Hong Kong’s homegrown theme park, Ocean Park, just launched the first-ever attraction themed on South Australia – Adventures in Australia. Presented by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), guests can now visit the new exhibit to learn more about the animals unique to South Australia, and this includes southern koalas, red-necked wallabies and laughing kookaburras.
To enter Adventures in Australia, guests can go through the Great Entertainment Theatre in Old Hong Kong under the pretext of viewing a movie entitled Adventures in Australia. At the foyer, guests will learn about the natural heritage of South Australia, and after they proceed past a film corridor, they will arrive in an open exhibit space modelled on the South Australian outback for a visual and full sensory encounter with the animals.
The exhibit is climate-controlled to match the temperature and humidity during the different seasons in South Australia, and it is illuminated by a combination of natural plus LED lights to simulate the hours of the day. The attraction also features extensive use of recycled timber and a wide variety of environmentally friendly materials, equipments and designs.
With regards to the Koala Naming Campaign, the name Yani garnered 62% of the votes, while Tindo and Makko finished at 27% and 11% respectively. The winning name has been given to a female koala which features a heart-shaped face, grey-spotted nose and white fur below her right eye. The other two koalas living in the attraction are retaining the names they were given at birth. The male koala with a darker coat of fur is named Dougie, while the female koala with a round face is named Merinda.
Adventures in Australia is also home to three red-necked wallabies, including one male and two females, and four laughing kookaburras, comprising of one male and three females. Named for the reddish fur on their napes and shoulders, red-necked wallabies are known for their hopping skills. As the name suggests, laughing kookaburras make sounds that resemble a human chuckle. Five more koalas, also gifted by the Government of South Australia, will eventually relocate to Hong Kong to join the other animals.
The new attraction features engaging interactive panels and games, showcasing the natural landscapes and rich biodiversity of South Australia. It also presents the threats koalas face and how humans can help by reducing the use of wood products. Guests can support conservation by donating to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) by cash or Octopus Card inside the exhibit.
Before guests exit the attraction, they can learn about common environmental challenges faced by Hong Kong and South Australia, and explore eco-tourism destinations in South Australia.
Ocean Park also signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of South Australia and Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, South Australia, to undertake collaborative projects within the fields of conservation and tourism research as well as education and public engagement.
The newly opened Adventures in Australia is one of the highlights of this year’s Animal Discovery Fest which runs from 28 March to 3 May. For more information on Adventures in Australia, kindly visit Ocean Park’s official website.
