Sydney❜s Best Kid❜s Indoor Play Centres for a Rainy Day

Rain, rain, rain go away! It may be great for ducks and plants but it’s hard work for parents and kids! If you need some inspiration for beating the rainy day blues, why not head to one of Sydney’s Best Indoor Play Centres? The kids get a workout, mum or dad gets a coffee and everyone stays nice and dry. Here’s our guide to some of Sydney’s best by region:

Eastern Suburbs/City

Cheers to FREE indoor play areas in Westfield Eastgardens and Westfield Bondi Junction. There’s also Nubo in Alexandria and the brand new one in Chatswood for loads of indoor fun including a ball pool (with a slide), arts and crafts, an imagination room and an awesome library- the calming blue and white colour scheme and instrumental nursery rhymes playing in the background will make you feel like you've stepped into heaven. Monkey Mania at the Entertainment Quarter - play equipment for ages 1-12 and dedicated toddlers area. We also love Cool Cats in Randwick, where kids are entertained for hours with inflatable games like the Leg Roll, a bucking mechanical bull, and every sized jumping castle imaginable!

Inner West

Skyzone in Alexandria is an awesome mega-trampolining and indoor climbing venue. From their ‘Little Leapers’ sessions for under 4s to adults who want to bounce and fly – this is amazing fun for all ages. Nubo is a heavnly treat for children- that parents will actually enjoy, too! Little Dynamo’s in Alexandria has a five level themed play structure full of tunnels, climbs, tree houses, a flying fox, mazes, bridge climbs and five amazing slides! There is a foam ball arena and a separate play area for babies and toddlers.

Your whole family will love the new funhouse that has it all - Archie Brothers Electric Circus opened in Alexandria last year and is already a hit with kids and the kids at heart. From ten pin bowling and laser tag to video games and dogem cars.

Try indoor rock climbing for something different on a rainy day – the excellent Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym at St Peters has great after school, holiday and weekend programs for kids 5 and up. There’s the fantastic Jungle Buddies based in Five Dock – a refreshing new approach to indoor play that offers kids’ active play along with fresh food, as well as a fun party venue and fully serviced café. Kid's Shack Playhouse and Cafe in Earlwood gets great reviews and they also have a play centre in Roselands. Another local fave is Shiny Star Playcentre in North Strathfield.

Greater West

Lollipop’s Playland & Cafe in Rosehill is serious fun. There’s all the traditional play centre gear plus a giant rock climbing wall for the over 4’s and Code Red Laser Skirmish for the over 6’s. Monkey Mania in Bankstown offers an impressive 10-metre high play area, jumping castle, dedicated toddlers area and more. Giggle Lots in Bankstown is a circus-themed centre for kids to 12 with some unique offerings for older kids and a separate toddler’s area. Lollipops Playland & Cafe in Penrith is a superb play centre for children under 11 years. It offers a huge play area with two jumping castles, speed slide, flying fox and more. Ultimate Sydney (pictured) at Northmead has all your family entertainment needs in one 2500m2 place- with a massive network of interconnected trampolines, zip lines, a foam pit, climbing wall, and of course- giant play centre. It has a sensory room, party rooms for birthdays, a cafe, a more importantly- a parent’s retreat. Young children 0-5 are well catered for with Kids World- with trampolines and mini rock climbing walls.

North Shore

Monkey Mania Ryde is the newest Monkey Mania centre, located within the Top Ryde City Shopping Centre. It offers a jumping castle, dedicated toddlers area, foam ball area, climbing structure, slides and go-karts. Plus, that all-important cafe for parents!

Northern Beaches

Wow! You’re spoiled for choice in this neck of the woods! Wannabees Family Play Town is worth a day trip from anywhere in Sydney, a child-size city with over a dozen different attractions on-site, daily drop-in activities for preschoolers, monthly discos and more. Over in Brookvale, parents are raving about Stomping Ground (pictured below).

Not to mention Sandbucket Play Centre in Narrabeen, Rockhouse Indoor Climbing, Big Blast in Brookvale and Cheeky Monkeys in Warriewood offering great indoor play areas. You’ll also find a recently upgraded play area in Warringah Mall Shopping Centre.

Northwest Sydney

Chipmunks in Macquarie Centre (also located at Villawood and Bankstown) is air-conditioned and also offers a drop-off service for school age children, perfect for getting through a few errands on a drizzly day. Castle Hill offers Lollipopsland. Boing Central in Baulkham Hills is a fantastic indoor trampolining venue with over 1600 square metres of bouncing fun including a dedicated preschoolers’ area, basketball & dodgeball trampolining and a foam pit.

Sutherland Shire

For an awesome forest-inspired play centre, check out The Play Cave in Miranda. It comes highly-recommended by ellaslist readers for its two separate play areas (one dedicated to toddlers) and for its onsite restaurant and amazing menu! Little Feet Cafe in Engadine is on the small side but a perfect local escape on a rainy day. There’s natural light, free wifi and a decent menu. Kirrawee’s Funarama is the largest indoor play centre in the Sutherland Shire with separate areas for toddlers and older kids as well as weekly organised sports classes. Check out fun time 4 kids in Menai (including laser tag). There’s also Skyzone in Miranda which has just been upgraded and a play centre at Miranda Westfield in case of emergency!

South Sydney/St George

Little Shrimps Play and Party Centre is a clean and safe environment for 0-12’s with an amazing 3 tiered play structure with giant slides, tunnels, ball pools, flying fox and more.

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