School holiday guide: what’s on across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula
Last minute changes to lockdown restrictions will make beating school holiday boredom even more challenging than usual. Here’s what you can still do to keep the kids amused.
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House parties and big family catch ups are now off the cards for the school holidays.
And plans to venture interstate are also looking dicey as lockdown restrictions change daily.
But some Frankston and Mornington Peninsula attractions are up and running and offering respite to distracted parents trying to work from home and supervise school aged children.
Check out our guide to what you can do when the winter break starts next week.
HIT THE FLICKS
Peninsula Cinemas re-open in Rosebud and Sorrento on Friday, June 26. Seating will be limited to no more than 20 patrons per auditorium with every second row left vacant and two seats blocked out either side of each group. Release dates for many new films have been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic so new and old favourites will be screened in their place. School holiday sessions kick off with Sonic the Hedgehog, Frozen 2, Jumanji: The Next Leve l, Spies in Disguise and Dolittle. Bigger kids can rediscover classics such as Breakfast at Tiffanys, Grease or Mean Girls.
Village Cinemas Karingal is relaunching on Thursday, June 25 with specials including $8 tickets for adults and $20 gold class tickets.
Hoyts Frankston is yet to announce an official opening date, but has movie session times starting from July 2 on its website.
GO RETRO
Dromana 3 Drive In is now open and offering a $30 a car special to celebrate.
Tickets can be bought online or at the gate and patrons are advised to arrive early to avoid queues. Shel’s Diner is closed to customers but take away orders can be made via smart phone and delivered to your car. Patrons must stay in their cars unless visiting the toilets, which will have a maximum of four people allowed entry at a time. Session times start at 6.30pm and 8.45pm and tickets include three films.
BINGE ON BOOKS
Frankston and Mornington Peninsula libraries will offer their school holiday programs online via zoom and Facebook. Mornington options suit children aged 6-12 and include making a scrapbook, snowbird mask or wrapped alpaca. Craft packs for each activity will be sent to participants prior to the session so bookings are essential. Frankston online activities include coding, cooking and making bath bombs. Both services are also offering virtual story time sessions. Branches at Hastings, Mornington, Rosebud, Somerville, Carrum Downs, Frankston and Seaford have reopened for limited hours for some timed face-to-face services including borrowing books and using computers.
INDOOR ACTION
Most play centres will open again in time for the school holidays but not all activities will be offered and others will be restricted.
Gravity Zone is taking bookings for sessions including jumping, laser tag, basketball. dodge ball and virtual reality. The Carrum Downs centre’s Foam Zone and Ninja Zone will remain closed. Trampolines will be limited to one person at a time and recycled socks will not be offered. All patrons will have to undergo temperature checks and entry numbers will be capped.
Strike Bayside has created a range of 1.5 hour bowling packages that include one game and drinks starting from $20 a person. Bookings are essential and can be made online or via phone (if booking a time less than 48 hours in advance). All participants will be checked in, given a wristband and shown to their table. Guests must be seated while eating or drinking and those under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Getting a hole in one without having to brave the winter chills is again possible thanks to X-Golf Mornington reopening. The centre offers five simulators that allow players access to the world’s best digital courses, a driving range, practice mode and fun modes for putt putt or mini golf style games. Bookings are now being taken but numbers are limited to four people per simulator and up to 20 people across the venue at any time.
If the kids are climbing the walls, Bayside Rock can help. The Carrum Downs venue has reopened to limited numbers for bouldering, top rope and lead climbing. Strict time limits are in place – 90 minutes for climb sessions and 105 minutes for bouldering. Bookings are limited to two people and customers cannot move between zones.
Little Shop of Horrors Costumery is offering a Witchcraft and Wizardry Experience. The Harry Potter themed workshops offer a mix of magic and crafty fun. Wannabe wizards can make a magic wand, mix a bubbling potion or pot their very own Mandrake. Individual classes are $35 or book a bundle of three for $100.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Enchanted Adventure Garden’s long awaited Sky Scramble is now complete and the park has reopened in time for the school holidays. The aerial playground is 10 metres above ground and includes rope bridges, cargo nets, obstacles, scramble nets, cubby house and slides. The Big Zip, Grand Tree Surfing and Nippers Tree Surfing are also back up and running. A special clean team has been deployed to ensure the safety of all staff and visitors and strict social distancing measures are in place across the park. Bookings are essential and numbers are limited.
Boneo Discovery Park has more than 10ha to explore including an 18 hole minigolf course and the incredible Animalia in Sand. Both will be open for the school holidays. The park’s small hedge maze, wooden maze, giant games and boardwalks are also open to explore.
The Big Goose is set to reopen on Friday, June 26. The Tyabb animal and farm experience is now taking bookings via its website and will not allow walk-ins. Numbers will be limited there will be changes to activities. The Red Barn will be closed, there will be no pony rides and the tractor rides will have limited seating.
Animals don’t practise social distancing and are more than ready to welcome back their human friends to Moonlit Sanctuary. The Pearcedale park is open across the school holidays with night tours for up to 10 people on offer as well as a range of animal encounters. One-on-one experiences include cuddling a koala, hand feeding a kookaburra and having a play date with a dingo and a meet and greet with Mary the wombat. Bookings are essential.
OFFLOAD THE KIDS
Holiday programs for primary school aged children are still operating and will be free under the federal government’s early childhood education and care relief package. Team Kids is running programs at Benton’s Community Centre and Osborne Primary School, St Macartan’s Parish primary, Mt Eliza North Primary and Toorak College. No excursions will be offered. Camp Australia is running vacation care at Dromana Primary School, Mount Eliza Primary School and Kingsley Park Primary School.
Wannabe Beckhams can enrol in an Absolute Soccer holiday camp thanks to changes to the way the sessions are run. The camp will be held only at Mace Oval, Mount Martha from 9am to 12 noon, June 29 to July 1 and July 6-8. Numbers are limited to 42 per day at $40 a head.