Rainbow's End

Rainbow's End opened in 1982 and remains the only theme park in the country with a full set of thrill rides. The signature is the Corkscrew Coaster, a triple-loop steel coaster that has run since 1983; there is also a log flume, a pirate ship, a stratosphere fear-fall, a water-based rapid ride and a large children's area called Kidz Kingdom. The scale is the thing to be clear about: it is roughly a dozen major rides on a compact site, not a Disney or Six Flags. New Zealanders grow up with it and remember it fondly; overseas visitors used to large parks generally find it small. A day pass covers unlimited rides and most people are finished in four to five hours. Height restrictions apply on the bigger rides, so check before promising anything to a small child.

What you actually see

• The Corkscrew Coaster - running since 1983, the park's signature.
• The log flume and rapid ride - the water rides, popular in summer.
• The Stratosfear - the drop tower.
• Kidz Kingdom - the separate area for younger children.

When to go

October to April, when the water rides are worth it. School holidays and weekends are the busiest. Rides close in high wind and lightning.

Honest expectations

Small by international standards - about a dozen major rides, four to five hours. Queues in the holidays are long relative to the size. Height limits exclude smaller children from most thrill rides.

Nearby

Manukau and the Botanic Gardens are close; central Auckland is north.