Keep the kids cool this summer
Fill the school holidays and sunny season with family-friendly fun that’ll help you and your brood of little ’uns really chill out. By Olivia Gee
Watch movies with aircon at Event Junior
The movies are a great family day out, but if kids need to run off some of that choc-top sugar, cinema aisles aren’t the best place to do it. Luckily, Event Junior is a dedicated space where kids under the age of eight (and their carers) can race around slides, climbing nets and interactive digital games before, after or during the intermission of new release family movies. Event Cinemas, Macquarie Shopping Centre, Cnr Herring & Waterloo Rd, North Ryde 2113. 02 8879 3500. www.eventcinemas.com.au. $5 per child on top of movie ticket price.
Get wet and wild at Raging Waters
It gets hot in Prospect: often three or four degrees hotter than coastal areas of Sydney. That makes the newly rebadged Raging Waters Sydney (formerly Wet ‘N’ Wild), with its giant, Curaçao blue, sand-lined wave pool and curving canopy of rainbow waterslides an attractive summer family adventure. The kids can freak out trying the new 206-metre slide made up of tunnels, open spirals and zippy drops that’ll have them flying up to 25km per hour. 427 Reservoir Rd, Prospect 2148. 139 697. ragingwaterssydney.com.au. Various times. $55.99-$65.99. Oct 1-Mar 29.
Go ice skating at Sydney Santa Spectacular
This very merry Christmas festival is moving to Penrith, carting along cool-down rides and activities like a double-decker carousel – feel the breeze in your hair – plus toboggan slides and ice skating. After a scoot around the rink, kids can also get involved in craft workshops, see musical performances, listen to storytime tales and meet magical costumed characters like Frozen’s Elsa. Penrith Panthers Club, 123 Mulgoa Rd, Penrith 2750. 0472 594 182. sydneysantaspectacular.com. 9am-8pm. $33-$73. Until Dec 26.
Have a splash at Botany Aquatic Centre
A kid-friendly outdoor swimming pool gem like the Botany Aquatic Centre is to be cherished. There are three pools spread across lush green lawns peppered with trees for plenty of shade. You can choose from a shaded, shallow baby pool, a waistdeep pool for bigger children and an Olympic pool for the more adventurous. Crn Myrtle & Jasmine St, Botany 2019. 02 9316 6218. www.bayside. nsw.gov.au. Daily 6am-7pm.
$4-$6.50.
Make a weatherwatching kit at Terrific Scientific
Spend a too-hot afternoon safely ensconced in this adorable Annandale toy shop. Trawl the shelves for super-strength silly putty, coding projects and magic collections, and you can even assess the Venus-level heat outside by purchasing a weather-watching kit. These include experiment equipment and an info booklet that’ll teach kids all about rain, lightning, rainbows, temperature, the water cycle and more for $29.95. 51 Booth St, Annandale 2038. 02 9692 9206. www.terrificscientific.com.au. Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm.
Enjoy a skydiving breeze at iFly
Children from as young as three can learn how to skydive at this indoor facility – and it’s fun for adults too. After a safety briefing and training from instructors, kids can experience being lifted into the air by a powerful wind generator. For keen flyers looking for a cool breeze this summer, there are also special holiday courses for kids aged 6-16 years. à Penrith Panthers Club, 123 Mulgoa Rd, Penrith 2750. 1300 366 364. downunder.iflyworld.com. Mon-Fri 9am-10pm; Sat 8am-10pm;
Sun 8am-8pm. $89-$389.
Go snorkeling at Shelly Beach
This small stretch of sand is a little quieter than its big brother Manly Beach, and the calm waters make for perfect lazy family beach days. The cool, salty soup here is part of a nature reserve, so it’s a top snorkelling spot for paddlers of all swimming abilities. Whack some goggles on your little nippers and get them searching for blue gropers. ■ Manly 2095.