Free/cheap ideas to do in Eastern suburbs VIC

[chloee42]

Wanting some cheap/free ideas or places in the eastern suburbs of VIC apart from Storytime at the Library or going to the park.
Let me know if you have any ideas.....

[bellalika]

Are you close to Borinia? I attend a Playgroup there. It is $35 a term, so $3.50 a week. It is held at a church but not very religious at all.


Sorry, I'm iPhone-lexic

[tonimatrix]

I took some clients of mine to the Caribbean Market a few sunday's ago. They had free stuff like animals (birds) to look at, and a live band. There is also a miniature railway, some mini car things, and some other stuff we didn't get to see- so not sure about the cost of them.

There's also Chesterville Farm and the railway museum... Not sure if this will be of any interest. Also, being school holidays, I'd check the local paper as shopping centers do all sorts of free activities for kids.

[bellalika]

Knox City is doing gingerbread person decorating the first week of school holidays. It's free.


Sorry, I'm iPhone-lexic

[august]

Eastland has a WOT WOTs live show and a RAGGS the dog live show these holidays.

Look up Happy Hands Art in nunawading

Community centres have cheap playgroups

Plaster painting in ferntree gully

Indoor playcentres

Gymnastics Australia has a kinder gym program (bayswater, ringwood, ferntree gully)

[august]

Mainly music is a kids music program run through church volunteers it only costs about $4 a week. They have a website.

[august]

Healesville sanctuary
Mini golf in croydon i think its called maroondah mini golf
Sky High Mt Dandenong has a maze and gardens, cafes etc
Snow and rainforest walk at Mt Donna Buang Warburton
Badger Weir at Badger creek
Trout fishing at Tommy finns trout farm Warburton
Swimming pools

[chloee42]

Thanks so much everyone! Keep the ideas coming! If you haven't been to the Big Slide in Ferntree Gully yet, it's an indoor playground and is fantastic!
If your child is under 12mths they get in free during the week otherwise I think it is $7. I have been taking my son there since he was 8mths old and he loves it - especially the 3 storey slide????!!!!!

Bellalinka, I live close to Boronia, do you mind letting me know the details of the Playgroup - address and what day/time it's on?

The concerts at Eastland sound great - think we might head there too.

A friend of mine attends a kindergym very similar to Gymbaroo but only $4 in ROwville every friday for children up to age 3 if anyone is interested. If you know of any other places in ringwood/mitcham area, let me know. I have rung mainly music and all have waiting lists so hopefully the wait isn't too long. Also emailed the Art group but only lunch classes available at the moment,

I hope we can continue to share ideas!
Thanks again!

[august]

Thanks so much everyone! Keep the ideas coming! If you haven't been to the Big Slide in Ferntree Gully yet, it's an indoor playground and is fantastic!
If your child is under 12mths they get in free during the week otherwise I think it is $7. I have been taking my son there since he was 8mths old and he loves it - especially the 3 storey slide????!!!!!

Bellalinka, I live close to Boronia, do you mind letting me know the details of the Playgroup - address and what day/time it's on?

The concerts at Eastland sound great - think we might head there too.

A friend of mine attends a kindergym very similar to Gymbaroo but only $4 in ROwville every friday for children up to age 3 if anyone is interested. If you know of any other places in ringwood/mitcham area, let me know. I have rung mainly music and all have waiting lists so hopefully the wait isn't too long. Also emailed the Art group but only lunch classes available at the moment,

I hope we can continue to share ideas!
Thanks again!

Hi Id love to know the name of the gym place in Rowville that is only $4, I wanted to take my DS to kindergym but couldn't afford it.
Thanks.

[bellalika]

Thanks so much everyone! Keep the ideas coming! If you haven't been to the Big Slide in Ferntree Gully yet, it's an indoor playground and is fantastic!
If your child is under 12mths they get in free during the week otherwise I think it is $7. I have been taking my son there since he was 8mths old and he loves it - especially the 3 storey slide????!!!!!

Bellalinka, I live close to Boronia, do you mind letting me know the details of the Playgroup - address and what day/time it's on?

The concerts at Eastland sound great - think we might head there too.

A friend of mine attends a kindergym very similar to Gymbaroo but only $4 in ROwville every friday for children up to age 3 if anyone is interested. If you know of any other places in ringwood/mitcham area, let me know. I have rung mainly music and all have waiting lists so hopefully the wait isn't too long. Also emailed the Art group but only lunch classes available at the moment,

I hope we can continue to share ideas!
Thanks again!

I'd love to know the name of the gym too. Do you know if they do other days? I work Fridays. :(

The Playgroup is at Knox Community Baptist Church. They run sessions Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri mornings from 9:30-11:30. They do a rostered playgroup on Tuesdays and Thursdays too in lieu of three year old kinder. The Playgroup is designed for kids 18 months to 4 yrs. DS2 has been going since he was 3 weeks old without drama. The joy of older siblings.


Sorry, I'm iPhone-lexic

[chloee42]

HI girls,
have rung several clubs linked to Gymnastics Australia and they only appear to take classes for kids 2 years old and up.
I will try and find out the details of the Rowville kindigym - don't think they run in the school holidays.

Going to take my son to see The Wot Wots this week at Eastland and also his favourite show Magical Tales - William and Sparkles are performing at Fountain Gate this Thursday at 10am!!!! Hoping to make it there I think they are at Chadstone, Greensborough etc during the week.

keep the ideas coming.

[bellalika]

HI girls,
have rung several clubs linked to Gymnastics Australia and they only appear to take classes for kids 2 years old and up.
I will try and find out the details of the Rowville kindigym - don't think they run in the school holidays.

Going to take my son to see The Wot Wots this week at Eastland and also his favourite show Magical Tales - William and Sparkles are performing at Fountain Gate this Thursday at 10am!!!! Hoping to make it there I think they are at Chadstone, Greensborough etc during the week.

keep the ideas coming.

I went to WotWots today. :)

[august]

I went to WotWots today. :)

Ohh How was the show Bellika ? Is it worth going ?

[MyPossum]

HI girls,
have rung several clubs linked to Gymnastics Australia and they only appear to take classes for kids 2 years old and up.
I will try and find out the details of the Rowville kindigym - don't think they run in the school holidays.

Going to take my son to see The Wot Wots this week at Eastland and also his favourite show Magical Tales - William and Sparkles are performing at Fountain Gate this Thursday at 10am!!!! Hoping to make it there I think they are at Chadstone, Greensborough etc during the week.

keep the ideas coming.

We go to "tumbletots" in Nunawading/Mitcham. It's not very cheap, but it's way cheaper than the Gymbaroo prices I was quoted! They have classes for walking/about 1 year old up. They have a website and a facebook page and run classes monday to fridays

[bellalika]

Ohh How was the show Bellika ? Is it worth going ?

It was really crowded when we got there 20 minutes early for the 11am show. We needed to stand at the back. The show went for just over 15 minutes.

Some selfish old cow pushed and stood (with a 10 month old on her shoulders) in front of all the people waiting at the back. She had about 40 pairs of eyes boring into the back of her head for 5 minutes until she moved. L stood up in the pram and danced. I held A so his brother could see and dance.

It is essentially three ladies (two as puppeteers) on stage dancing along to a cd. L loved it though and A got his wiggle on. 15 minutes was long enough for L to enjoy it but not get bored. If you go either get there early or look over / through the railing from the second story. Have fun!

[chloee42]

Thanks for the tips! We are going today to the 12 show. How rude of that mother - hard enough to see as it is. If you want to have your child on your shoulder you should have no one behind you and make sure of it!

We are off to see William and Sparkles from Magical Tales on Thursday at Forest Hill - not sure how my son will go seeing them in person! He is only 14mths old! I thought they were doing a show but it is just a meet and greet so if we don't get there it doesn't matter too much,

I actually bought a Scoopon voucher for TumbleTots and was getting ready to use it, contacted the lady at Nunawading but due to budget cuts, they aren't running the youngest class at the moment so ill wait until he's walking and then use it. She was great and said she will happily extend the voucher expiry until next year! It was only $15 for 3 sessions with the voucher i thought that was a good deal. Has anyone bought any other good Scoopon, Cudos etc vouchers?

How old is everyone's children?

[bellalika]

I actually bought a Scoopon voucher for TumbleTots and was getting ready to use it, contacted the lady at Nunawading but due to budget cuts, they aren't running the youngest class at the moment so ill wait until he's walking and then use it. She was great and said she will happily extend the voucher expiry until next year! It was only $15 for 3 sessions with the voucher i thought that was a good deal. Has anyone bought any other good Scoopon, Cudos etc vouchers?

How old is everyone's children?

Wow, that sounds like a great deal. And so lovely of her to extend the expiration date with all the legalities saying that they don't have to. I haven't bought any vouchers but I hear good things about them if you pick wisely. I can add yours to the "good" column.

My boys are 3 years, 4 months and 1 year, 3 months.

[MyPossum]

Wow, that sounds like a great deal. And so lovely of her to extend the expiration date with all the legalities saying that they don't have to. I haven't bought any vouchers but I hear good things about them if you pick wisely. I can add yours to the "good" column.

My boys are 3 years, 4 months and 1 year, 3 months.

She is lovely (sharon?). I have a spare free trial voucher here actually if anyone wanted it? Will go to waste otherwise, I already offered it to friends!
Pm me if interested :-)


DH + Me = DD (4/4/10)

[bun]

Hi,

I have just come across this thread and I am super interested in the kindergym in Rowville for $4 per session, I have just spent ages searching ion the interwebs to no avail :( Any further info on this would be greatly appreciated :)

[chloee42]

We went to the Rowville kindergym/playgroup a couple of fridays ago the sessions are 9:30-10:30 and 11-12.
It was great the first 20mins but then lots of kids came and it got a bit out of control. Basically it's equipment stations set up and for 40mins kids just do there own thing! Then the organisers blow bubbles and the kids follow into the church for singing which was fun they then get out a giant parachute and play games.

It was $3 a session corner of Bridgewater rd and Fullham rd just after Stud shops in ROwville.
I found it mucked up my sons naptime though as he normally has lunch during that time slot. We will go again but I am going to try and find smething on a different day. Got my son into Mainly music program and it is brilliant! $5 a session and structured. They only take a certain number of chn at a time so kids are behaved and not too many to get out of control. Anyone else know of any other kindergyms/plagroups etc around ringwood/knox area?

[mumma inky]

We have started Ed Gym at our local YMCA (Berwick). It's $16 per fortnight and it's very similar to what's described above activity wise, but classes are capped at about 10 children.... HTH

[chloee42]

Just wondering if anyone knows a reasonably priced place for swimming lessons for toddlers in OUter Easern suburbs? I am happy to take my son to a small place or large leisure centre - as long as it isn't too costly.

[bellalika]

Knox leisure works (Boronia YMCA) charges $22.50 a fortnight for lessons. You get one school holiday program included in that. The down side is that you still pay during school holidays when their aren't lessons. You can suspend your membership for January if you want. The positive is that you can use the pool whenever you want at no extra cost. Both my boys go there.

Paul Sandler in Rowville is meant to be brilliant but costs about $160+ a term. In the long run probably similar to the YMCA.

Try Genesis gym on Scoresby Road or Beaver Swim School on Boronia Rd. Beaver has a salt water (chlorine free) pool apparently. A friend takes her daughter there as she reacts to the chlorine at other places but not there.

As I'm not sure where you are I'm not sure if that info helped or not. Hope it did.

[chloee42]

Thanks heaps! Yep Im in Bayswater so all are close by. How old were your boys when you started lessons? What age do you think is a good age?

[bellalika]

DS1 started at 8 months. DS2 started 3 weeks ago at 15 months. They are put in groups by age. 6-14 months, 15-24 months, 2-3.5 years and 3.5 to 4 years. Under 3.5 it is a lot of singing and games incorporating swimming skills. Over 3.5 it is less games and singing. DS1 goes up to the big class next week. I'm very nervous as he loves playing on the mat etc.

If your up early we have 8:30am lessons on Sunday. It was the only time we could get the boys in classes either back to back or at the same time.

[bun]

I am pretty sure Kilsyth Centenary Pool does pay as you go lessons for only $8.00 each I have a friend that goes here but have not looked into myself, I think it would be handy if you don't have to pay the full term upfront as then you don't miss out if bubs is sick.

[chloee42]

Thanks for all the swimming lessons places - the Kilsyth one sounds good as then if you can't make it you don't lose money.

In regards to the Rowville Uniting Church Toddlergym, I refuse to go back! Today was our third time and I was disgusted. There were way too many kids and lots of older kids who didn't look like 'toddlers' running around, being rough and lots of chaos. Their mums weren't supervising them they were standing and have a gossip whilst poor little kids under 18mths old were getting knocked over and lots of near misses. I was so annoyed and was going to say something but didn't. The mainly music programs seem so much better as they are structured, limits to how many children etc. Maybe because it's so cheap and only $3 I shouldn't complain but I don't think it is safe for my 15mth old to be there. If you have older children, you might like it but for little kids, it might be dangerous. Just thought I would share my experience with you - im going to look for another kindergym in the area.