Toddler venues during winter in Canberra?

Lollipops at the airport. Greatest place ever during winter. Inside, warm, dry, COFFEE, age-bracket areas for kids to play away from bigger kids, safe, clean, free parking… very mum friendly.

Plus, it’s attached to the shopping centre so you can easily get all your groceries in the same trip from the Woollies or Big W, plus all the other shops.

Free parking at Canberra airport (or any airport for that matter)? Please give me details.

My 2.5 went through last years winter spending most of her time outside. Low UV in comparison to summer and it means we save 15 minutes slip slop slapping.

However for those particularly cold or frosty mornings, the Southern Cross Club in Woden has an indoor play area for toddlers with a slide, ball pit etc. Whilst you can have a coffee and watch them from a comfortable distance. You’ll just need to be a member (or guest).

We also go to the Lyons Paint and Play on Tuesdays from 9:30am to 11am, located at the old Lyons Pre-school on Ulverstone st. It’s free, however you can donate a gold coin. My only suggestion is rug up, the wind that blows across the oval and onto the pre-school can be bone chilling.

Let’s Play at Gold Creek Country Club does good coffees and food. It’s well worth the entry fee, especially if you’re doing a meet up with others.

I’m assuming we’re talking indoor when the weather is ugly, and nobody is up for play dates at home, because in spite of what some sooks say Canberra winters are nothing compared to winters in the northern hemisphere. You can actually still do everything you do in summer but with a jumper.

The indoor play centres are a mainstay. You pay, but the kids shriek, you can sit and take your eyes off them for a minute, and they can run themselves ragged. Get a membership. Makes it slightly cheaper in the long run.

Not many indoor places where kids can run riot that are free. Maybe shopping centres. It’s not like they are a hallowed temple.

Otherwise one of the indoor pools. Tuggeranong has a good toddler area that we take the tikes to occasionally during winter. Better during the week.

I’m not sure if this is exactly what you’re after, but Mini-Q at Questacon is awesome. You obviously won’t be able to have a normal playgroup there, as other members of the public will be there too, but it’s a really cool space. There are areas for feeding and changing, and a quiet space to escape the play area. Lots of different active play areas and things to explore.

It costs the same as regular entry to get in – $23 for an adult, but free for 0-4 year olds. The cool thing is you can take them around the rest of the exhibits too, and while there’s plenty of stuff that’s over a toddler’s head, there are definitely things that will interest them.

Finish it all off with lunch at the cafe (there are some big tables, so I’m sure you’d be able to seat your playgroup together) and you’ve had a great day out regardless of the weather outside!

Depends where you are but Southside there is Lanyon Homestead. Whilst it’s not that great to be inside as it’s a bit small, if it’s a nice sunny winters day there is acres of space for the little ones to roam, a shed full of historic (but well maintained) farm stuff (none of it dangerous). There are also beautiful gardens to wander through. In the summer it’s quite nice and shady also. Spent many an hour there with my young one.

Great food, although not that cheap I suppose, but coffees only is always an option.