A AUS$6m (£2.4m, US$4.7m, 3.6m euro), five-storey walk-through haunted house attraction is scheduled to open late next year in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.

Dracula’s Haunted House is being funded and developed by the Newman family – which already operates the Dracula’s Caberet restaurants in Melbourne and the Gold Coast – and has been designed by Gary Grieve, from Nerang-based Design Imagery.

The 500sq m (5,381sq ft) attraction will feature optical illusions, 4D cinema, interactive exhibits and a museum. The Haunted House is targeted at families with children aged seven and up, and there are optional ‘dare doors’ for teenagers and adults.

The theme of the house is a parody of the tourist icons of Surfers Paradise, including zombie Meter Maids and a lifeguard being eaten by sharks.

Mark Newman, project director, said: “It’s the hybrid of comedy and horror that sets this apart from any other walk-through attraction in the country.”

When asked why Surfers Paradise was chosen as the location, Newman said: “Surfers Paradise has huge untapped market in need of more quality visitor attractions and we fully intend to fill that niche.”