Merlin Entertainments Announces Sale

Merlin Entertainments announces sale of iconic Australian attractions: Illawarra Fly & Otway Fly

Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in branded entertainment destinations, is offering two of its iconic Australian assets - Otway Fly in Victoria and Illawarra Fly in New South Wales - for sale. This decision is part of Merlin’s global strategy to focus on building out clusters of attractions in key cities.

In line with this strategy, the two rainforest attractions are now available for acquisition as freehold properties with vacant possession or as a going concern, offering a rare and unique investment opportunity for potential buyers.

Ian Wood, Divisional Director, Merlin Entertainments ANZ, said, “While listing the sites of Illawarra Fly in NSW and the Otway Fly in Victoria was a difficult decision, it aligns with Merlin’s global strategy of focusing on the growth of the city clusters. Within Australia this includes Sydney and Melbourne.”

Wood continued, “Both attractions will continue to operate as business as usual until the completion of the sale, or the direction of the new owner is confirmed. We are extremely proud of the positive impact these sites have had on thousands of local and international guests over the years. We want to thank our dedicated teams who have created magical memories for over 21 years at Otway Fly and 16 years at Illawarra Fly."

Both Otway Fly and Illawarra Fly are renowned for their immersive treetop walk and zipline experiences. Situated in the scenic Otway Ranges and Southern Highlands, respectively, these attractions have been meticulously maintained and boast significant land holdings—approximately 81 hectares for Otway Fly and 13 hectares for Illawarra Fly. Located just 2.5 hours from Melbourne and 2 hours from Sydney, these attractions remain easily accessible and popular with both domestic and international visitors.

“These assets are well-positioned to continue as successful tourism operations, but they also offer extraordinary potential for private buyers or educational organisations,” said Lachlan Castran, who, along with John Castran, is managing the sale. “The versatility and prime locations of these properties, combined with their substantial infrastructure, make them a rare investment opportunity,” added John Castran.

Key Features of the Attractions

  • Otway Fly: Features a 600-meter treetop walk elevated 25 meters above the forest floor, with a spiral tower reaching 47 meters that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding rainforest. The zipline experience includes nine cloud stations and six ziplines.
  • Illawarra Fly: Offers a 500-meter treetop walk with a 45-meter tower and a zipline experience featuring four cloud stations and three ziplines.

Both attractions are equipped with extensive visitor facilities, including cafés, large car parks, and retail outlets, providing a complete guest experience.

Strong Visitor Numbers and Growth Potential

Collectively, the Flys welcome over 100,000 visitors annually. With the Great Ocean Road region in Victoria seeing 5.4 million visitors annually, and the South Coast of NSW attracting 12.3 million visitors, the potential for further growth and investment is significant.

For Sale Enquiries

To enquire more about the sale of Illawarra & Otway Fly please contact: 

For Interview Opportunities

For media enquiries, please contact: 

Rachel Anker - Rachel.Anker@merlinentertainments.com.au

FAQS

Yes, Illawarra Fly is still open and operating as usual. We look forward to seeing you this weekend, you can still make your booking below. 

BOOK HERE

  • As the sale process could take several months, we will continue operating as business as usual and you can reschedule your booking. Please note that any reschedule fees attached to the booking still apply. 
  • If the sale goes through 6 months (or more) before the expiry date of your reschedule booking, we will honour a refund. Please contact below for more information. 

CONTACT HERE

We are committed to keeping our guests informed, we will provide key updates to our guests as much as possible. 

  • As the sale process could take months, we will continue operating as business as usual, we encourage guests to utilise their Gift Vouchers for the respective attractions. 
  • Please note that any Gift Vouchers that were part of a a donation will NOT be refunded as they can't be exchanged for any cash value. 
  • If the sale goes through 6 months (or more) before the expiry date of your Gift Voucher, we will honour a refund. 

  • As the sale process could take several months, we will continue operating as business as usual and you can continue to enjoy all the benefits of the My Fly Pass.
  • If the sale goes through six months (or more) before the expiry date of your My Fly Pass, we will honour a refund.

  • As the sale process could take several months, we will continue operating as business as usual and you can continue to enjoy all the benefits of the Merlin Annual Pass.
  • With a Merlin Annual Pass (MAP), you can dive into an adventure at one of our four SEA LIFE Aquariums, discover the Aussie Big 5 at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, let your imagination come alive at Madame Tussauds Sydney, enjoy breathtaking views from Sydney Tower Eye, create, play and learn at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre

At this stage, either scenario is possible; it will be dependent on the buyer/s

Both attractions will continue to operate as business as usual until the completion of the sale, or the direction of the new owner is confirmed.

  • If we sell the land with the attractions, the new buyer will have the option to continue to operate the attractions.
  • If we sell the land alone, then unfortunately, the attractions will no longer operate.

  • The only two sites involved are Illawarra Fly and Otway Fly. No other attractions within the ANZ region are part of this sale process.
  • While the sale of the land of Illawarra Fly and Otway Fly will allow us to focus more on the growth opportunities of our mega gateway cluster in Sydney and domestic growth cluster in Melbourne, it will also allow us to focus on all our iconic SEA LIFE attractions as they are key to the future growth of Merlin’s global strategy.

You can visit: castrancom.au for the live listing and more information

Or can contact our onsite team at info@illawarrafly.com

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