Indoor Play Centres in Underwood

Underwood has two indoor play centres, both suburb-local, both built around birthday parties, and the choice mostly comes down to how old your children are and how much you want to spend per head.

Area 51 Underwood is the larger operation, rated 4.2 across nearly 3,000 Google reviews. Google's review themes point to rock climbing, trampolines, high ropes, jumping castles and climbing walls, and reviewers keep returning to activity variety and the birthday party experience. The standout, by our reading, is the dedicated party host system: book a package and one host manages the group throughout. A snow room is popular with younger children, but it books out fast for parties, so ask for it when reserving. Two cautions from reviewers: toddler zones exist but age limits are not always enforced, so parents of under-3s should stay close, and activities are scaled for under-12s, which leaves teens and adults finding the challenge level underwhelming. It also runs warm inside. There is a cafe, free parking, wheelchair access and it is pram friendly.

Rainbow City Play Centre is smaller and cheaper, aimed at ages 1 to 12, and rated 4.4 from 397 reviews. Its review themes are friendly staff, birthday parties, a toddler area, a jumping castle and the indoor playground. Full venue hire is the party format reviewers credit as the smoothest, and the place is repeatedly described as very clean and well maintained. A separate baby and younger sibling zone runs apart from the main play structures, which suits drop-in visits with mixed ages. It has a cafe, baby change, free parking and BYO food is permitted. Parking is tight on weekend mornings.

In short: Area 51 for a 6 to 11 year old who wants ropes and trampolines, Rainbow City for a first or second birthday, or a calm morning with a toddler.