There’s no doubt that surviving a hot day is SO much easier than when we were kids. Flash back to a time when air-conditioning in the car involved winding down your windows. You were likely to get burned by the seat belt with the giant metal buckle and your thighs would stick to the plastic seats. If you were lucky, you had one of those big beast wall unit air conditioners in one room at home … and the really lucky kids had a pool!
We were also a lot better at putting up with the heat. Water play was alive and well and hours were spent running through sprinklers in the back yard… everyone just dealt with it. These days, it seems the weather’s getting hotter or we’re getting more precious, but it certainly seems more uncomfortable. We’re also aware of how dangerous the heat can be, particularly for infants.
If you don’t have air-conditioning at home or you do but you just don’t want to hang out at home with your offspring for the ENTIRE day, here are some ideas to escape the heat.
Head to a shopping centre that has indoor play equipment
There are plenty of local shopping centres with indoor play areas. North Rocks Shopping Centre has a big play area for kids – Jungle Rocks Play and pirates are popular, at Castle Towers with a Pirate Ship Playland for kiddies. Here’s a list of shopping centre play areas (note some are outdoors).
Visit a swimming pool
- In addition to the outdoor water play area, Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre at Baulkham Hills has an outdoor Olympic sized 50m pool with 10 lanes and indoor 25m and family leisure pool. Read more here.
- Blacktown Leisure Centre has an indoor wave pool and the toddler splash pool.
- Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre at Baulkham Hills has an outdoor sun protected splash pool for the little ones and an outdoor pool for older kids.
- Hornsby Aquatic Centre has a fantastic indoor water play area as well as the larger outdoor pool.
- Riverstone Swimming Centre (below) has an Olympic pool, a second smaller pool and a cool kids pool that has a shallow spa, a shower fountain and a bubbler fountain. The kids area also has a second mini spa area that’s like a bench seat (aka parent massage spot!) and a ‘current’ area where they float and the current pulls them along. There’s plenty of shade, a small play area and bbqs.
Riverstone Swimming Centre
Let your child’s creative juices flow at an art studio
Little Plaster House is located in Norwest Business Park and they’re open most days for casual visits (just check their website and give them a call to make sure they’re not closed for a party).
Find a water slide
Bad news, there are no water slides in the Hills! There have been a couple of temporary, ‘pop up’ numbers in the past, but if it’s water slides you’re after this Summer, you’ll need to travel. Read more.
Take a trip to Ikea
Ikea is a great way to fill in a few hours and the Marsden Park store isn’t too far away at all. Have a wander around and a little play in the children’s area then enjoy a seriously cheap lunch.
Indoor play area
The Cuto Kids Cafes are super cute indoor play areas and you can find one at Tallawong and one at Showground Village. Find out more here.
Visit a library
Libraries are great at any time, heat or no heat. You can even time your visit with one of the reading sessions held for children. Click here for details on bubs and books sessions. The Castle Hill library (below) even has a cafe attached and a cool reading area that looks like a castle.
Catch a movie
In the Hills we have Event Cinemas Castle Hill and Reading Cinemas Rouse Hill.
Visit an entertainment venue
If your kids are a little older, there are a few great entertainment options in the Hills to hide from the heat. There is Holey Moley Golf Club, Strike Bowling and Archie Brothers at Castle Towers and Timezone at Rouse Hill Town Centre.
Archie Brothers, Castle Towers
Check out a restaurant or café with indoor play equipment
We have some listed in our article cafes next to play areas (note, not all listed are indoors). You could also visit Wenty Leagues, The Australian Brewery, Blacktown or The Pennant Hills Hotel. Hotel Seven Hills even has a water splash pad! Here is a list of pubs and restaurants with play areas.
Visit one of the water play parks close to the Hills
You don’t have to head to the beach to have a splash around. There are some great water play parks not far from the Hills, and now even one right here in the Hills at Bernie Mullane (pictured below but now shaded)! Find out more here. Just keep in mind that they’re not always shaded.
All fun aside, heat waves can be really dangerous. Infants in particular are more vulnerable to heat-related conditions, so it’s important to stay safe and cool when these hot days hit.
Other articles you may like: