Many customers have been visiting the Park since then and are now bringing their children and grandchildren. There are activities to suit all ages and ability levels.

The most popular things to do include the 1 km Toboggan Track, Indoor Rock-Climbing, 'Hot' IceSkating, Mini Golf, Tractor Train ride & Giant Maze. Combined together, these attractions offer great all weather fun for all the family.

Tobogganing is suitable for all the family as each toboggan is equipped with brakes so that you control the speed of descent, from slow to thrilling. Children under 8 years will need to double up with adult, otherwise you literally are flying solo.

The toboggans themselves are made in Germany, as is the track that was brought in and customised to fit the space. The track winds down through 11 bends before you catch your breath at the bottom.

You can take the scenic ride and go as slow as you like through the trees and Gymea lilies, or you can test your nerve and balance and pick up speed.

There are also a number of other all weather activities available to suit all ages; like SplashDown, Paster Model Painting, arcade games and remote controlled vehicles.

Pack a picnic or grab a tasty snack from the kiosk and enjoy a great day out of family fun and excitement.

The 30th Birthday celebrations will kick off at 10am on December 24. Santa will be visiting the Park  with goodies for the kids, including toboggan rides, activity vouchers, lucky dips, fairy floss, balloons and more. 

There’s also savings to be made with $30 discount on family passes for those readers who take along the advert from today’s edition of the Port Stephens Examiner to the park. This offer is for December 24 only.

Toboggan Hill Park is open 10am to 4.30pm throughout the school holidays and is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Prices vary. Individual passes start from $25; family passes start from $90. Toboggan Hill Park is located at 16 Aquatic Close, Nelson Bay.

For more information call 49 84 1022 or contact via email: toboggan@tobogganhillpark.com or visit www.tobogganhillpark.com.

Planning for the park started in 1981 when the German manufacturer of the Toboggan system visited Rob Caldwell at Ginninderra Falls Park, Canberra – a Nature Park which Rob founded in 1979.

In 1983, Rob, together with his brother John, began to search for a suitable site for the venture.

In 1985, Rob and John were invited by Port Stephens Council to consider three possible sites on Council managed Crown Land on the Tomaree Peninsula.

Sites near Fingal Bay, Government Road Corlette, Lot 363 Gan Gan Road, and the Nelson Bay Sports Grounds were assessed for terrain suitability for the Toboggan Run.

The Sports Grounds site was assessed as the most suitable.

Council’s Solicitors advised that as part of the land was a Reserve for Public Recreation under management of Port Stephens Council, it could not be used for a private profit making purpose.

Council agreed to relinquish the relevant part of the Reserve, back to the Department of Lands such that a lease could be established entirely on Crown Land.

The site, which included the new allotment created by the relinquishment, Lot 470, and the allotment created by the lease over the Crown Land, Lot 510 was leased to Eco-Trac Pty. Limited under Special Lease 1986/7

This process was completed in September 1987, with the offer of the site on which the park is today.

Construction began on November 11, 1987.

The Toboggan Hill Park opened to the first visitors on Boxing Day in 1987. 

Today the park employs 50 staff, many of which are casuals who join the team from local schools, they continue to welcome some of those same families and their children and grandchildren to its facilities.