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Scienceworks gets five stars

June 19th 2008 13:02
Rainy weekend coming up in Melbourne ... here's a favourite option ...

Scienceworks is an indoor "outing" that is really reasonable. In fact, free for kids under 12. My two (Grade 1 and Grade 3) absolutely love it. We've only been living in Melbourne for six months and they've been to Scienceworks five times already!

science works house secrets
Everything is hands-on in this house



What to pay
If your kids are aged under 12, they are free. So you'll only pay $6 each for the adults. If it's your first visit, don't worry about buying any tickets for the extra shows or exhibits. There's hours of stuff to keep them occupied in the free exhibits.

Are you being served?
Upstairs there's an absolutely awesome kitchen set-up where kids just buzz around creating all kinds of culinary delights. Take a book and prepare to be served plastic sandwiches, lovingly assembled, and multiple cups of coffee.

Hands-on fun
The sportsworks exhibit downstairs gives them a workout without even noticing -- they can race Cathy Freeman and practice shooting hoops.

The House Secrets exhibit is fascinating -- a supersized bed where you can peer into what lies beneath the mattress. Ok, my kids were a bit freaked out by that! But they quickly got over that by moving on to attempt to pedal-power the toaster.


Opening hours
Open every day from 10am – 4:30pm (except for Christmas Day and Good Friday).

Getting there
You can get there via public transport -- however, if it's raining, you'll get a bit damp and cold. And it can be a bit of a drag waiting around on the station without much shelter. Driving there is easiest, parking is free and pretty plentiful. To go via public transport, catch the train to spotswood and then it's clearly signposted to walk about 5-8 mins to Scienceworks. (Click here for connex's journey planner).

You can bring your own food and drinks. Or there's a cafe there too. It's a little bit on the pricey side but had plenty of healthy options plus the usual hot chips, icecreams etc. I thought the coffee was average tasting -- not worth the three bucks. Service was friendly though

Acknowledgements
Photo is by Robert Blackburn, Paoli Smith from Scienceworks site. Check it out for latest exhibit info, maps and directions.
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Travel all Saturday for $2.90

June 17th 2008 07:31
I like Metlink's new 5 x weekend daily.

For $14.50 per ticket, you get all day travel for five Saturdays or Sundays.

D Class Melbourne Tram
Travel all day on any public transport in Melbourne


Downside is you are paying upfront. So, at first you're paying out at least $29 for an adult and a child.

Upside is that you get a cheap fare on Saturday as well as Sunday.

See Metlink's fares page for latest prices and options.

Acknowledgements
Photograph is public domain, from wikipedia article on Melbourne D Class Trams.
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Can you get cheaper fun with kids?

June 16th 2008 07:29
Okay, here's the cheapest fun I've found so far. An afternoon at Caulfield Park.

There are two great play areas. The largest play area appeals to kids right up to primary school. I've kept a seven year old and nine year old happy there for several hours at a time.

Caulfield Park
Just one of the wide expanse of play areas


A confidence boost
It has an amazing rope structure for the children to climb. There's excellent softfall material underneath. And the kids really sense for themselves how safe they feel and how high to go. I really enjoyed seeing my usually cautious nine-year-old climb his way to the top and experience success, then make his way down again. Parents can join in too!

...and so much more
There's musical activity areas, fying fox, slides, swings, plenty of climbing structures and spaces to explore. Good shade from sails plus lovely big trees. I like the picnic table set up on the hill. There's a huge slide that runs right down the hill below.

And, if you're making a day of it and need a change of scene, take a walk over to the second play area.

BBQ facilities available
It's completely free. And I sit there thinking is there any better way for a council to spend it's money? You can even bring snags to throw on the BBQ -- I think you might need a coin to operate.

You can get there via public transport
Plus, you can get there via tram! With one of those 5 x weekend dailies that Connex have just released, you might be able to do the whole outing for $2.90 per person.

Melways ref 59 C12. Address is Inkerman Road Caulfield North.

Metlink have a journey planner so you can plan your trip door to door. (Stop 53 on Tram Route 3 travelling towards Melbourne Uni).

Cycling options ok for older kids
There are some bike paths too. The centre paths are pretty well paved and smooth, but the outer paths are a bit too bumpy for less experienced younger riders.

Coffee is near!
Yes, and there is good coffee nearby on the Hawthorn Rd side of the park -- a few choices in fact.

Acknowledgements
Photo is from Glen Eira Council's website list of parks.

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We were enchanted!

June 15th 2008 00:11
Arthur's Seat mazes is the favourite destination for our kids so far, after six months in Melbourne. It's less than an hour out of Melbourne -- on the Mornington Peninsula.

Immediately, stepping out of the car, I loved the smell of wet grass and the sweeping view down the hill


[ Click here to read more ]
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I have a six year old and a nine year old. This blog shares some of the excursions we're having in and around Melbourne - our aim is to keep them as low cost, yet fun, as possible!
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