Soar like a superhero at iFLY Downunder

If there’s one thing every kid dreams of, it’s soaring into the air like a superhero. Give your family the chance to unleash their powers with a session at iFLY Downunder. At this indoor skydiving centre, the huge vertical flight chamber uses massive wind generators to create a cushion of air that lets you defy gravity as effortlessly as Iron Man.

You’ll get the same heart-in-your-mouth rush of excitement as you would if you were skydiving – competitive skydivers even use it to perfect their technique – without having to strap on a parachute or jump out of a plane. iFLY is suitable for all ages and abilities, and instructors stay in the flight chamber with you to help you master the moves (tip: it’s all about relaxing and letting the wind do the work) while the rest of the family cheer you on through the glass walls. Don’t forget to smile, there’s a camera capturing your high-flying moment. If you want to relive it again and again, then be sure to purchase your snaps as digital downloads on your way out.

iFLY Downunder, Penrith

Call the shots

If you thought your family games of Scrabble got competitive, wait until you give Aqua Golf a try. Imagine a golfing range, but with the green replaced by a glassy lake, complete with vistas of the Blue Mountains in the background. The challenge is to hit your ball into one of the targets on the water (and yes, the golf balls float too). The targets are positioned to cater to players of all ages – the closest is just 10 metres away – and you can collect a cash prize if you score a hole in one. Clubs are supplied; to get started, all you need to do is to buy a bucket of golf balls.

Every player has their own style – some rely on a steady hand and a sharp eye, others prefer knocking it out of the park. Either way, you'll be exclaiming in delight or howling in despair in no time..

Aqua Golf, Penrith

Learn the ropes

After an activity that’s equally as challenging for the brain as it is for your body? Then you’re ready to hit the rock-climbing wall. For a great family activity that challenges you both mentally and physically, an indoor rock-climbing session at The Climbing Centre Penrith is hard to beat. With 21 climbing walls and more than 100 different routes, all colour-coded by ability, the best thing about it is little novices as young as three can climb alongside seasoned pros.

Absolute beginners can stay close to the ground with a bouldering session, while thrill seekers will want to hit the ropes straight away. Nothing beats the charge that shoots through your body when you reach the top of a wall – and the harder the climb, the greater the satisfaction. (Especially when you beat mum or dad to the top!)

The Climbing Centre, Penrith

Get paddling

When it comes to sure-fire recipes for a good time with the gang, it’s hard to beat the combination of kids plus water. Give your teens an aquatic adventure of a different kind with a kayaking session on the glorious Nepean River. The calm waters make this a relaxing activity even for first-time paddlers, and Horizon Line lets you choose between teaming up in double kayaks or going it alone in single kayaks.

Double kayaks bring the pleasure of learning to paddle in time, the two of you finding a satisfying rhythm that propels you smoothly through the water (with a few accidental splashes as you work it out). Single kayaks suit more competitive family members, those who want to prove they can go faster and further than anyone else. Either way, there’s something magical about the feeling of gliding across the water, nothing but the sounds of the breeze in the trees and the call of local birds, in the company of those you love most.

Horizon Line, Penrith

For white-knuckle thrills, ride the waves at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. The man-made course is open to the public for ages 12 and up for whitewater rafting and kayaking. In crews of up to eight (plus a highly trained guide), you’ll battle the challenging and gushing waters before hauling the boat back to the start of the course as many times as you can squeeze into your 90-minute session.

Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Penrith
 

Hop aboard a fire engine

Budding firefighters can visit Penrith's aptly named Museum of Fire to learn all about the world of putting out flames. With detailed displays, vintage vehicles and the chance to don a uniform, put on a helmet and hop aboard a fire engine (check the schedule ahead of time to ensure it’s available), kids will get a proper insight into what it takes to be a firefighter. The junior firefighter’s area is sure to be a highlight, with fire-safety activities, puzzles and interactive emergency vehicles. Kids can also put their skills to the test with the Eye Spy activity card, a play-as-you-go activity that requires the utmost attention to spot all the featured objects throughout the museum. Bigger kids can play the trivia round on the back, and no matter which side of the activity card you complete you have a chance to score a small prize at the end.

Museum of Fire, Penrith

Stretch your legs

If the kids need to burn off some energy, the Great River Walk is a picturesque path to stretch your legs. Running along the banks of the Nepean River between Penrith and Emu Plains, the spectacular views are quickly revealed and reach all the way back to the Blue Mountains. At just 7km, this flat loop is easy to tackle and can even be completed on two wheels. Along the way you’ll find playgrounds and picnic spots worth a pitstop, and keep your eyes peeled for kayakers down below.

Great River Walk, Penrith

Let your mind wander

Penrith Regional Gallery is a kid-friendly space filled with a 1,600-work collection that encourages little minds to wonder and wander. Set in the former home of sculptor Gerald Lewers and painter Margo Lewers, they converted the property into a gallery space back in 1981. Now, it holds regular exhibitions (like solo shows of Australian artists) and events (like musical performances from young students).

There are also year-round art classes for kids of all ages. Bubs can enjoy free-play sensory activities while older kids from five to eight will learn how to paint, draw, print and sculpt. Nine to 12-year-olds can also enrol in a term and try their hand at 2D and 3D art projects.

Penrith Regional Gallery, Penrith

Race to the finish line

If a fun day out means zipping past your family members in a Go-kart and burning rubber around a track, then you’re in for a win at Luddenham Raceway. A short drive out of Penrith, this adrenaline playground is for the thrill-seekers in the family who love a little competition.

On the Pro Circuit (ages 14 plus), you can go head-to-head in your own mini Grand Prix to see who’ll cross the finish line first. Want to capture your victory? GoPros are allowed on the track, so bring one along if you want to remember the moment. Sessions last for 10 minutes and can be booked in advance.

Luddenham Raceway, Luddenham

Bounce into some action-packed fun

Come summertime, nothing says fun like a water park. At Cables Wake Park, beginners and pros can water-ski, wakeboard and kneeboard to their hearts’ content. Kids (and kids at heart) will love the Aqua Park where inflatable slides, trampolines and obstacles let your inner child out. Little ones aged three to five can join a parent at the brand-new Kids Cove, a fun-filled inflatable area just for the younger ones.

If, somehow, kids still have energy to burn, there’s also a playground and basketball court on site. Parents can watch on from the cafe or prepare a feast at the barbecue facilities to help the fam refuel. Extend your stay by booking in at the overnight dorm accommodation and turn your fun day out into a weekend-long adventure.

Cables Wake Park, Penrith - Credit: Cables Lodge Accommodation

Set sail

If you’ve squeezed as much adventure out of your visit to Penrith as possible, it might be time to slow things down. Nothing says relaxing like a calming river cruise with Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler. Drift down the beautiful Nepean River and take in the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Mountains vista as you go.

History buffs will love the five-and-a-half-hour history cruise but for something more family-friendly, book the Scenic Adventure Lunch Cruise for a two-course meal and a sneak peek at the captain’s cabin, where kids can even have a go at steering. There are also themed cruises celebrating everything from winter to Christmas, but kids will love the school holiday program where they can dress up in costume as pirates or wizards and take over the ship.

Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler, Jamisontown

Get up close with big cats

A little further afield, Zambi Wildlife Retreat is a 20-minute drive from Penrith where exotic and rescued animals are sent to live out their later years. After a lifetime of performing in the circus, films or at a theme park, or simply being sent from an overcrowded zoo, the animals are given a place to rest where responsible wildlife care is the top priority.

Guided tours are offered to small groups only on weekends to ensure the environment of every fluffy and furry creature is as calming as possible. Book in for the Zambi Experience where anyone over 12 years of age will be guided around the sanctuary by a keeper. There are plenty of add-on animal encounters in case you want to get close to meerkats, red pandas and marmosets or are feeling brave enough to hand-feed a big cat.

Zambi Wildlife Retreat, Wallacia