Luna Park is the name of the original
amusement parks in the
Australian cities of
Sydney and
Melbourne.
The Melbourne Luna Park is in the bayside suburb of St Kilda, home of the city's red light district, and spiritual home of a lion's share of great Aussie rock bands. The Big Dipper is a grand old wooden rollercoaster that affords the rider a fantastic view of the Port Phillip Bay. The park is old and quaint in a turn of the century kind of way.
The Sydney Luna Park occupies some of the most valuable waterfront land imaginable, a literal stone's throw from the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the suburb of Milsons Point. As quaint as Melbourne's park is, Sydney's is flash and shiny and, typical for Sydney, is mired in corruption and controversy (favoured local hobbies). The Big Dipper here was hightech alloy and has recently been removed due to local complaints over the noise of people having fun.