Abyss is a steel roller coaster at Adventure World in Bibra Lake, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Opened on 1 November 2013, the custom Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter cost A$12 million — the single biggest investment in the park’s history — and brought a beyond-vertical drop to Australia’s west coast.
Dressed in black track and steeped in dark theming, Abyss drops riders 30.5 metres at 100 degrees, then throws them through three inversions at up to 4.5 times the force of gravity.
Key Stats
| Height | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Drop | 30.5 m (100 ft) |
| Speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) |
| Length | 630 m (2,070 ft) |
| First drop angle | 100° |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Max g-force | 4.5 |
| Duration | about 2 minutes |
| Manufacturer / model | Gerstlauer / Euro-Fighter (custom) |
| Opened | 1 November 2013 |
Guardians of the Abyss
Adventure World wrapped the ride in an original dark-fantasy story. The queue and grounds are watched over by dozens of sculpted druid “guardian” statues — around 30 of them, standing three metres tall — that set an ominous tone before riders ever reach the station. Gerstlauer crews erected the coaster itself in just seven weeks after construction began in mid-2013.
The Ride Experience
Abyss starts with a vertical chain lift to 30 metres, tips past the edge and dives 30.5 metres at 100 degrees — steeper than straight down. From there the black track hits 85 km/h and runs through three inversions, including an Immelmann, a dive loop and an inline twist, pulling up to 4.5 g along the way.
That 100-degree plunge puts Abyss in rare company among the steepest roller coaster drops in the world, and its 4.5 g maximum holds its own against the highest g-force roller coasters anywhere.
A Landmark for Australian Coasters
When it opened, Abyss was hailed by Australian enthusiasts as a bar-raiser for the country’s coaster scene — one Australian Coaster Club member rated it above Superman Escape on the Gold Coast. More than a decade later it remains the signature thrill ride of Western Australia and the anchor of Adventure World’s ride lineup.
FAQ
How tall and how fast is Abyss?
Abyss stands 30 metres (98 feet) tall with a 30.5-metre (100-foot) first drop, and reaches a top speed of 85 km/h (53 mph).
How steep is the drop on Abyss?
The first drop is angled at 100 degrees — ten degrees beyond vertical — so riders are briefly tilted under themselves on the way down.
When did Abyss open and how much did it cost?
Abyss opened at Adventure World on 1 November 2013. At A$12 million, it was the largest single investment the Perth park had ever made.
Photo: Martin Lewison via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)