Shopping Centres with Play Areas…Perfect for a Rainy Day

We all need to take kids shopping sometimes and luckily we have retail centres locally with some great play areas. Keep these in mind as a wet-weather activity or for some entertainment before or after doing the shopping.

This piece was first published in 2019 and updated in 2022. If we’ve missed your favourite indoor play area, or something has changed at one listed below, we’d love a heads-up via info@theinnerwestmums.com.au. We checked in with Ikea Tempe, and it looks like Smaland is still closed.

Broadway Sydney
Broadway Sydney shopping centre re-opened the children’s play area on level three in 2021 after a refurbishment. The resulting Broadway Jungle (pictured at top of page) has much to keep little ones occupied. There’s a large tube slide, a climbing frame, two built-in mini trampolines, a short climbing wall and a hot air balloon shaped structure for exploring or some quiet time. It can be easily accessed from the car park and has a well equipped Parents’ Room adjacent. It’s also close to Cafe Sorrell, for a coffee, babycino or kids’ sized milkshake, and one floor down is the food court (which also has an excellent Parent’s Room).

Broadway Sydney is located at 1 Bay St, Glebe. Details: https://www.broadwaysydney.com.au/

Broadway Shopping Centre play area

Marrickville Metro
Marrickville Metro opened its much-anticipated new building in 2021, adding a dining precinct, additional specialty stores and some new play areas for the kids. The existing playground in the original building remains, with two slides built into a small scrambling hill. A short walk away is a new, small vehicle-themed play area (pictured below, left), right outside K-Mart and in the food court. Across in the new building is the Blue Room soft play area (pictured below, right) with foam construction blocks and tubes. There are Parents’ Rooms in both buildings.

And watch this space, as a new play area The Green Room is planned for outside Slim’s Quality Burgers.

Marrickville Metro is located on Smidmore St in Marrickville. Details: https://www.marrickvillemetro.com.au/centre-info/centre-services

Marrickville Metro playground Marrickville Metro play area

Westfield Burwood
Play World at Westfield Burwood is a small, netted obstacle course-style play area, with slides, netting and foam steps. It’s located on Level 2. There are three Parents’ Rooms on-site.

Westfield Burwood is located at 100 Burwood Rd. Details: https://www.westfield.com.au/burwood/service/KqwASvRAg80Sa4OQAwiSI/visiting-with-kids

A LITTLE FURTHER AFIELD…

Top Ryde City
This centre has three play areas for kids. Two are located on level 1, and the other in the food court on LG1. There are Parents’ Rooms located near the toilets on every level. Tada Kids Cafe is also located in this centre.

Top Ryde is located on the corner of Devlin St and Blaxland Rd in Ryde. Details: https://www.toprydecity.com.au/visit-us/

Harbourside, Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour’s Caterpillar Lane features interactive digital panels, climbing towers, slides, light projection games and soft play. Located on Level 2, the play area has anti-slip safety flooring, shoe self-storage and soft foam climbing equipment. For children aged 1–8 years.

Details: https://www.darlingharbour.com/see-and-do/caterpillar-lane

This piece was first published in 2019, and updated in 2022.