SAFARI TIME: Grafton Jungle Gym co-owner Russell Arthurson dressed as a gorilla entertaining kids on school holidays.
SAFARI TIME: Grafton Jungle Gym co-owner Russell Arthurson dressed as a gorilla entertaining kids on school holidays. Leigh Jensen

Monkey around at Grafton Jungle Gym Cafe

LASER skirmish, face painting, a jumping castle and disco should go a long way help keep your little monkeys entertained these holidays.

All of these activities can be found in the one place over the next week; the Grafton Jungle Gym Cafe.

New owners Erin Gray and Russell Arthurson took over the jungle gym in February, and have jumped in head-first to revitalise the space, add more options to the cafe menu and fill the calendar with regular activities.

They also have plans to install a mini golf course.

It is the first time the couple has done anything like this - Mr Arthurson worked at Coles for ten years and Ms Gray has a background in real estate and home sales.

"It's definitely something the town needed improvement on - everyone travels to Coffs Harbour for children's entertainment at the moment," Ms Gray said.

"This is the only thing around for young kids."

With a seven-year-old son of her own, she knows just how important it is to entertain them, and said it was the least stressful job anyone could have.

"You come to work and throw a party for children and make them happy and laugh, then clean up at the end of the day and it's done," she said.

"It's going well.

"Everyone seems really keen and excited about the new changes."

This school holidays, they put together an impressive a schedule of events for kids.

Next on the calendar is a monthly disco, the first of which will be held tomorrow night.

Tiny tots (under 5) can take to the dance floor from 5.30pm, and will make way for the 5-10-year-olds at 6.30pm.

Between 10am and 12 noon on Tuesday, kids can come to a morning at the fair, with face painting, clowns, a jumping castle and an I-Scream stall.

Laser skirmish will be held again next Wednesday from 10am-4pm, for $10 a child.

As well as the game, the fee includes a bottle of water, a camouflage headband and war paint.

The Grafton Jungle Gym Cafe is open 9am-5pm, seven days a week, and is suitable for children aged 10 and under.

Go to graftonjunglegymcafe.com to see all upcoming events, and watch out for monthly movie nights, which will start soon.


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