Whether you’re three candles into life or about to blow out 100, Ninja Parc in Newcastle promises one thing, you will end up laughing at yourself… and possibly nursing a pulled quad.
Recently, our family decided to give Ninja Parc a go. I had been before with a friend when it first opened almost a decade ago but since then they have added a climbing section (Climb Parc) and an obstacle area for little kids (The Playground), making it an activity that seemed perfect for the whole family.
We started at Climb Parc, home to 13 colourful climbing walls. It’s a rare activity where a six-year-old, a teenager and a middle-aged parent can all compete without someone crying (usually me).
With auto-belay harnesses and staff on hand, it felt safe enough that even the littlest one didn’t hesitate to start climbing and by the time I had conquered the ‘easy’ wall, the rest of them were already halfway up the hard ones. Show-offs.
There are plenty of easy and challenging climbs to choose from, plus a two-storey high ropes adventure course that the younger kids especially loved. There’s also the SkyCoaster where you’re harnessed in and zip across the obstacle course from above. We skipped that one this time, though I had to promise the kids they could give it a go on our next visit.
Next, fuelled by misplaced confidence because I remember very clearly absolutely smashing all the obstacles when I had been before, we headed to the Ninja Parc.
Think of it like Australian Ninja Warrior, but with padding everywhere so you bounce instead of break when you fall. Instead of doing the sensible thing of warming up on a few of the easier obstacles I decided to immediately take on the warped wall. There are three different heights and naturally I chose the tallest one.
After a heroic one-step run-up, I felt something ping in my thigh and the next thing I knew I was lying on the ground eight metres short of the wall clutching my leg. The kids thought this was the funniest thing they’d ever seen.
Meanwhile, the kids swung from ropes, zoomed across monkey bars, and tackled obstacles like they’d been training for years. The staff were brilliant, showing us how to tackle each challenge when we got stuck. It was hard to tell what brought more enjoyment, conquering a challenge or failing spectacularly.
Finally, with both my dignity and my body equally bruised I left the older kids and took the youngest over to The Playground which is designed for under 8s. Soft, safe and fenced in to stop any wandering it is perfect for little ones – and for parents to catch their breath and nurse their injuries.
By the end we were exhausted and sweaty but in unanimous agreement that it had been a lot of fun. Ninja Parc is less about getting it right and more about giving it a go and rediscovering the childlike joy in just mucking around.
And yes, it’s proper exercise too – the kind you don’t even notice until the next morning when your muscles remind you.
Ninja Parc has options for all. You can enter on a casual basis like we did – it cost us about $30 each for two hours, and they also run classes for every age starting from as soon as you can walk. Tiny Ninjas, Mini Ninjas and Little & Youth Ninjas go up to 14 years and learn skills like balance, coordination and teamwork. Teens and adults can try a range of Athletic classes such as Parkour where you’re taught how to leap, roll and vault like a movie stunt double.
Would I go back? Absolutely. It’s a great way to get in some exercise that feels more like playtime. Though next time I might stick to the medium wall… and warm up first!
