Kids will love being let loose on their own mini roads at Kew Traffic School

When:  Get in early – getting a booking here is like securing a wedding venue.. well okay maybe not quite that bad if you’re comparing to Rippon Lea in spring, but don’t be shocked if weekends are booked out at least six months in advance.

Where:  Kew Traffic School, corner Cotham and Grange Rds, Kew.  Click here for map.

What: A fantastic venue to hire for private parties and there are also some school holiday programs based here (we haven’t attended one of these programs, only parties, but check the website for more information on these holiday programs).  Collect the keys from the Boroondara Council a few days before, you have the venue exclusively during the time slot booked. There are a selection of amenities (toilets, hot water urn, microwave, BBQ, undercover table, car park) you’re welcome to access and at the end of your session you are required to leave the space clean and tidy. For all the details (and online bookings) check the website: www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/residents/kew-traffic-school/private-bookings

Cost: Weekend booking $195 for 2.5 hour time slot

Review

This venue is perfect for the 2 – 10 year old age group.  BYO scooter, bike or other wheels and watch them go.

We set up the under cover table area with some party food, fired up the BBQ for sausages in bread and had a few tubs filled with drink boxes and snack packs so the kids could easily drop in for quick pit stop and refuel.  The kids just kept going and going and going – even when it rained!  Don’t be put off by the potential for rain – it certainly didn’t dampen our morning.  And being such a generous sized venue it’s perfect for large groups.

At the end of the party all our little guests left with flushed cheeks and big grins (and some muddier that others).  And the birthday boy was totally chuffed.

There are loads of wheelie bins (regular and recycling) and so cleaning up is pretty simple.  Getting the kids back in the car and off their bikes a whole other another challenge.

I should probably tell you a little about the venue other than the amenities!  It’s quite a big space and the series of roads that run through the area make the circuit more a series of “choose your own adventure” as opposed to race track.  It also means that it takes the children a little time to do the whole road network – and they can focus on different areas depending on what turns they make at the intersections.. I noticed some children also chose to park their bike/scooter for a bit and play pedestrian.  I should also point out that the name “Traffic School” is a little misleading when it comes to private parties – there is no instruction (or staff member) and the children are left to interpret the space as they wish – obviously you are responsible for their safety and damage to the property, but under normal play circumstances this is a wonderful space to make believe and pretend to be “grown up”.  The traffic lights are genuine, but presented at child height, and the scaled down buildings located along the streets further enable this make believe experience.

We booked the Kew Traffic School for Charlie’s fourth birthday and I would hesitate booking it for a much younger aged child – even if they are a gun on their bike or scooter you’d have to consider the ability of their friends.  A few younger brothers and sisters joined us who were not yet 3 and it was a little more challenging for them (and their parents who needed to keep a closer eye on them).

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