It's Hot - Indoor Play Centres between Woodend/Bendigo and Woodend/Melbourne

[fionas]

So the hot days are starting!

We have no aircon here and our house gets very hot because of crappy insulation.

So my general plan over summer is to take the girls to indoor play centres in the arvo when we get a scorcher.

Finding them via a google search is frustrating - some are old listings and no longer open, some have been listed as a play centre even though they're a childcare centre.

So I'm turning to trusty BB instead.

There's a small one in Kyneton that we've been to but it's a bit meh. We've been to one in Wallan which is great.

Other than that, there's meant to be one in Castlemaine but I couldn't see it when we did a drive past the other day. Same with one in Sunbury.

So where d'you go to. We're happy to drive about an hour in any direction but I don't like driving in Melbourne traffic so would only go to the edge of Melbourne.

[shan23]

I live in Bendigo, if thats not too far we have a "fun factory" here. It has a cafe in it, a jumping castle, ball pit, a giant climbing thing along the back wall and a bunch of cars to ride around. We go there regularly with our mothers group, let the kids run free and we sit and chat lol. It has a website, google Bendigo Fun Factory. HTH

[fionas]

thanks shan - I'll definitely try that one out.

[Three Graces]

yeah, I know what you mean about the one in Kyneton, as we live near there. I'm not sure about other indoor play centres. There is the cafe called Ethic in Woodend, which has a small play area for kids and hopefully has air con (?) I'm not sure if there is anything in Gisborne - unless you're up for going to the pool - probably hard on your own with two kids? I've been to an indoor play area in Sunbury, but it's kinda co-located with an indoor cricket place. Half of it's kids set up and half is indoor cricket/nets. I can't remember the name, but can get onto a friend who took me there, to find out.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I'm near Wallan & we like that one
With notice some BB ladies could meet you.

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

why don't you invest in one of those aircon fans?

[fionas]

yeah, I know what you mean about the one in Kyneton, as we live near there. I'm not sure about other indoor play centres. There is the cafe called Ethic in Woodend, which has a small play area for kids and hopefully has air con (?) I'm not sure if there is anything in Gisborne - unless you're up for going to the pool - probably hard on your own with two kids? I've been to an indoor play area in Sunbury, but it's kinda co-located with an indoor cricket place. Half of it's kids set up and half is indoor cricket/nets. I can't remember the name, but can get onto a friend who took me there, to find out.

I don't mind having the two of them once we're IN the pool, it's the faffing about getting undressed/dressed that does my head in a bit but I should try it again. Yep, Ethic is great but really only good for a coffee not for an all arvo escape. I think that Sunbury one might be the one I tried to find - think I saw signage with indoor cricket and thought I must have wrong place.

I'm near Wallan & we like that one
With notice some BB ladies could meet you.

No worries, ZF - I'll post when we're heading up there and if anyone's free, that would be great.

why don't you invest in one of those aircon fans?

Yeah, we might get aircon at some point but really only solves half the problem. Still need to find something for the kids to do that will burn off all their energy. We're really not stay at home all day sort of people. Did that yesterday apart from a quick (for us) half-hour trip to the playground and they didn't go to sleep till 10pm. They're used to being active so I need somewhere they can run around like idiots for a few hours.

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

Yeah, we might get aircon at some point but really only solves half the problem. Still need to find something for the kids to do that will burn off all their energy. We're really not stay at home all day sort of people. Did that yesterday apart from a quick (for us) half-hour trip to the playground and they didn't go to sleep till 10pm. They're used to being active so I need somewhere they can run around like idiots for a few hours.

ahh ok . my mum picked one up from homeart for about $100, she said it works really well. she has aircon, but hates turning it on. (she saves power as much as she can )

[~me~]

Tumbles in Williamstown is great. Was just there today with feeb.
Play Hut in Altona (part of the Westgate indoor sports centre). This one you take your own food and drinks. It's for kids under 6yrs old only. It was a favourite with my kids.
Monkey Mania in Footscray is also supposed to be great.

[feeb]

Tumbles in Williamstown is great. Was just there today with feeb.
Play Hut in Altona (part of the Westgate indoor sports centre). This one you take your own food and drinks. It's for kids under 6yrs old only. It was a favourite with my kids.
Monkey Mania in Footscray is also supposed to be great.

Tumbles is great!!

Kidzmania in west footscray

Monkey mania Docklands

Kidz play shak Altona is good too

[fionas]

I'm sure the Melbourne ones are great but as mentioned, I'm only happy to drive to the outskirts of Mel - too much traffic otherwise.

[TaRhLi.]

If you want to make it up to Ballarat, we have 2.

Funbugs which is near the bowling alley, indoor cricket etc and also Happy Jacks which is on the western side of Ballarat (although surprisingly Happy Jacks doesn't actually have aircon, bizarre I know)...

[Netix]

Theres a play centre in Melton, just up and across the road from melton toyota. There used to be a dedicated play centre in Sunbury, but superthief auto is there now.

[lilima]

There is on called Jungle Mania in Taoylors Lakes that ok, but a better one n East Keilor. Forgotten the name though! Jets in Gisborne is mega hot on a hot day, so not worth it if temp over about 25.

Eta you call alo have lunch at Vic Tavern in Gisborne- it has a play room, or Taylrs Lakes Hotel - in the Warergardes complex.

[fionas]

If you want to make it up to Ballarat, we have 2.

Funbugs which is near the bowling alley, indoor cricket etc and also Happy Jacks which is on the western side of Ballarat (although surprisingly Happy Jacks doesn't actually have aircon, bizarre I know)...

Yep, Ballarat is about 90 mins away so is just that bit too far. Though might head there on Code Red days and stay overnight.

Theres a play centre in Melton, just up and across the road from melton toyota. There used to be a dedicated play centre in Sunbury, but superthief auto is there now.

Thank you! Melton's not too far so we could definitely do that one.

There is on called Jungle Mania in Taoylors Lakes that ok, but a better one n East Keilor. Forgotten the name though! Jets in Gisborne is mega hot on a hot day, so not worth it if temp over about 25.

Eta you call alo have lunch at Vic Tavern in Gisborne- it has a play room, or Taylrs Lakes Hotel - in the Warergardes complex.

Thanks - Taylors Lakes is definitely doable. We go to Jets quite a bit but yep, it was boiling in there last week when it wasn't even really hot so definitely not a hot weather refuge. We should try the Vic Tavern again, haven't been there for a while. I think there might be another pub in Riddells Creek that has a playroom too but was told the food was horrible. But how expensive are pub meals these days - we went to a local with the kids last night and all up, paid $90. Happy to do that for a semi-special occasion but that was just to get out of our hot house!!!