Kids on a rainy day: Perth’s best indoor play centres

PERTH’s a city that doesn’t handle rain well.

Unlike London or Melbourne, where rain is the rule rather than the exception, Perth precipitation can send otherwise sensible citizens scrambling for cover.

And keeping kids entertained can pose quite the conundrum.

In a with 300 days of sunshine a year, what on earth do you do on the other 60?

Well, you can’t go wrong with an indoor play centre – and here are some of the very best in Perth.

Bayswater, Lollipops Playland – 68 Beechboro Road South

Open seven days a week, cheaper entry on school days, a pretty reasonable café and heaps of stuff for kids of all ages to do. Entry fee for the adults comes with a drink voucher.

Carlisle, Kidz Paradise – 179 Planet Street

Did someone say massive tubular slides? Well there’s two of them at Kidz Paradise, as well as a big bouncy castle and an obstacle course. This centre is one that never fails to wear out the kids.

Wangara, Wild Kidz – 7 Lumsden Road

Terrific value, at only $5 entry during the week, Wild Kidz boasts a massive climbing apparatus (above) and plenty of attractions for the bigger kids. But it’s for the toddlers that the centre really comes into its own, with ball pits, little slides and a great cubby. The food is great too.

Clarkson, Atlantis Play Centre – 61 Ocean Keys Boulevard

Atlantis is a marine-themed play centre in Perth’s north. There are special zones for the under twos and the 2-4 age ranges, while the open section has four-lane wave slides, spiral slide with windows, foam ball shooting machines, trampoline and a climbing well. You, or your kids, will not be disappointed.

Mandurah, Chipmunks – 11 Rouse Road (Greenfields)

Chipmunks Mandurah doesn’t deviate from the script set at their other Perth outlets (Cockburn, Kelmscott, Port Kennedy, Wanneroo, Whitfords), and the Greenfields location has massive slides, bouncy castles, air cannons and a terrific cafe.

Joondalup, Inflatable World – 4 Elcar Lane

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Check the video below:

O’Connor, Tropical Twist – 378 South Street

Tropical Twist is a massive space, divided into age-appropriate sections. There’s everything you would expect at a great play centre, with one handy extra that most parents find absolutely essential – barista-made coffee.

Jandakot, Croc’s Playcentre – 4/49-67 Armadale Road

It may be called Croc’s, but there’s a giant shark in this stunning Jandakot play centre that never fails to delight the kids. It ticks all the boxes, with special highlights being the fluorescent toddler slide that will blow the little kids’ minds and the foam ball cannons never fail to delight the older children.

Malaga, Full of Fun – 7 Townsend Street

With a tiny tots area, and a space for the bigger kids, Full of Fun is just that for kids aged between 1 and 12. For older kids, the obstacle course poses plenty of challenges, with a high balance beam, two rope climbs, punching bags, tunnels, rope swings and slides. Parents have a 360 degree view of the course from the cafe area so you can always see and find your kids.