The 20 Best Winter Activities for Kids in Cape Town

While beaches, forests and mountains may be the defining images of Cape Town, they’re mostly weather-dependent. Fortunately, Cape Town has plenty of other attractions to keep kids (of all ages) busy and entertained when the great outdoors is not an option.

From extreme playgrounds and hi-tech hubs to old-school amusements, Cape Town is brimming with active and creative pursuits. Family: be a ninja, explore space, be an action hero or an artist, take to the ice or a set of wheels… School holidays sorted!

Bounce for joy at Freedom Adventure Park

This mega indoor playground is a bit like being inside a space-themed video game, and caters for all ages with a vast range of activities. Think trampolines galore (including duo reaction gaming), a Leap of Faith onto a massive airbag, 22-metre-long extreme race slides and 8-metre drop slides, a 30-metre zipline and a 50-metre via ferrata (clip-and-climb) ropes course. There’s also a pedal-kart track, a Ninja Run with 11 obstacles and Astro soccer and basketball. On Friday nights from 6pm, it’s all UV-lit. There is also a dedicated Toddler Zone, a drop-and-go supervised option (6 – 11 years old) and helpers for differently abled visitors over 18 years old.
Good to know A range of party packages are available for birthday celebrations. There are work pods for adults to use, plus a pizzeria and Bootleggers coffee to fuel up. There’s another smaller Freedom Adventure Park for young kids in Tokai.
Opening times Daily, 9am – 9pm (sessions start on the hour every hour)
Cost R150 per hour; R400 (all-day pass)
R85 per hour (4 years + under Toddler area); with one adult for full park access R200 per hour
R250 per hour (ages 6 – 11 drop-and-go, Monday – Thursday only)
Cosmic Glow Fridays: R250 per person (3 hours)
R50 (non-slip socks)
Note There are also three-hour specials on first Thursday and first Saturday nights, and a four-hour special every Sunday night.
Contact 083 279 4453, events@freedomadventurepark.co.za
Where to find it Level 2, Canal Walk Mall, Century Boulevard (off N1), Century City, Cape Town
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Keep moving at Total Ninja

If you’ve ever watched Ninja Warrior on TV, you’ll know what to expect at this indoor playpark and fitness centre. Not just a cool name, it also has the coolest combination of obstacles and inflatables to conquer. The black-and-red colour scheme, industrial aesthetic and funky lighting set the mood for some seriously fun action. Total Ninja will have kids of all ages (even grown-up ones) climbing, swinging, jumping, balancing, sliding and negotiating everything from cargo nets, monkey bars, see-saws, wonky ladders and bridges to the wrecking ball, gladiator pit, Wipeout and Warped Wall – plus there’s the Strike Arena for competitive ninjas. It’s a full-body workout, and no matter what happens, there’s always a soft landing.
Good to know There are three levels of ninja ability, including a dedicated area for “mini ninjas” (under-4s), all supervised and guided by trained professionals. The cafe serves all the family favourites, plus great coffee and even mocktails.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 10am – 9pm
Saturday + Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Cost R160 (one hour); R240 (two hours)
Under-5s: R80 (one hour); R120 (two hours)
R45 (compulsory socks)
Contact 021 745 3089, brp@totalninja.co.za
Where to find it Black River Park (South Entrance), Fir Street, Observatory, Cape Town
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Mind-bending fun at Museum of Illusions

This must-see attraction is a space where science, art, psychology and wonder collide in the most magical ways. Like Alice in Wonderland, you can grow bigger or shrink right down; or clone into dozens of versions of yourself – to infinity even; or lose your head (literally) and swap it with someone else’s. Explore more than 60 mind-bending experiences, from immersive rooms and interactive installations to holograms, shape-shifters, puzzles and classic optical illusions. It’s the perfect time-twisting adventure for all ages, and a brilliant way to learn about the science behind what tricks the mind.
Good to know Booking online is recommended; numbers are controlled and entry is every 20 minutes. The museum is cashless.
Opening times Sunday – Wednesday, 9am – 8pm
Thursday – Saturday, 9am – 10pm
Cost R250 (adult)
R200 (children 4 – 12 years + seniors 60 years or older)
Free (children 3 years and under)
R700 (family ticket: 2 adults + 2 children)
Contact info@moicapetown.co.za
Where to find it 10 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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A-maze-ing play at Be.Up Park

For adrenaline-loving, brave-hearted youngsters, Be.Up has everything under one super-exciting roof. The trampoline zone offers nonstop bouncing fun, while those who enjoy climbing can attempt South Africa’s very first clip ’n climb walls – there are 11 and the tallest is eight metres high! Plus there’s the AltiGame zone, with elevated climbing nets and suspended swing steps, and the biggest indoor vertical/3D maze in South Africa with brightly coloured tubes, tunnels, ball ponds, trampolines and slides. There is also a separate Toddler Zone.
Good to know Find a pop-up park at The Watershed, V&A Waterfront until 31 July 2025.
The café has free wifi, delicious treats and light meals. There are three-hour social sessions with neon lighting on Saturday nights.
Opening times (Public + School Holidays) Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, 9am – 9pm
Note: Closed Monday, and with shorter opening hours during term time.
Cost R155 (one hour; trampoline zone, AltiGame; height restriction of 1.1m applies)
R115 (one hour; maze)
R105 (30 minutes; climbing zone only)
R55 (toddler zone for under 4s)
R170 (two-hour playpass: 9am –11am school holidays; anytime offpeak)
R45 (compulsory grip socks)
Contact 087 057 1400, 078 979 4582 (WhatsApp), booking@beuppark.co.za
Where to find it Gardener Place, Rose Innes Street, Pinelands, Cape Town
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Fun for the brain at Cape Town Science Centre

With over 250 exhibits, puzzles, experiments and interactive games that cover a wide range of disciplines including maths, technology and engineering, this play centre/museum is aimed at getting young minds engaged scientifically and showing how learning can be fun. There are many mind-bending exhibits that will astound not only the kids interacting with them but adults too, including a camera obscura, AstroTrek virtual reality (walk on Mars!) and Light Room of colours. Keep an eye out for the Mindball – where children move a ball around with the power of their brain waves – and the Human Gyroscope, where they can spin around and float as if in a low-gravity environment.
Good to know The iCafe coffee shop offers refreshments, light meals and free internet.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 9am – 4.30pm
Public Holidays, 10am – 4.30pm
Cost R95
R45 (pensioners)
R340 (family package for four people)
R85 per person (groups of 10 or more)
Contact 021 300 3200, info@ctsc.org.za
Where to find it 370B Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town
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Warm up your creativity at The Pottery

When winter waves are crashing on Camps Bay beach and you need a place to warm up and get your creative energy flowing, The Pottery is an appealing place for all ages. Just up from the Camps Bay strip (in the same block as The Codfather), the laidback Wonki Ware ceramic-painting vibe is layered with warm and friendly service and easy café food. Pick an item to paint, dip your brush into vibrant colours and go with the flow. On the food front, the pizzas are a highlight: chewy, Neapolitan-style with (IYKYK) leopard prints on the crust; then there are fresh salads, wraps, toasties, Bar-one waffles with sprinkles, smoothies and milkshakes – a real hit with the kids. It also dials up its own brand of Camps Bay nightlife with happy hour cocktails and late opening on the weekends.
Opening times Monday – Wednesday, 9am – 5pm
Thursday – Saturday, 9am – 9pm
Sunday, 9am – 7pm
Cost R125 – R600 per item to paint (paints and firing included)
Contact 087 470 0743, campsbay@thepottery.co.za
Where to find it 41 The Drive, Camps Bay, Cape Town
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Celebrate water at the Two Oceans Aquarium

This world-class aquarium is home to more than 10 000 sea animals of all shapes, sizes and colours. It’s an exciting peek into life off our shores, with a mesmerising swaying kelp forest, schools of shiny fish swimming in unison, gliding turtles and even sharks, which can also be viewed from inside a 10-metre glass tunnel. There are more exotic fish too, such as jellies, octopus, seahorses, pufferfish and moray eels. The popular penguin exhibit is always a hit with the kids, plus they can get up close to anemones and starfish at the Touch Pool.
Good to know Don’t miss the mass fishy feast during feeding time at 12pm; the penguins are fed twice a day, at 11.30am and 2.30pm. There are also three puppet shows daily. If it’s your birthday month, you get free entry (SA ID required).
Opening times Daily, 9.30am – 6pm
Cost R265 (adult); R200 (after 3pm)
R195 (teens, students, pensioners); R147 (after 3pm)
R120 (children 4 – 13 years); R90 (after 3pm)
Contact 021 418 3823, aquarium@aquarium.co.za
Where to find it Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Scale new heights at CityRock

You could sit on the couch watching action films on Netflix – or you can harness up and make like Spider-Man. This 3 600-square-metre indoor climbing gym offers various walls for different types of climbing, solo or with a partner, for the experienced or newbies. CityRock allows youngsters on its climbing walls (age 5 – 12 in the dedicated Kids Zone) as long as children under 16 years have an adult/parent accompanying them. It also offers courses so parents and kids can learn to supervise and climb safely.
Good to know Bookings are required for children under 13 years. Children must be 5 years or older to climb. There must be one adult supervising per two children.
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 11am – 10pm
Friday – Sunday + public holidays, 9am – 6pm
Cost R170 (child, 5 – 18 years) for two hours
R210 (adult); R180 (student/pensioner),
Bouldering: R170 (adult), R130 (student)
Gear: R110 (shoes + harness); R80 (shoes or harness)
R260 (intro to climbing)
Contact 021 447 1326, capetown@cityrock.co.za
Where to find it The Island, 9 Milner Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town
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Embrace the cold at The Ice Station

Cape Town’s ice-skating rink has been around since 1971, offering the novelty of a winter wonderland experience in “sunny SA” – especially for kids. They (or you) might be nervous about stepping onto the ice at first, but in no time you’ll all be gliding around the Olympic-size rink. The freedom of movement ice-skating offers is exhilarating! There is a supervised mini rink for the little ones (under 5 years old) and skating lessons on Saturday morning and Tuesday evening.
Good to know Skating sessions are an hour, 90 minutes or two hours, depending on the time of day, with a 15-minute or half-hour break between. GrandWest also has 10-pin bowling, a games arcade and Lazer Tag.
Opening times Monday + Tuesday, 10am – 4pm
Wednesday + Thursday, 10am – 7.30pm
Friday + Saturday, 10am – 11.30pm
Sunday, 10am – 8.30pm
Cost R70 – R95 (depending on length of session; includes skate hire)
R40 (mini rink, children under 1.3m tall)
R10 (non-skater)
Contact 021 535 2260, bookings@icerink.co.za
Where to find it Grand West Casino & Entertainment World, 1 Jakes Gerwel Drive, Goodwood, Cape Town
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Old-school vibes at Let’s Go Bowling

With its top-notch ten-pin bowling lanes and computer-controlled scoring system, Let’s Go Bowling is fun for the whole family. Add to that a bar selling Newlands Brewery craft beers, cocktails and mocktails, pool tables and big-screen sports, plus a pizza parlour (that also offers burgers, toasties and boerie rolls), and it’s an ideal spot to hang out on rainy days. It’s part of a greater space called Let’s Entertain U, which includes Kidz Play (a supervised indoor playground and giant jungle gym) and a video-game arcade. All bases covered, then.
Good to know There are specials combining food, drinks and games, including a Sunday popcorn and bowling special.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 10am – 10pm
Saturday, 9am – 10pm; Sunday, 10am – 9pm
Cost R90 (one game)
R75 (Kidz Play)
R30 entry (redeemable on food and beverages)
Contact 087 378 0891, 068 270 2641 (WhatsApp), stadium@letsgobowling.co.za
Where to find it Stadium on Main, Main Road, Claremont, Cape Town
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Get some perspective at the Planetarium

This rainy-day favourite for generations has undergone a 21st-century makeover with a Digital Dome, making it the most advanced planetarium on the continent, providing both multi-sensory edutainment and cutting-edge scientific research facilities. With its 360-degree screen, it makes virtual voyages of the entire universe possible. The planetarium has several shows, some specifically for children. Watch We Are Stars to find out about the evolution of the universe and how we are all made of stars, or go on an adventure into space with Sy, Annie and their dog Armstrong in Accidental Astronauts. Older kids and adults will be fascinated by The Search for Life: Are We Alone? narrated by Harrison Ford. The programme changes each month so there’s always something new to discover.
Good to know The Iziko SA Museum is right next door – filled with interesting exhibits ranging from fossils and dinosaurs to giant squids and enormous whale skeletons.
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Shows: Tuesday – Friday, 3pm; Saturday + Sunday, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm + 2pm
School holiday shows: Tuesday – Sunday, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm + 2pm
Cost R90 (SA adults)
R50 (SA children, students + pensioners)
R130 (international visitors)
Contact 021 481 3800, info@iziko.org.za
Where to find it 25 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town
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Catch the steam train to Elgin

Few things are more evocative than a steam-train ride… Ceres Rail’s grand old locomotives make a full-day round trip to Elgin in the Overberg on weekends, departing from the city and travelling up and over Sir Lowry’s Pass (one of the steepest rail lines in South Africa). Enjoy breathtaking mountain and ocean scenery, and views of fynbos-covered hills, farmlands and orchards. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase on board. The destination is the steampunk-style Elgin Railway Market, where live music and street-food stalls create a fun day out, and kids can let off a little steam of their own in the play area.
Good to know There are two bar areas serving cocktails, beer, bubbly and wine; the Bar Lounge car is for adults only.
Opening times Most Saturdays, selected Sundays + public holidays, 7.30am – 6.30pm
Cost R675 (adult); R540 (pensioner); R500 (child); kids under 3 free Book Now
R899 (lounge car seat) Book Now
R975 (observation car seat – selected dates only) Book Now
Family Coupé: R1 775 (two adults + 2 children) Book Now
Family Compartment: R3 350 (seats six adults maximum) Book Now
Where to find it  AC Marriott Hotel platform, Dockrail Road, Foreshore, Cape Town

Paint plates (+ more) at Clay Café

This spot has been a favourite among grown-ups and kids seeking a splash of creativity for 25 years. Once seated, your friendly server will explain the drill, after which you’ll choose your unfired ceramics (there are over 180 items, anything from mugs and bowls to figurines and teapots), paints, brushes, tools, etc. Then simply let your imagination run free while enjoying a bite to eat (from breakfast to gourmet toasties, burgers and pizza). There’s a great kiddies menu, including chocolate bubble waffles and milkshakes, and wine, beer or G&Ts for the adults. Once finished with their painting, kids can let off steam exploring the extensive playground, which includes elevated trampolines, swings, bouncing pillows and slides.
Good to know There’s also a branch in town on Bree Street (more adult-oriented) and a family-friendly venue in the Winelands, Clay Cafe Paarl at Groot Parys. Bookings are essential on weekends and during the holidays. Items take four to five weeks to be fired and glazed.
Opening times Daily, 9am – 5pm
Cost R45 per person (includes 3 paints, tools, firing and glazing).
Unfired ceramics: R80 – R480
Contact 076 810 5120, houtbay@claycafe.co.za
Where to find it Main Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Jump for joy at Rush Extreme Indoor Adventure Park

The answer to many a parent’s prayer on a blustery Cape winter day, this spacious indoor playground – and kids’ party venue –  offers loads of activities for children (and adults) to unleash their boundless energy – diving into a foam pit, bouncing off wall-to-wall trampolines, jousting on the Battle Beam, soaring five metres high on the Super Tramp, tackling a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course or testing their limits on the Air Walk. Other activities include trampoline-based dodgeball and slam-dunking (basketball), plus trampoline workout and Flip Out gymnastics classes. Trained staff are on-hand to provide instruction and watch over children. Cosmic Rush – a glow-in-the-dark experience with music and disco lights – takes place on Friday and Saturday nights (6pm to 8pm). And there are special toddler sessions on Friday and Sunday mornings (9am to 10am).
Good to know There is a coffee shop with free wifi and charging stations so parents have somewhere to hang out and grab a light snack.
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday, 11am – 7pm (holidays from 9am + Monday)
Friday + Saturday, 9am – 8pm; Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Cost R160 (one hour, all access)
R200 (parent + toddler, one hour)
R260 (two hours, all access)
R40 (non-slip socks, compulsory)
R200 (Cosmic Rush, two hours)
Contact 087 094 0178, 021 683 3841, 021 671 1489, infoct@rushsa.co.za
Where to find it 25 Stegman Road, Claremont, Cape Town
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Be enchanted at the Rainbow Puppet Theatre

South Africa’s only dedicated puppet theatre has been entertaining kids since 1992. In keeping with this age-old art form, the stories are traditional too – popular fairytales come to life here (think The Frog Prince, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin…). The theatre itself was made by a Danish woodcrafter and all the puppets, props, costumes and backdrops hand-crafted by the puppeteers over the years. As Rudolf Steiner (founder of Waldorf Education) puts it: “Puppetry is a remedy against the damage of modern civilisation, unfolding and developing the fantasy of the child.”
Good to know Check their social media for what’s showing. There are usually shows on two Saturdays a month. Recommended for ages 4+.
Opening times Saturday, 10am + 11.15am (two shows)
Cost R40 (cash at the door)
Contact 072 129 1061, therainbow.puppettheatre@gmail.com
Where to find it Constantia Waldorf School, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia

Let imaginations run free at Play By Nature

In an increasingly digitised and technological world, we remain human – and little humans need to get to grips with the basics of life first, in a natural, sensory, fun way. Comprising pop-in classes (8 months – 4 years old), drop-and-go play sessions (1 – 5 year olds) and an art club (4 – 8 year olds), Play by Nature is designed to inspire creativity and spark the imagination, while developing motor skills and self-expression. Each week has a theme (from bugs and seasons to beloved storybooks and fantasy worlds), and kids are encouraged to play how they like – be it shaping clay, making natural paints, concocting potions, digging in sand or having a tea party…
Good to know There are two locations – Sea Point and Westlake (which has a coffee shop where adults can work while the kids play) – and a new Play Café will soon be opening in Stellenbosch too. Booking is essential. Outings and birthday parties are also arranged.
Opening times Vary; Monday – Friday, morning + afternoon
Cost Toddler Classes (14 months – 4 years old): R285
Play Sessions (1 – 5 years old): R180 first hour; extra hour R100
Art Club (1 – 5 years old): R300
Contact 061 505 7377, info@playbynature.net
Where to find it Sea Point Studio: Unit 505 The Regent, 19 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Westlake Studio: Unit 1, Gateway Park, 39 Bell Crescent, Westlake, Cape Town
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Play putt-putt in a cave at The Scratch Patch

Whatever the weather outside, you can take on 18 holes of mini-golf in the underground course at the Scratch Patch. Befitting its cave setting, you’ll need to negotiate rock features, caverns, mine obstacles, ancient relics, waterfalls, UV sections and fabulous mineral displays. Then head over to the Scratch Patch for your sparkly reward: beautiful semi-precious stones that can be found include tiger’s eye, agate, rose quartz (the love stone), healing amethyst, jasper, sodalite and all-powerful clear quartz crystal. It’s an exciting and evocative experience that’s been delighting kids for over 40 years.
Good to know There is another Scratch Patch & Cave Golf at the V&A Waterfront.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.45pm (last round starts at 4pm)
Saturday, Sunday + holidays, 9am – 5pm (last round starts at 4.15pm)
Cost R40 (R35 per person for groups of 10 or more)
Scratch Patch: R35 – R160 (depends on the size of the collection bag)
Contact 021 786 2020, tumbled@topstones.co.za
Where to find it Dido Valley Road, Simon’s Town, Cape Town

Be creative at the Tree House at Boschendal

The Tree House playground at Boschendal is probably the best and biggest “jungle gym” in the Cape, with acorn hideouts, slides, walkways, platforms, mushroom pods and pyramids. A daily edutainment programme for kids (aged 3 – 12) lets them get their hands dirty and have good old-fashioned fun in a nurturing environment while you enjoy the rest of what the farm has to offer. The programme includes animal hour, garden hour, arts & crafts, music and movement, as well as play sessions where they’re free to explore the various interactive elements designed to spark their curiosity and creativity. Lunch hour sees them become mini chefs and make their own pizzas or burgers to eat (there’s dessert as well). Book them in for just an hour, or for longer sessions (up to 7 hours).
Good to know Look out for the special Tree House Holiday Programme over school holidays. Activities include pony rides, nature crafts, drumming and slip ’n slide sessions. Booking is essential with 15 slots available per day. Bring rain jackets and gum boots for outdoor activities.
There are back-up plans for very wet weather.
There’s also a MTB pump track next to the Tree House playground in the main werf area that is open to all visitors (BYO bike).
Opening times Tree House Programme: Daily, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost One hour: R90; lunch hour: R190; full day: R710 (includes lunch)
Tree House Holiday Programme: from R330 for a three-hour afternoon programme to R800 for a full day.
Contact 021 870 4273, reservations@boschendal.co.za
Where to find it Boschendal Wine Estate, R310/Pniel Road, Franschhoek
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Loads of fun at Playstation by Rush

We know what you’re thinking… “Playstation? No thanks, my kids get enough screen time already”. But this indoor adventure park (similar to Rush in Claremont, but for younger kids aged 2 – 13) is all about real-life games and challenges. There are giant slides, climbing walls, an adventure maze with swing bridges, an indoor soccer pitch, bike track and other energy-busting activities, as well as puzzles and games for a mental workout – all supervised by trained staff so that the adults can relax in the restaurant (free wifi, wide-screen TVs and coffee).
Good to know During school holidays it opens at 9am all week. Spend R300 on food and beverages to get an hour’s free off-peak play (Monday – Thursday in term time) for your child.
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 10am – 6pm
Friday + Saturday, 9am – 10pm; Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Cost Weekends + school holidays: R90 (first hour) + R20 per every 15 minutes thereafter
Monday – Thursday in term time: R80 per hour, R140 (unlimited play)
Toddlers (under 2): R30 (first hour)
Drop and Go: R110 per hour (6 years and older)
Supervised Play: R125 (6 years and older)
Contact 021 683 3841, info.playstation@rushextreme.co.za
Where to find it 10 Honeywell Road, Retreat, Cape Town
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Go with the flow at The Shred Skate Park

This industrial-urban-cool indoor/outdoor skateboarding haven has all the free-flowing, adrenaline-buzzing surfaces, contours, ramps, bowls, pipes and rails to thrill any skater – in a safe, secure, weather-sheltered environment. You book for three-hour sessions (or a double session or all day). If you need to learn the ropes or want to up your skills, you can sign up for lessons with Thalente Biyela (skateboards, helmets and pads included). There are also open nights (all wheels welcome – including rollerblades and BMXes) on Wednesdays for teens 16 years and older; plus once a month Vans hosts a free ladies-only night (also suitable for girls).
Good to know The Eiland Eatery serves all the delicious fuel skaters need. It is also available for birthday party bookings.
Opening times Daily, 8am – 6pm; Wednesday Skate Night until 9pm
Cost R99 (3-hour session); R160 (double session); R200 (full day)
R50 (open nights)
R400 (one-hour lesson)
Note Mondays are half price, and weekday mornings are cheaper.
Contact 021 510 2918, 076 198 6268 (WhatsApp), hello@theshred.co.za
Where to find it 68 Auckland Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town

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