Latitude Melbourne - Review
Melbourne contributor Kate checked out Latitude Melbourne's recently updated Kids Zone for us this week and her little ones had a ball! Little Miss saw Kate's pics of Arlo and Macy jumping on trampolines, having fun in the ball and foam pits and was asking me if she could go! Oh what fun! Thanks Kate for another awesome review and colourful pics!
What is play? Play is simply having fun, the spontaneous activity of children. Play is fuelled by curiosity and is driven by it. It begins simple and grows more complex as the child grows. Playgrounds and play centres provide an opportunity for free play. They allow children to play any way they choose, supported by a wide range of structures and spaces. Free play encourages the child to explore according to his or her natural tendencies and allows them to learn from one another and to interact with a wider range of age groups.
Latitude is the first integrated trampoline and climbing park in Australia. With over 100 interconnected trampolines, a massive air bag, basketball lanes, an obstacle course, climbing zone, dodgeball arena and dedicated Kids Zone, there’s something for everyone and every age.
This week the poppets were invited to Latitude to play in the new, recently updated Kids Zone. We were greeted by happy, energetic staff members who explained the setup and provided the little ones with Latitude grip socks which needed to be worn on the trampolines (we just left them on the entire time) and were ours to keep for our next visit.
With their grip socks on we entered the Kids Zone which comprises of three areas: an adventure playground, trampolines and climbing wall. Arlo and Macy headed into the fully padded playground first and began to explore the impressive, multi-level structure. With a soft obstacle maze, six slides, two coloured ball pits, tunnels, climbing structures, ramps and stairs, this playground has every conceivable piece of play equipment guaranteed to tire out your active toddler! Add in a killer playlist of tunes (I caught Daddy singing on more than one occasion!) and it was clear to see that Latitude is fun for the whole family!
Upon exiting one of the ball pits, Arlo caught sight of other children whizzing past on ride-on toys. Of course, it didn't take him long to hunt down his own little bike and was shouting “beep, beep” as he zoomed right past us. A really great addition to the space, just be careful of your ankles!
After doing a few laps of the playground, Arlo joined Macy up the stairs on the trampolines and the two of them looked extremely happy bouncing from wall to wall. Curiosity soon got the better of Macy who bounced off the trampoline and over to the foam pit and miniature climbing wall. Although they took great delight in being thrown into the foam pit, the poppets weren't that comfortable in the actual foam pit itself – which was a shame as Arlo really wanted to get over to the wall to climb up the bright red ladder!
Custom designed for children aged from 18 months to 5 years, the Kids Zone is the perfect space for little explorers to learn new skills and build their confidence in a safe environment. We certainly cannot wait to visit again, add Latitude to your must-do list now!
Our tips:
Book a session online in advance so you don’t miss out.
During the week you can arrive at any time and stay as long as you like in the Kids Zone for only $10.00 per child.
Lockers are available on site to store valuables.
There is plenty of space to park your pram plus a well-equipped parents’ change room.
BaseCamp Café upstairs is a great spot to refuel and watch all the activities below. We can recommended the Clementine cake which was particularly delicious and enjoyed by the poppets so much we needed to purchase an extra slice!
Check out the birthday party options – there are several party packages to choose from, including parties specifically designed for children under 5.
Latitude is fully air conditioned, so you can visit all year round.
Updated February 2019 - Latitude now has the GRID - Jump, vault, spring, swing and free run your way to victory! Will you conquer The Grid or will The Grid crush you?! Checkout more info at the Latitude website below. Ideal for kids 7/8 years+ (must be 125cm tall).
