Indoor Rock Climbing
When I was growing up there really was only two options for Children’s birthday parties – you either had a party at home or if you were lucky enough it was a McDonalds Party. These days there are so many different options for Children’s birthday parties from bowling to gymnastics to playlands to dance studios – there is something on offer to suit every child. The upside is that you end up exploring different activities and venues that you may have never been to.
Recently my daughter Maddie was invited to a rock climbing party at the Edge Rock Climbing Centre in Castle Hill. Having never attended the Edge before I was expecting to sit in the café and enjoy a coffee whilst my daughter enjoyed the party. However, it turned out to be a hands on party for the parents as well and found myself “belaying” or holding the ropes whilst Maddie scaled the walls and abseiled down.
Although I was apprehensive about belaying, the staff were fantastic and demonstrated how to belay correctly and ensured all parents were confident before allowing us to belay for the party guests.
The height of the walls vary from 3.5 meters to 18 meters and become more challenging as the height increases. There is also a high rope obstacle course involving climbing up a ladder and then working your way across an obstacle course ending with climbing a couple of tyres and ringing the bell to signal completion.
It is no easy feat and certainly not for the faint hearted and even though Maddie didn’t complete the course, I was proud she gave it a go because there is no way I would have even attempted it. Perhaps the highlight was “the labyrinth”, a caving system that has no internal light and requires those who dare to enter to take a glow stick or some form of light source to navigate the obstacles inside the cave that lead to a slide that brings you back into the open. It does involve very dark, tight spaces and despite some initial hesitation it wasn’t long until Maddie had been through the labyrinth multiple times.
For a Saturday, the Edge Rock Climbing Centre was busy with birthday parties, group lessons and casual climbers of all ages and abilities. It is a great place for families to visit that is interactive, fun and offers a real work out whether you are climbing or belaying. Maddie was completely exhausted by the end however she declared it an “epic” experience and is keen to climb again soon.
We both enjoyed the experience and have found a new activity to enjoy together and we are now looking forward to taking Alexis in the near future as well as exploring other local rock climbing centres in the region.
It is a great place for families to visit that is interactive, fun and offers a real work out whether you are climbing or belaying.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”70366″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
