Johannesburg- Amazing Maze- family outdoor fun

How many mazes have you visited or even heard of in Johannesburg? I bet you have not heard of a maze based in Chartwell Castle- called "Amazing Maze"?! It's based in the Fourways area and is on property where you can also book to stay. The maze consists of only Pine trees. They have the biggest known uninterrupted hedgerow maze in the Southern world (and the third largest in the world), with over 900 conifers. It covers about 6000 sq.m. (approximately 1.5 acres), which is around 5 times bigger than The Hampton Court Maze. It is also a beautiful and very relaxing place where you can have a picnic. Maze Entrance Fee: R50 for adults, R25 for children under 12.

African animals- Family outing- Lion and Safari Park- Johannesburg

Lion and Safari Park in Gauteng- So, this venue has very few animals- wild dogs, giraffes and lions only. We saw white lions; which are quite rare. You can feed the giraffes or interact with the lion or cheetah cubs- amazing experience! The photo booth is awesome! Unusual photo types or you can use the photos from your cub interaction. Fridge magnets, mouse pads etc.

Johannesburg- Mini Steam train rides: Family Fun

So... where to next....? Another adventure awaits!

Mini steam train rides in Roodepoort, Johannesburg is a fun venue and wont cost you an arm and a leg!

Open to public every 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month. The Rand Society of Model Engineers holds an open day for families to attend and have some fun. Bring a picnic and have a ride on these incredible mini steam trains. It's a wonderful experience for kids and adults! The trains go over little bridges and under a tunnel.

The open day is held at the Len Rutter Park (cnr Golf Club Terrace & Louis Botha Drive) in Florida Park.

The RSME also has a small museum with old engines for viewing.

This venue is also open for kids parties.

Take along: cap, sunblock, sunglasses and a picnic.

P.S Wear comfortable clothes to ride on the train... I wore a skirt for my first visit- not a good idea at all :-).  

Entrance is free on open days (open to the public), rides cost R10/person/ride.

Johannesburg- Farmyard Frendz- Fun for the kids

Here is a party venue located in Randburg that also caters to the public for day visits. You will have to call over the weekend to check if you can visit as the venue may be booked out for kids parties.
The venue has swings, slides, jungle gyms, jumping castles (which they sometimes only blow up for kids parties), trampoline and benches to sit on. They do provide tea and coffee for day visitors and you can pack along your own picnic basket. The venue also provides a bucket of food per person and this feeds all the animals on the farm. The animals included are: guinea pigs, ducks, hens, sheep, pigs rabbits, ostrich, goats, ponies and a donkey. Zebras can be seen grazing in the distance. Pony rides are also included in the entrance which is roughly about R30 pp (price could differ).
Train rides are offered at an additional cost but these are included for kids parties.
Its a fun venue for kids to play and learn about the animals whilst they feed them.
Take along: sunblock, cap, water, picnic basket and extra food for the animals (if you prefer). The adults usually hand over their buckets of food to their kids :-).

Johannesburg- family Fun- GOG Lifestyle Park

Here's another awesome family fun and full day out! The facility offers the following:

- Kiddies party venues
- Play areas: Jumping castle
- BMX Track
- World class Obstacle Course
- Africa’s highest man made climbing wall
- Zip Line
- Abseiling
- Spray Park
- Trampolines: Bounce
- Water Features
- Picnic Area
- Quad rentals. Bike rentals
- Motorised train
- Bumper Cars
- Outdoor Aerobics, Yoga, Pilates
- Calisthenic Gyms
- Bootcamp
- Arts and Crafts
- Dog wash Area with a camp dedicated to dogs

You can take through your own picnic (excluding drinks), or purchase at the restaurant.

Kids can make their own pizzas.

What more do you need in one place???
Take along: A picnic basket, a picnic blanket, swimming costume, towel, sunblock, cap, sunglasses and your camera of cos!

     

Johannesburg- Most decandent milkshakes ever!

If you want to try the best milkshakes ever, here are two options:

1. Craft Parkhurst, Johannesburg- The milkshakes are in 3 different flavors;
chocolate, salted caramel and candy floss.
The chocolate shake is divine and topped with sweets and treats and huge pieces of white and brown chocolate. There are chunks of chocolate inside the chocolate shake.
The candy floss shake has 2 colors of candy floss on top and pink and blue straw sweets.
The chocolate and candy floss shake get mini ice cream mallow cones on top- especially if its ordered by a child.
The salted caramel is topped by a cheese cake.
It is mostly recommended to drink either at brunch or after 'tea time' as it is very filling and if you are a small eater, you wont be able to have this shake with a meal! Sharing with someone else is also an option as these shakes at R90 each.
Craft is also one of the top restaurants and their meals are tasty and very unusual and delicious taste.
It is a small restaurant and they don't take bookings, so plan your day and time as you may need to wait and they get busy really quick!

2. Rocomama's- Freak shakes are available at R50 each and are more reasonably priced.
The shakes also have sweet treat toppings and are divine and filling. Also, plan accordingly if you are eating a meal as the burgers are massive.

Craft Milkshakes

Rocomama's freakshakes

Fun kids activity in Mouille Point, Cape Town- The Blue Train Park-

The Blue Train Park has a beautiful seaside landscape with a backdrop of Lionshead, Signal Hill and Table Mountain. Activities include: Mini Blue Train, the first ever outdoor Ice Rink in South Africa, a 30m zip line (foofy slide), dirt bike tract, cement pushbike track, slide, see-saw, climbing rock, jungle gyms, an obstacle course, basketball net, soccer pitch and a seafront play area. The kids will have a fun filled day! There is a kiosk offering ice cream, chips, cold drinks, sweets and other treats. Take along: sunblock, cap, sunglasses. Drink lots of water for full fun day!

Great view! Durban- Moses Mabida Stadium

Did you know that the Moses Mabida Stadium has a Sky Cable car? I didn't either- until someone in Durban advised me of it! What an awesome experience and stunning views that really should not be missed! You can purchase tickets at the ticketing office on the ground floor of the stadium and then you queue to ride the cable car up. They give you roughly 15 minutes to enjoy the view before you ride back down. It is really high and reminds me of a helicopter ride- which is almost similar regarding the view and distance in the air. Take along: sunblock, water, cap and sunglasses. It is generally windy on the top- so hold onto your hair or hats 😀.

On the sky walk

On the sky walk

On the sky walk

Going up in the cable car

Johannesburg- Avalanche- Bum Boarding fun for adults and kids!

Avalanche in Fourways, Johannesburg is a fun place to be for at least a maximum of 2 hours- as kids (and adults!) do get tired! Especially during the warmer seasons. The "bum boarding" is really FUN. There is a ski slope that has a drag lift that takes you right to the top, but you are using your legs to walk up 😀. It is easy and fun loving for ALL ages. This venue also does skiing and snow boarding as practice on these slopes.
The slopes are steep and kids are allowed to sit on an adult to bum board all the way down. Fun for the whole family! The venue does have food and drinks to order and yummy pizzas for kids. Wear comfortable closed shoes. Gloves are provided for the drag lift or you can carry your own.Take along: bottled water/juice, snacks and sunblock.

Johannesburg- Family restaurant- Tres Jolie

Are you looking for a fun family venue that will keep your kids entertained in Johannesburg? Look no further! Tre Jolie will keep your kids entertained for hours! There are camel rides (Wow, you have to experience this!), pony rides, farm animals to feed, a sand pit, a variety of jungle gyms, little bikes to ride, arts and craft- sand art, face painting, jumping castles and a few carousal rides that all provide hours fun! The food is delicious!

Tres Jolie is a country restaurant and venue in the Ruimsig area of Gauteng. Characterised by exquisite gardens and landscaped with fountains and water features this picturesque restaurant also offers a kids menu. Take along: sunblock, cap and sun glasses for protection!

Johannesburg- Family fun- Wild Waters

Try Wild Waters in Boksburg, Johannesburg! It is a world of Water fun! It is a very neat venue that was recently upgraded. It gets really busy so the suggestion over peak periods is to ensure that you arrive there earlier- although it will be a bit of waiting outside. There is a huge kiddies pool that has slides as well. This pool has the occasional waves that make it awesome!

 There are 2 other pools: one has 2 straight slides and the other has a fun adventurous slide- both suitable for kids as a tube is used on both slides. For the more daring... there is another slide which you need to slide down with a 'bed' tube and it is more steep. There is also another more twisty slide for the more daring as well :-). There are sometimes jumping castles set up at the venue. It is definitely a venue where the entire family can relax, sun bathe and read a book or spend the day at all the pools. You can also pack a picnic basket or have a braai. Summer FUN! Take along: swimming costumes, change of clothes, towel, sunblock, cap and sun glasses for protection!