[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ballarat’s classic destination Sovereign Hill is broadening its family appeal with a new $1.7 million play space.
Four year old El Guapo and I visit on opening day, and the place is abuzz with excitement from the school kids bussed in to have the first run. As the ribbon is cut, the kids swarm the playground like prospectors on the loose! I wait with bated breath for El Guapo to be crushed in the rush.
And … nothing.
No chaos. No tears. No fights.
Well done Sovereign Hill on a well-designed playground – where a couple of bus-loads of kids can descend at once and no-one gets hurt.
The playground has several zones, so to speak, which give kids lots of room to move.
There’s a two-storey ship (think Riverside Park in Aberfeldie), water play with a pump and some dam walls (think Royal Park Nature Play, but without the now-manky sand)…
Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Sovereign Hill Play Space, Ballarat
….a huge poppet-head slide (think Ron Barassi Snr Park Docklands)…
….a stage coach, mini-village, and lots of other areas for climbing and exploring.
In short: there’s heaps to do.
This spread-outedness means that parents of small kids might have to abandon any concept of kicking back with a drink from the adjacent cafe.
El Guapo handles all the areas well, but smaller kids will need some help.
There are also some fall areas (up to about 1m) onto hard surfaces and a couple of rope contraptions with gaps big enough for a child to slip through – a drop of about 180cm onto rubber matting.
This project has been 15 years in the making as Sovereign Hill seeks to broaden its offering and better cater for smaller kids. It’s a welcome move! As engaging as the rest of Sovereign Hill is, every parent knows that sometimes a playground break is needed.
The playground caters for a pretty wide range of ages and interests, making it great for families.
Some “themed” playgrounds draw a long bow incorporating the central ideas. As El Guapo and I wander around the rest of Sovereign Hill, we take many opportunities to discuss the links between the playground and the broader museum experience. The playground is a great way to reinforce some of the things school-ages kids might have learnt as they wandered through the township earlier in the day – without even realising it!
For accommodation options in Ballarat, I recommend checking out what’s available on Airbnb.
Click here for more things to do in Sovereign Hill, including Winter Wonderlights and AURA
Click here to buy discount tickets to a Ballarat and Sovereign Hill Day Tour
Click here for more things to do in Ballarat
Click here for more free water play in Melbourne and Regional Victoria
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]HOT Tips:
- Play Space is included in the general Sovereign Hill Entry Ticket;
- Great for all ages, but toddlers still need supervision, The playground is spread out and there is a lake nearby;
- water play is the pump style that runs down the hill with a few dams the kids can put in and out. No bathers required, but shoes might get wet;
- Perfect spot to break up a big day at Sovereign Hill;
- Right beside the cafe;
- There is only limited shelter. Ballarat is known for its weather extremes, so be prepared with hat and sunscreen and an extra layer of clothing for wind/cold;
- Toilets with change facilities available
- Tickets to AURA are an extra cost on top of your Sovereign Hill Entry Ticket and it’s best to book ahead of time to ensure you don’t miss out, especially during weekends and school holidays. You can even package your Sovereign Hill general entry and AURA tickets with dinner!;
- For accommodation options in Ballarat, I recommend checking out what’s available on Booking.com and Airbnb.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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