The Best Indoor Play Centres In Melbourne

By: Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

Whether it’s stinking hot, freezing cold or raining, an indoor play centre is one of our top picks for things to do with kids in Melbourne. All-weather permitting, you can relax with a coffee or chat with a group of mums as your little ones have a ball with mini villages, ball pits, slides, dress-ups, and all matter of exciting stuff. Here are our top picks:

1. Croc’s Playcentre, Moorabbin

Croc’s Playcentre is well established in the indoor play town world, with 9 locations across Melbourne! No need to book, just turn up and play. Relax with a  coffee whilst your baby or toddler has fun in the soft play area, conveniently located next to the cafe. Bigger kids will enjoy a jungle themed play area, a multi-level ball battle zone, an inflatable jumping pillow, a walk-on piano, a 4-lane wave slide, and giant speed slides. There is free entry for adults and children under 1, and general entry is age dependent from $10.50-$13.50, less on school days. More information here.

2. Lollipops Play Centre, Bentleigh-East

Lollipops have multiple locations in Melbourne, and they sure do indoor playtime well! It boasts a 3 level playground maze, mini cars, a 3 level ball blaster playground, a new rock climbing wall, a cafe, 3 big slides, a jumping castle and ball pits! Children of all ages are catered to in this wonderland. Entry prices sit at around $3.50 for adults (including a tea, coffee or soft drink), babies under 12 months go free, 3 yrs+ cost $12.90 and 12-35-month-olds cost $10.90 for unlimited play. If you go on a school day, costs are lower. More information here.

3. Play Central, Port Melbourne

The product of 2 local dads, Play Central offers children active and imagination-based play focused on fun and development! This is a definite favourite with local Melbourne mums. Here you’ll find dodgem cars, a volcano mountain and tunnel slide, an oversized main play structure (big enough for adults too!), themed enrichment rooms for toddlers with dress-ups and the like, party rooms, oversized soft construction for safe play for little ones, a relaxation area for adults, and a healthy, gourmet cafe- that’s unheard of in the playcentre world! More information here.

4. Planet Kids, Southbank

Planet Kids isn’t nearly as primary colour eye-assaulting as other play centres, in fact, it’s bright, spacious, and clean with a running blue and white theme throughout. The cafe is designed to give mums a view of all the play going on, there’s an enclosed soft play area for toddlers, a larger play structure for older kids, wide open spaces to ride cars, activity tables for arts and crafts, party rooms and interactive fun with the big screen Xbox Kinect. The cafe serves fresh-ground Five Senses coffee, as well as gourmet sandwiches and pastries, so adults are bound to have as much fun as the little ones. The entry prices are some of the lowest in town- $8 for over 1s and $2 per child under 1 year! More information here.

5. Airoworld Inflatable Playground, Altona North

Inside the Westgate Sports and Leisure Centre, this inflatable playground gives children the action and adrenaline-pumping fun that can be limited in many indoor playtowns. There are jumping castles, inflatable slides, a velcro wall that you can stick to wearing special suits, a jousting ring, an inflatable basketball court, and inflatable obstacle-type courses. Entry here is FREE with entry to the Airodrome Trampoline Park- which is also worth a visit! More information here.

6. Kids Space Indoor Play and Party Centre, Various Locations

It’s a blast at Kid’s Space! This is the largest indoor play and party centre in Melbourne with locations in Epping and Hallam. Children aged 6 months to 12 years will be occupied for hours in this space-themed oasis. The toddler section at Cheltenham has a climbing wall, ball pit, slides, a playhouse, jumping castle and lots more. Older kids will love the super slides, 4 metre high activity wall, a 6 metre high suspension bridge, and a 6 metre high vertical drop slide! More information here.

Is your favourite indoor play centre in Melbourne not on our list? We want to know about it! Comment below.