Indoor activities for kids

Play, jump, create, skate and connect with your (inner) child

Last updated: Monday, 15 May 2023 

Play mini golf in outer space, escape from a submarine, visit the Wild Wild West or see a vintage fire truck: There’s plenty to do when the weather gets iffy in the Mother City. Here are 15 indoor activities that kids (and parents) will love.  

VISIT THIS QUIRKY DINER 

The scenic Route 62 in Barrydale boasts a quirky secret: Diesel & Crème, a padstal like no other. It’s full of vintage mismatched diner decor with old cars to admire and has over 20 milkshake flavours (like Zoo Biscuit and Red Velvet). The menu pays homage to old diner classics, with South African twists like vetkoek dumplings.  

Price: Varies

Hours: Daily, R9am - 5pm

2 Tennant Street | Barrydale | 028 572 1008 | @dieselandcreme | Image: Diesel & Crème

TRAVEL TO OUTER SPACE  

You’ve probably played mini golf - but how about glow-in-the-dark 3D mini golf? This 18-hole course is outer space-themed and players are given 3D glasses which create fantastical neon illusions. Everything is glow-in-the-dark - even the balls and golf clubs - and you don’t have to book ahead to play. 

Price: R130pp (pensioners R70)

Hours: Saturday 10am - 8pm; Sunday 10am - 4pm (open from Tuesday - Sunday during school holidays)

1 Turf Club Drive | Milnerton | 021 551 2244 | @glowingroomssa | Image: Glowing Rooms SA 

BUY A BOOK FROM A FIRE TRUCK  

Did you know that there’s a little bookstore tucked away behind Peregrine Famstall? Liberty Books is set in an old house with a reading nook and resident store cat. It’s colourful and inviting, and outside you’ll find a 1955 Bedford Green Goddess Fire Truck, which has been converted into a second bookstore.  

Price: Varies

Hours: Opening hours vary depending on the bookstore

Peregrine Farm Stall | Grabouw | 072 350 3592 | @libertybooksza | Image: Liberty Books

TAKE THE KIDS TO A VINTAGE HAVEN

Farm-style food and "moerkoffie", two huge sheds filled with old wares and there’s a kiddies play area. You can spend hours in this quirky Boland spot browsing collections of veteran motors, tractors, farm equipment, vintage furniture, and favourite South African household brands. The cherry on top? It’s free to enter Toeka Stoor.

Price: Free entrance (show your support by visiting the coffee shop)

Hours: Wed - Sun, 9am to 4pm

Toeka Stoor & Coffee Shop | Domaine Brahms Wines | Paarl | Image: Simone Strydom

PLAY A PRETEND COWBOY

There's never a dull moment at Wild Wild West kids play park. Children can have endless indoor fun, from a course for ninja warriors and slides to a climbing grid maze. There's a Toddler Town for the little ones, plus kids up to 13 can take on the obstacle course. 

Price: Price: R50 per child per hour, R100 unlimited play (free entry for adults and kids under one)

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am - 5pm; Sunday, 9am - 3pm

7 Garvin Cicle | Gants Centre | Somerset West | 061 447 9488 | @wildwest341 | Image: Wild Wild West

JOIN A LITTLE GYM

Take your kids to an active play programme at The Little Gym in Sea Point. Here kids can direct their energy into playing, building confidence and developing key skills. Classes are available for kids between 4 months and 12 years, with a Parent/Child class, a preschool and grade school gymnastics programme, as well as a dance studio.

Price: Prices differ according to type of class

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9am - 5pm; Sunday, 9am - 12pm, find schedule here
Good to know: The Parent/Child classes promote early development and provide a strong foundation for your child’s critical first three years

19-33 Regent Road | Sea Point | 021 569 0150 | Instagram: @tlgseapointcapetown | Image: The Little Gym

EAT AT KNEAD WHILE THE KIDS PLAY

This playpark is for young and old, with a range of activities to keep you busy all day. Activities include a digital art room, toddler town, mini-slide, climbing wall, gladiator pit, bulls-eye climb, river run, giant spiral tunnel, jump zone, blaster tower, extreme high-rope course and more. For parents, there’s a boutique gym and a Knead Bakery.

Price: From R60 (0-2 years old); from R75 (3-5 years old); from R90 (6 years and older)

Hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 8am-6pm; Friday, 8am - 9pm, Sunday, 8am-7pm

Corner of Burton and Aurora Street | Durbanville | 021 205 3844 | Instagram: @ipic_play | Image: Ipic Play

LET THE CREATIVITY FLOW

The kids can get messy and creative, and you don’t need to clean up after them - does that sound like a dream come true?nbsp;Well it can be. At Art Jamming, kids get the chance to get creative in the studio with a buffet of paints, various canvas sizes and the freedom to mess as they go along. 

Price: R160 per person (includes all materials, plus the studio’s artists on hand. Prices vary depending on the size of canvas)

Hours: Daily, 9am - 5pm

Breakwater Blvd | V&A Waterfront | 021 425 5050 | Instagram: @artjammingsa | Image: Artjamming

LET THE KIDS BOUNCE 

Kids can jump, hop and bounce about at this play park. Bounce World in Milnerton has the largest inflatable play area in South Africa. Not only is it a great place for kids and adults of all ages to visit, but it also has an action sports arena with four sports to choose from (cricket, soccer, netball and hockey). 

Price: R110 per child

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 9am - 6pm; public holidays, 9am – 3pm

15 Montague Drive | Montague Gardens | 021 551 5220 | Image: Bounce World

SOLVE PUZZLES AND CLUES 

This one is for the older kids. HintHunt Africa has a range of games that pits players against the clock as they race to solve clues and escape a room. Choose from themes like Shipwrecked, where you’ll search for lost pearls – if you fail, the ship sinks. In The Old Hotel room you must uncover the truth about the suspicious disappearance of a prominent author, or in The Cursed Treasure, you must break the ancient curse. Experience the thrill of a live escape-room game at HintHunt Africa.

Price: From R295 p/p

Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am-7pm; Sunday, 9.30am-5.30pm

Watershed | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | 076 187 2764 | Instagram: @hinthuntafrica | Image: Simone Strydom

SKATE BACK TO THE 80’S 

The first indoor roller-skating amusement park in Cape Town has loads to keep kids busy. Get your groove going on 8 wheels and skate around the empty parking garage filled with disco lights and live music from the DJ booth. There’s also pool tables and arcade machines, in case you can’t master the slippery skates at Rollercade.

Price: R150 (2-hour session + rental of skates and safety gear); R80 (bring your own skates); R40 (arcade)

Hours: Wednesday, 1pm-6pm; Thursday and Friday, 1pm-9pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 10am-6pm

Alfred Street | V&A Waterfront | 072 064 3963 | Instagram: @rollercadeza | Image: Rollercade

INDOOR PLAYPARK FUN AT PLAYDATE SUPERPARK 

The PlayDate SuperPark is a world of adventure bringing fun-filled play time for kids ages 0-12 years. SuperPark is perfect for group activities, like birthday parties and school tours. Activities include Zip Lane, great for core strength and development, and the Mini Maze, which is good for building coordination skills and bravery, perfect for 0-6 year olds.

Price: First hour free (Under 1’s); R35 for first hour (Under 2’s + one adult), after 2 hours normal rates apply

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am-5pm

The Watershed | V&A Waterfront | 060 718 2862 | Instagram: @playdatesuperpark_sa

PLAY MINI-GOLF IN A CAVE

Go on an 18-hole adventure and play  Cave Golf at one of two locations. The layout at the Waterfront is relatively short and compact, while the one in Simon’s Town is more spread out. The Simon’s Town course features underground areas with rock walls, cave and mine obstacles, ancient relics, an underground waterfall, a section lit only by UV light, and mineral displays as they were originally discovered, embedded in the surrounding rock.

Price: R35 pp

Hours: Vary depending on location 

VISIT THE PLANETARIUM AND DIGITAL DOME

Being the most advanced digital planetarium on the African continent, Iziko Planetarium is a must-visit. It’s an unparalleled experience, with animations and 360° cinema. et The kids will learn about the universe or let them enjoy kids’ productions incorporating playful characters. The line-up of shows updates regularly at the Iziko Planetarium.

Price: R40 (children, students, and pensioners); R70 (adults)

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am - 5pm

Planetarium | 25 Queen Victoria St | Cape Town City Centre | 021 481 3800 | Instagram: @izikomuseumssa | Image: Iziko Museums

WORK WHILE THE KIDS PLAY  

Freedom Adventure Park is an indoor play area that is sure to keep the little ones entertained for hours, with a foam pit, play pods, dodgeball and a 50m-long Hi-Line Indoor Rope’s Course. Keep the kids happy while you get the chance to catch up on work in the WiFi-connected Hustle Work Pods (coffee in hand, of course) at Freedom Adventure Park.

Price: Free (children under 1 years old); R45 per hour (children 1-2 years old); R100 for 1st hour and R85 for 2nd hour (children 3+ years old)

Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, 11am-7pm; Fridays, 11am-8pm; Saturdays, 9am-7pm; Sunday, 9am-6pm 

Unit 3A, 333 Main Road | Tokai | 083 279 4453 | Instagram: @freedomadventureparkza

CREATE CLAY MASTERPIECES

With branches in Cape Town City Centre, Hout Bay and Paarl, Clay Cafe focuses on promoting creativity and developing experimentation while creating ceramic art. In addition to helping you build your ceramics, you can host children’s parties with a selection of ceramic paints, party boxes and meals at Clay Café.

Price: R45pp (includes cost of paints, tools, firing and glazing process), plus the cost of the item that you create

Hours: Opening hours vary depending on location 

Three locations | 076 810 5120 | Instagram: @theclaycafe_houtbay | Image: Clay Café

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FOR FURTHER READING

The circus is coming to town, get your tickets now.

Read in a nook, fire truck or bus at Liberty Books.

Explore Cape Town with free and cheap things to do.
Plan your kids birthday at one of these 13 venues.

Beat the boredom with 27 things to do in bad weather.
There’s loads to keep you busy this weekend.

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