Overview
In Osaka and Hollywood, it's now possible to live out your wildest Super Mario Bros dreams, all thanks to Super Nintendo theme parks that look like the plumber-filled games come to life — and even include IRL Mario Kart. Without heading out of Australia, you can also slip into pop culture's favourite speedy vehicles, albeit just for a few days at 2023's Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
With The Super Mario Bros Movie about to hit cinemas, the flick has teamed up with the racing event to display a life-sized — and very real — Mario Kart in the F1's family zone. That area is named after the film, too, so setting up the only actual Mario Kart in the country was always going to be as pivotal as avoiding banana peels on any track. We believe that Mario said it best: let's go!
Mario Kart at the Grand Prix Albert Park Melbourne. Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
On display from Thursday, March 30–Sunday, April 2, ready for Mario Kart lovers to sit in and take snaps in aplenty, the vehicle does come with one big caveat: it doesn't race. So, you won't be putting pedal to the metal while you're in it. And no, there's no rainbow road to slide along. But everyone who has ever played the racing game in its many guises — on the many various Nintendo devices that the game has popped up on over the years, not to mention Google Maps, mobile phones and reality elsewhere — is well-versed at pretending.
The retro-fitted kart is for kidults and kids alike, and part of the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit's feast of family-friendly activities alongside a ferris wheel, bungee trampolines, Assistance Dogs Australia's puppy races and pooch belly rubs, and an AFL Auskick clinic. Live tunes, food trucks and screens showing the F1 action are also on offer within the precinct.
Mario Kart at the Grand Prix Albert Park Melbourne. Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
The Super Mario Bros Movie Family Zone is ticketed, and scoring a park pass is recommended as the best way to head along. If you choose to wear overalls, or don a red or green cap, that's entirely up to you
As for The Super Mario Bros Movie itself, it hits cinemas on Wednesday, April 5. Chris Pratt (The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special) voices the Italian plumber, Jack Black (Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) does the same with Bowser, while Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) plays Luigi — alongside Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu) as Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu), Seth Rogen (The Fabelmans) as Donkey Kong, Keegan- Michael Key (Wendell & Wild) as Toad, plus Fred Armisen (Wednesday) as Cranky Kong.
Check out the trailer for The Super Mario Bros Movie below:
Find the IRL Mario Kart at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, in The Super Mario Bros Movie Family Zone, from Thursday, March 30–Sunday, April 2.
Top image: © 2023 Nintendo and Universal Studios.