Raining again, the way it does in the Hills District without much warning. Cuto had opened at Showground Village the month before and we’d been meaning to get there, so we finally went, more than a month after we first heard about it.
Free parking in the underground carpark, four hours of it. Castle Hill Metro is a five minute walk too if you’re not driving. Adults get in free, kids are charged, exact pricing is on a sign near the entrance and it’s worth checking before you go since these things change. One payment covers the day, no clock-watching once you’re in.
Ocean ball pit and slide
Purple everywhere, clean, dreamy almost, the kind of place that doesn’t ask much of a tired parent. The main attraction is a ball pit built around an ocean theme with a slide feeding into it and a bit of a role-play corner off to the side.
Toddler zone
A separate area fenced off just for the littlest ones, so a one year old isn’t getting run over by a five year old barrelling past. Good if you’ve got a mix of ages.
Supermarket and kitchen
A play supermarket and kitchen corner, the usual pretend food and trolleys, the kind of thing that keeps a small kid occupied far longer than the big attractions do.
Climbing area
A climbing and exploring zone, nothing enormous, but enough to burn some energy off before lunch.
Vet clinic and cloakroom
A pet vet play room, kids can bring the soft toys in for a check-up, and a small cloakroom area near it.
Food
Proper café menu, worth a look on their website before you go if you’re fussy. Showground Village itself doesn’t have much else in the way of food, so if the cafe menu isn’t doing it for you, Leaf Café downstairs is the better bet.
Worth it
If you’re not stopping to eat, an hour of play is plenty. Better for a two, three or four year old than a bigger kid. Cuto Kids Cafe Castle Hill is at Shop 22, Showground Village, 15 De Clambe Drive, open Monday to Friday 9 to 5 and weekends 9 to 3, though it’s worth double-checking hours haven’t shifted since opening.
More Sydney options with a play area attached in our guide to kid-friendly restaurants with playgrounds in Sydney.