

Tripping about time . . .

Caught wearing a propeller hat  . . .  

I am NOT in Kansas!