Luge opens at Silverdale
by Angela Beswick
Silverdale Luge has finally opened, and just in time for the school holidays.
Located between Snowplanet and the Silverdale indoor go-cart and outdoor bumper-boat centre at Action Raceway, the park boasts three luge tracks, each are four metres wide and vary from 1km to 1.5km long.
The tracks twist and turn under and over each other, with bridges and sharp corners. Speeds on the track vary from a slow scenic pace to a top speed of 40 km/h.
The luge was originally planned as a $2 million project, but high infrastructure costs saw it open at $10 million.
Auckland Luge company director Andrew Donnithorne, told the Rodney Times that they’re not unhappy about the increased costs, as Silverdale Luge is expected to draw in visitors from all over, to what will be a world-class entertainment facility.
The complex will include a café and an 18 hole golf course, which will generate at least 80 jobs.
“At first there’ll be 20 new jobs, but eventually there’ll be at least 80,” Mr Donnithorne told the Times.
“We have 15 hectares of land here, with the luge using only five, and we’ll eventually be making good use of the rest.”
Further plans for the park include an indoor entertainment area with video games, V8 super car that visitors can simulate driving using X-box technology.
The trip to Silverdale Luge from Auckland CBD takes approximately 20 minutes, and it certainly looks like it will be well worth the trip!