Australian travels the world reviewing roller coasters

0:00Well, as a kid, what did you dream your adult life would look like? I dreamt this. Oh, did you? Just this. All of you. Oh, I dreamt. The chances are you might have imagined something like Riley Thomas' reality. The Aussie content credit travels the world, writing and reviewing rollercoasters. That's it. That's what he does. People keep asking me, what's the scariest ride in Australia? It's definitely the giant drop. That's taller than Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty. Coming in at a total of 39 stories, hi. And is not only the tallest ride in the Southern Hemisphere, but also the fastest. Dropping you at sea. And people just cannot get enough becoming a favourite for both theme park enthusiasts and those who just rather watch, then ride. Riley joins us live from Brissy. Hello, Riley. Hello, how's it going? We are great. Take us back to the start. Where did this love of theme parks begin for you? Ah, take us back to like 2015. I went to a universal studio as Hollywood.

1:01And I remember going on the transports right there. That ride just blew me away going on the transports was right. And since then, I've just wanted to travel more. I've got on more rollercoasters on that same trip. I went to Big Bikes Magic Mountain, which is like an hour outside of LA there. This is rollercoaster there called X-Toot. And I pretty much goes along the rollercoaster and at the same time, you're doing the rollercoaster. It flips. And it just, it's just insane what they're doing over there. So yeah, that could be a football rollercoaster. Wow. Hey, what are the essential elements for an awesome roller coaster? Not a boring or ordinary one, but like a really good one. So I like this thing called an airtime hill. I'm not too sure if you guys know what that is, but pretty much it's when the rollercoaster lifts you out of the seat and it feels like you're floating there. That's also known as the least fun bit for me. Anyway, right. That's that's your favorite bit. Yeah, I do love that. It's it's just an insane, insane moment. That the rollercoaster goes one way and your body goes the other way and you just

2:02float in there. I just like that. Oh, yes, right. Are you like this VIP? Like when you turn up at Disneyland, does Mickey Mouse come and take your hand and walk you through? They all know you're coming. Not yet, but I will take that. So one of the some of the strangest experiences you've had right around the world, are all these different theme parks? Well, there's one right here in Australia actually. It's one green valley farm. It's in New South Wales and it's basically this theme park or adventure park, I guess, that's made out of steel welded together. That was very interesting. There was also this other one I went to in Germany where the rides all, they were all like self-operated. You sit down, you strap yourself in and then you press the button and then you go ride the ride. You strap yourself in. Yeah, it doesn't feel right. Have you ever felt scared? Back in the day for sure when you're growing up and going on these rides,

3:03but you kind of get used to them. What about all the times all these rollercoasters make other news for being, you know, they get stuck and whatever? Have you? I've still been a happy chat to the ride. I know, but that's just that. It's a safety if it stops is because it's being safe. Oh, he's good. Oh, you're good. That's true. Lauren, I will burst your rollercoasters with ridden quite a few in the name of entertainment for this show, but for beginners, what are your tips for making the most of your ride? Yeah, I would say the good thing about theme park is there's levels, so you can start on like the smaller rollercoasters and work your way up to the bigger thrilling ones. That's the good thing about theme parks is they're not all thrilling. They have rides for all, you know, families, you know, younger kids. So you can start on the smaller ones, work your way up and get to the big, crazy ones. So, you know, Carly and I went on the teacup ride. No, you didn't even go. I went on the teacup. You know the little teacup that spins around, the Disneyland.

4:04Carly wouldn't even go on that. I mean, it might make you dizzy, sir. No, it states the centrifugal force thing. Oh, the centrifugal force thing. You know, I don't mind this, but this. Oh, yeah. 14 teacillas, another four of it anyway. How many rollercoasters are all rides? Like, is theme park rides have you been on? I'm not sure about rides, but rollercoasters. Yeah. I'm up to about 430 odd. Oh, wow. Okay. Tell us that little wheel of fortune behind you that you're riding all the theme parks and you spin it, you decide where you're going next. Oh, yeah, so sometimes I'll travel to a country and have nothing booked. I just pretty much go to the country, put theme parks on that wheel right there, and spin it. And what I'm running up to, I don't need to do that. How you have to come in and see us one day in here live, because some say that the Morning Show couch is the scariest ride of the ball night. We'll see you. Sounds good. Thanks, Rowley. Now, just ahead we'll look back at the time you and I took on the biggest and fastest rollercoaster.

5:04This was Disneyland in California.