Australia’s first mini excavator park, ‘Dig It‘, opened at ThunderBird Park this year. Located in the beautiful Tamborine Mountains in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, Thunderbird Park was already an amazing place to park your RV with the family for a few days…but this just tops it.
When I say Dig It at ThunderBird Park has ‘mini’ excavators, I’m not talking about toys here. I’m talking about real excavating machinery and construction activities where kids get to actually be in the driver’s seat. Adults can join in the fun too and you definitely don’t need any experience. You don’t even need a driver’s license. All you need is the willingness to give it a go!
This is where you get trained on using a 1.7-tonne excavator and get to dig around in the dirt.
Swing the wrecking ball and try to knock over the Dig It towers at ThunderBird Park with a bang. Why? Because it’s fun to knock things over, that’s why!
Here, you’ll get to stack and move around tyres with a massive claw attachment, using a 1.7-tonne excavator.
It’s remote control but better, because you get to control mini dozers, dump trucks, rear loaders and excavators just like a real work site. The remote control machines are a true 1:14 scale, fully hydraulic and weigh in at around 30+ kilograms. So basically, the RC’s at ThunderBird Park’s Dig It are way better than a K-Mart cheapy.
This all sounds dangerous, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, the kids won’t get to go full ‘Miley’ with the wrecking ball. There are, of course, rules, instruction and full supervision. Safety is a top priority, and all of ThunderBird Park’s Dig It operators are trained and experienced. Thunderbird Park provides all the necessary safety equipment and staff ensure that the activities are age-appropriate and suitable for all skill levels.
All sessions begin with a safety lesson in the “Site Safety Induction Zone” prior to getting your hands on the controls.
You definitely need to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Open every weekend and QLD school holidays from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; your ticket gets you into one of the two-hour sessions that are held four times a day.
Admission is $55 per participant. All ages can join in the Dig It fun at ThunderBird Park, but there are some rules to make it safe. Mini diggers (aged four and under) can still join in but will need to do so from the safety of their guardian’s laps (no charge for a guardian helper). Kids aged five years and over can operate the machinery themselves. Some may need a bit of extra help but they are still in the driver’s seat.
In addition to Dig It, you can also do these fun activities at Thunderbird Park:
Thunderbird Park is nestled along the boundary of Tamborine National Park. For those not in the know, the national park spans 112 hectares and is chock full of beautiful subtropical rainforest with lush palm groves and open eucalypt forests.
The caravan and camping sites are in a natural oasis where you can enjoy the crystal clear waters of the rock pools along Cedar Creek, which flows through the property. Dogs are permitted through the caravan and camping sites but must be kept on a lead and are not to be left unattended.
So in case you haven’t guessed already, Dig It isn’t the only awesome thing at ThunderBird Park!
Both powered and unpowered bush sites are available, with comfortable and modern amenity blocks, plus a communal camp kitchen. Off-peak rates range from $32 to $58 for two people, and peak rates range from $42 to $68. It is $10 per additional person, and children aged five years and under are free of charge.
If you’d like a break from roughing it, there are also glamping tents, rooms and lodges. Likewise, if you’re sick of cooking up a storm in your RV, visit the onsite ‘Rainforest Restaurant and Lounge Bar’ or the ‘Terrace Kiosk’.
