I rode Luna Park's Wild Mouse rollercoaster - here's what it's like

Luna Park’s Wild Mouse rollercoaster is back in action after a two-year multi-million-dollar renovation.
I was one of the first to ride the Wild Mouse before it reopens to the public
The rollercoaster is one of the most iconic and oldest rides in Sydney.

Sydney’s iconic roller coaster, the Wild Mouse, is back in action after two years. Following a multi-million-dollar restoration, the heritage-listed ride will reopen to the public at Luna Park on Friday, March 14 2025.

The Sydney Travel Guide headed down to Luna Park to test it out the day before the coaster officially opens. Here are our thoughts:

How was the ride like?

As a rollercoaster enthusiast, I was very excited. The Wild Mouse is one of the most popular rides in Sydney, and its comeback has been highly-anticipated. It is also one of the oldest, having first been installed in 1963 (something I tried to keep out of my mind when climbing into the little red car).

The ride begins! As you wind round the timber track, you’re rewarded with an impressive view of Sydney Harbour. You’ll see white boats dotted under the iconic harbour bridge, and maybe even a green-and-yellow ferry as the Wild Mouse lures you into a false sense of security. You find yourself thinking that it’s all quite pleasant, before you’re suddenly thrown into a zig-zag motion across the top.

@sydneytravelguide Wild Mouse reopens at Luna Park tomorrow 🎢🐭 we scurried down this morning to get a sneak peek #lunapark #sydney #sydneytravelguide #rollercoaster @Luna Park Sydney ♬ Upbeat Energetic Indie Rock Pop Fun – SonicMusic

After the zig-zags, you’re catapulted into a series of steep drops, which gives you that notorious rollercoaster thrill, where your insides feel like they’re floating. I tried to throw my hands in the air, but ended up clinging to the rails for my in-action picture (see below).

All-in-all it is a fantastic ride. Thanks to Luna Park’s unbeatable location on the harbour, the ride is the perfect combination of incredible views and exhilarating fun.

Isabelle on the Wild Mouse — You can buy one of these action shots for $14.95

What makes the Wild Mouse unique?

The Wild Mouse was first installed at Luna Park in 1963. It’s been constantly evolving since, even being renamed the ‘Wild Cat’ in 1969, before going back to its preferred namesake in 1995. Thanks to this, the name ‘Wild Mouse’ has become nostalgic to fans of Luna Park.

The Wild Mouse is one of only three gravity-fed rollercoasters in the world, and is comprised of 400 metres of timber track, held up by timber jack towers. This gives the rollercoaster character, and reminds you of its cultural significance.

It is maintained through a Heritage Infrastructure Fund, which is funded from Luna Park Sydney revenues. The two-year renovation has refreshed the historic ride with the latest modern technology to keep the coaster fit for a new generation.

Black and white of girls riding rollercoaster — The ride first opened in 1963

What do the locals think?

When waiting to ride the Wild Mouse, I met locals Joan and Geoff, who have shared a boundary with Luna Park for over 32 years. Though many people might be put off by the noise and busyness of a theme park next door, Joan and Geoff are Luna Park’s biggest fans.

They said that a trip to Luna Park was guaranteed to be “a wonderful time”, and encouraged tourists to visit for the unparalleled views.

The husband and wife had the chance to ride the rollercoaster themselves, with Geoff saying that it was “Fantastic, but pretty scary for Joan.”

Joan remarked: “those sharp right-hand turns when you feel as if you’re about to be tipped into the harbour were scary” however she was thrilled that the ride was back in action, stating, “This ride restores the 1930s magic of Luna Park”.