It’s the last week and a half before it’s Back to School for the kids. It may already be back to work for some adults but if you’re still at home pulling out your hair with bored kids here’s some things you can still do to keep them entertained.
Click on the titles to go to their event pages or for more info.
Space Station, Canal Walk
Gather your budding astrophysicists and head to Canal Walk for a super galactic Space Station. It includes a gigantic inflatable Space Maze, where space travellers of all ages can explore a series of zones, including a slide through the black hole slide that will launch you into the galaxy and beyond, interactive constellation chamber, asteroids fields with swinging planets and UV beams, plus a pop-up planetarium for that extra starry experience. In addition, continue your space travel with a virtual reality experience, that is out of this world.
We took my 5 year old and his friend for R80 for the kids all access, and R40 per adult. We passed on the VR experience as they are too young to fully appreciate it. We learned that at Dino’s Alive at Cape Gate.
Find it at the Centre Court at Canal Walk Shopping Centre. Tickets from R40. On till 14 January.
Dino’s Alive, Cape Gate
We tried out this experience last week. The FIRST EVER dinosaur augmented reality exhibition in South Africa – Dinos Alive Augmented Reality. The expo combines cutting-edge technology with educational elements to deliver a truly immersive dinosaur experience. See the T-Rex, Velociraptor, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and the Parasaurolophus come to life on your phone or tablet screen for a dinosaur experience like never before. You can download the apps before you go if you like, but we found it wasn’t necessary at all. They have a tab and a helper at every screen anyway.
We found my 2 older nephews (8 and 10) enjoyed the VR experience more. It didn’t hold our 5 year old as much. Still an interesting time with a giant screen projecting yourself onto it and superimposing dino’s on it into your space. The little guys loved this.
Catch it till 14 January for R65 at Cape Gate Shopping Centre.
Future Park Interactive Exhibition and the V&A Waterfront 23 Sep – 31 January
Learn and play in a digital universe at the Watershed/Jubilee Hall. Future Park is the dreamchild of teamLab which was formed in 2001 by a group of Tokyo University postgraduates. This “ultra-technologists” group consists of a wide range of specialists who blur the boundaries between art, science, technology and creativity. Activities include electronic and digital space installations like a Sketch and Aquarium, Hopscotch for geniuses, The story of time and more.
Tickets from R130 p/p.
Image source: Future Park
Glow in the dark Mini Golf
Welcome to South Africa’s very first space themed Glow in the Dark 18-hole mini golf 3D space adventure. Glowing Rooms offers 18 exciting holes of mini golf played in the dark under UV lights whilst wearing their special 3D glasses. Great fun for the whole family. Cost is R130 per person including the 3D glasses. There are no kids discounts.
They currently have a holiday special for R100 per person.
Find them in Milnerton, Corner Koeberg Road and Turf Club Drive
This is a popular outdoor play park near Cape Gate just off the N1. You can take the kids here for a whole day of non stop rides and fun. Pricing is reasonable and many of the rides are free. I bought a VIP ticket which was a complete waste as my little guy was only interested in the free rides. They have an indoor play area as well with face painting and other activities. Their indoor snack shop is not halaal but they have a kiosk outside which serves only halaal food.
Please note: this kiosk is not certified halaal but stocks only halaal products. Their management tells me they have a separate kitchen area where they stock and prepare the halaal food but they are not halaal certified.
Find them at 56 Tarentaal Street, Joostenbergvlakte, Kraaifontein
Route 44 Market and World of Adventure, Stellenbosch
This could easily be a whole day outing with time for the adults at a lovely food and craft market and a fabulous play area for the kids. They have a separate section where you pay to enter and the kids can enjoy. They don’t call it World of Adventure for nothing. For R80 the kids get access to everything for the whole day and R10 for each accompanying minder. Mini golf, ball pen and a snazzy play gym was just the start. And different areas for up to five years and another for older kids. Peddle cars, sand pit, slip n slide and the piece de resistance, the zip line. It will keep them busy all day and tire them out completely by the time you go home.
Find it at Audacia Wines R44 & Annandale Road Stellenbosch. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am till 4pm.
Snoekies, Hout Bay
This popular fish and chips franchise has a large branch in the Hout Bay harbour. They also have a very big play area with child minders upstairs. So take a scenic drive out with the family and park off at the upstairs tables. Enjoy your seafood platter and beautiful views of the harbour and mountains while the kids enjoy a safe play area right alongside you.
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