Tree Surfing Nippers Course at the Enchanted Adventure Garden

There was something a little daunting about looking up into the tree tops and seeing my six year old enjoying himself above me.  Was my baby really so grown up that he could be doing such a thing?  The answer is a resounding yes.  The Enchanted Adventure Garden on the Mornington Peninsula has a tree-surfing course for Nippers. The Nippers tree-surfing course incorporates climbing challenges, zip-lines and swinging bridges and gives children as young as four the opportunity to enjoy these at heights of between 3-5 meters above the ground.  A continuous cabling system ensures their safety.  Kids aged 4 years are allowed to tree-surf however they must be accompanied by a supervising adult (who pays a full fee).  My own son is 6 and we chose have him accompanied by my husband.  We were really glad that we did as most of the children on his climb were climbing alone, and a few really were scared up there.  While the guide ensured the safety of the kids on his climb, he was perhaps not as patient as he could have been with the anxious kids, and my husband ended up chaperoning them too.  I suspect that my own son, if sent up unsupervised would not have enjoyed himself nearly as much as he did.  As it was he was ecstatic about his experience and for the following week told anyone that would care to listen (teachers, relatives, people in shops) all about his tree-surfing adventure.

Tree Surfing Nippers Course at the Enchanted Adventure Garden

Tree Surfing Nippers Course at the Enchanted Adventure Garden

The tree-surfing took 1 hour and I was left in charge of Bub 2 and Little Lady Bub during this time. Fortunately there was plenty for us to do as the tree-surfers adventured above and for that matter the entire day.  The Enchanted Adventure Gardens are a wonderland of sculpture and gardens – I half expected to see a white rabbit in a waist-coast hop around one of the hedges.  The hodge-podge of both classic modern sculpture (some reminiscent of those found in Rickett’s Sanctuary) made for a charming garden ramble.  My three year old, who was wary of the tree-surfing thrived on the ground level Bush Scramble.  While we may not have figured out all of the puzzles scattered around the gardens Bub 2 loved climbing around them.  I would have relished tree-surfing myself but was limited by baby caring duties (Little Lady Bub enjoyed the entire day in the baby carrier).  I managed to offload her for a short while though to tackle the tube slides with Bub 2 which was squeal out loud fun for both of us.

Enchanted Adventure Gardens

Tube Slides Enchanted Adventure Gardens. Okay, this is not a photo of me but as I am the family photographer this will have to do.

Enchanted Adventure Garden

The Bush Adventure Scramble

We visited the Enchanted Adventure Garden on a weekend, and it really was very busy.  I advise pre-booking your tree-surfing adventure beforehand.  For bigger kids (over 135cm) and adults there is a Grand tree-surfing course at a height of up to 10 meters above the ground.

The Enchanted Adventure Garden is also home to a variety of mazes.  Unfortunately we just didn’t have the time to explore the mazes on the day we were there.

Prices for the Nippers course (and including entrance to the gardens and mazes) is $29 for a chid (4-17) and $39 for an adult.  The Enchanted Adventure Garden is located at 55 Purves Road Arthurs Seat and is open from 10am to 6pm.

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