Little Sandpiper makes Canberra a playground

Posted on 7 September, 2019

 Little Sandpiper is Canberra’s newest–and possibly its most colourful–indoor play space. 

Where in Canberra can kids climb Parliament House, swim safely in Lake Burley Griffin and climb through a rainbow, all within 10 metres of each other?

Answer: at Little Sandpiper, Canberra’s newest indoor-play centre at Westfield Belconnen.

Encompassing 1900 square metres, Little Sandpiper offers an extensive indoor play space for kids aged 1-12, seven days a week, with a distinctly local twist. It may take parents and carers a moment, but once you see it, it’s easy to spot the iconic Canberra destinations that have been integrated into Little Sandpiper’s design.

The giant silver supports of Parliament House’s iconic flagpole have been turned into epic slides, accessed by a network of suspended mesh tunnels, and what else to neighbour our parliamentary building than sparkling Lake Burley Griffin, which takes the form of a giant ball pit.

“The unique design allows children to explore some of the most beautiful parts of Canberra in a way they wouldn’t normally be able to,” explains Little Sandpiper owner David Yu.

“We’ve selected some of the most iconic attractions in Canberra and merged them into our designs– kids can play on and around Parliament House, City Hill, Lake Burley Griffin, Campbell’s Mount Pleasant and Black Mountain.”

The playspace’s name comes from the sandpiper bird, which David explains is a migratory bird and a lovely metaphor for the importance of family.

“The meaning is that children may work or live in other cities or countries when they grow up, but they will eventually come back home,” says David.

But before they grow up, they can have a whole lot of fun. At Little Sandpiper, this comes in the form of a ball pool, climbing platforms, space tunnels, adventure gym and slides.

David also adds that the centre features nine party rooms for hire, including a baking room, where kids can take cooking classes and an electronic gaming area which will have an arcade and modern gaming for a variety of ages. Little Sandpiper staff will also be on-hand during events.

“Our friendly team can schedule plenty of learning activities for these events,” says David. “Each event will have an educational element to inspire kids, with activities designed for different age groups.”

“Little Sandpiper is one of the most innovative kids playgrounds in Australia with state-of-the-art interiors, colourful playgrounds and so many interactive areas to explore,” says David.

For those less keen to romp around a ball pit, there’s a café serving a variety of food and drink offerings, although David is quick to say that it’s not just a place to park yourself while your kid enjoys the play space–food will the fresh, high-quality and delicious.

“Our menu has been designed to make sure everyone enjoys their time at Little Sandpiper,” he says. “No matter their age.”

the essentials

What: Little Sandpiper Belconnen
When: Monday-Thursday 9 am – 5.30 pm, Friday 9 am – 9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 9 am – 6 pm
Where: Westfield Belconnen, next to the Lathlain Street bus stop. See map here.
Age range: One to 12 years, with children under one-year-old free
Website: littlesandpiper.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/littlesandpiper.au
Instagram: instagram.com/littlesandpiper.au

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