Fun things to do with kids in Penrith
There seems to be a bit of snobbery from Sydneysiders when it comes to Penrith. I have to admit that I’ve always thought of Penrith as a place that you just drive past to get to the Blue Mountains – never a destination in itself. But I’ve recently discovered that there are so many fun things to do with kids in Penrith – some of which are fun for adults too!
First up – where is Penrith? Penrith is located about an hour’s drive from Sydney’s CBD, just at the base of the Blue Mountains. You can also catch the T1 train from Central to Penrith.
Cables Aqua Park
Cables Aqua Park is a giant inflatable obstacle course on a lake. There are inflatable climbing walls, giant waterslides and even a jumping pillow. It is an excellent way for kids to let off steam while also keeping cool.
Here’s a video I took of a recent visit to Cables Aqua Park.
With an 8 year old and a 12 year old I struggle to find activities they will both enjoy but Cables Aqua Park fits the bill perfectly. They both had a blast when we visited – even my very timid 8 year old who is not a particularly strong swimmer, managed just fine. I noticed that there was also a lot of teens having fun with their friends too.
When we pulled up at Cables Aqua Park I was very happy to find there was ample parking in the outdoor carpark. Coming from Sydney where space always seems to be at a premium, Penrith just seems so much less crowded.
After we checked in at the kiosk, we were instructed to go and find suitable life jackets. There was a staff member who was helping with life jackets but if your kids are young, I advise going with them to get the jackets fitted properly as they will be spending a lot of time in the water. At the very least, they will be swimming out to the inflatables.
From there my kids waited impatiently for the previous session to finish. After a safety demonstration they were unleashed into the water. You do need to be able to swim to go on the obstacles. You also need decent upper arm strength to actually get up on the floats and balance to remain on them.
We got the 2 x 50 minute session (there is a break in between the sessions to have a rest) and my kids wanted to go back for more. I though the cost of the 2 sessions ($36 if booked online), was pretty reasonable.
If the kids get hungry, they have a cafe or you can bring your own food and picnic on one on the tables or just sit on the grass. There’s also a bbq area and toilets plus changing area.
The Aqua Park would be a fun place for a playdate or to host a birthday party. If you want to, you can book the whole place out after 5pm.
My top tip if you don’t like crowds is to book the latest session in the day. We started at 3pm and I’d say the Park was only half full.
And if your kids are very adventurous and they still have some energy left to burn, they can also try Wakeboarding at the adjacent Wake Park.
Cables Aqua Park all the details
How old do you need to be to use the Cables Aqua Park?
Kids need to be at least 5 years old and be accompanied by an adult to use the Aqua Park. 6 year olds can go accompanied but they need to know how to swim (as do all participants). They also need a fair bit of upper body strength to get themselves up on the inflatables and balance to be able to stay on. If you have very little kids who can’t use the Aqua Park, they can have some fun in the smallish free wet play area which is pretty close to the inflatables. There’s also a playground just next to the carpark but you won’t be able to keep eyes on older kids on the inflatables from the playground.
What should I wear to the Cables Aqua Park?
You will definitely get wet as you need to swim out to the obstacles so swimmers are a necessity. My kids wore their swimmers with a rashie on top to protect them from the sun.
How much is Cables Aqua Park?
Tickets can either be purchased online or in person. Purchasing them online is a bit cheaper and you can also pre fill the waiver. A 1 x 50 min session is $26 per person if purchased online (note kids and adults are the same price). 2 x 50 min sessions are $36 per person if purchased online. There is also a day pass available.
Are there toilets at Cables Aqua Park?
Yes, there are toilets and a changing area.
Cables Aqua Park address
405 Jamison Road Penrith, NSW
Aqua Golf
I’d heard that Panthers Penrith Leagues Club offered Aqua Golf and was intrigued to find out what Aqua Golf entails. Basically you purchase a bucket of golf balls ($10 each, but cheaper if you buy multiple buckets), select a club, take an available spot next to the edge of a lake, and try and hit the golf balls into the targets that are fixed in the lake.
So rather than hitting a golf ball to try and get it in a hole in the ground like you do with traditional golf, you are trying to get the ball in nets suspended over the water to win cash prizes. I think the ability to win prizes really helped keep my kids motivated to keep trying.
My top tip is to not buy too any buckets at once if you have little kids with short attention spans. Both my kids were done after a couple of buckets – although they were entertained for at least 30 minutes. I think this is the type of activities that would keep teens and adults entertained as well as the younger kids.
You’ll find Aqua Golf at the back of the Panthers Leagues.
Aqua Golf – all the details
How much is Aqua Golf?
$10 a bucket, although if you buy 6 or more buckets, each bucket is significantly cheaper.
Is there free parking?
Yes there is plenty of free parking at the Panthers Leagues Club.
Is there a minimum age for Aqua Golf?
There didn’t seem to be when we visited. Even very young kids were enjoying it.
Panthers Penrith Leagues Club address
123 Mulgoa Road, Penrith, NSW.
Penrith Beach
Since its opening Sydneysiders have enjoyed making fun of the Penrith “beach”. And while its true that Penrith beach is not really a beach at all, and definitely nothing like some of the famous beaches Sydneysiders get to enjoy such as Bronte or Balmoral, Penrith beach is actually great for families, especially those with small kids.
Penrith Beach is essentially a body of water without waves- although there definitely is sand! It is a man made beach, located in an old quarry site on Western Sydney Lakes. The beach is patrolled by lifeguards and feels very safe. When we visited, the water was very clean and a little warmer than what I was expected.
Be aware that you can’t just stroll down to Penrith Beach whenever you feel like it. Firstly, there is no pedestrian access. You need to drive into the carpark, and your car spot needs to be prebooked (although it is free to book a spot). The beach also closes each day at 6pm.
There are temporary toilets on the beach
Note that the beach closes over Winter. It is open on weekends and public holidays until Anzac Day, 2024 (25 April 2024).
Penrith Beach Address
Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh, (just north of Penrith).
