So, school holidays... and trying to figure out what to do when you have a young teenager, and a kid who is in primary school... there are getting to be fewer and fewer things that overlap in ability and interest... but thankfully, our older girl is pretty okay with most things and hasn't fully transitioned into being a poopy teenager.
My wife knew of this place... Corin Forest. Actually a little resort place that is in the southern parts of the Australian Capital Territory in one of the mountain ranges.... well, Australian mountains! During the colder months, they do up some artificial snow to play around in... but in the warmer months, they have a different (and for me a much cooler things...) activity!
The place itself is pretty nice... you get up here after a long winding uphill road. I like those sorts of drives, but my wife hates them... well, I like them as long as the oncoming traffic is in their own lane!
A short up hill walk to get to where we want to go...
... and a brief look backwards to the cafe and resort area. It really is quite beautiful up here... a little fresh and chilly, but it is a really nice spot! Especially during these warmer months when it isn't very busy at all!
As we walk a bit further up the track, we pass the logging vehicles that probably are needed to keep the "ski" track clear... and also the mass of artificial snow machines as well.
And we reach our spot! The Alpine Slide! This is the uphill climb for the sleds...
... and the start station at the bottom of the hill. Each sled is controlled only by a braking system... you pull back to brake and push forward to release the brakes! That is all...
So, your sled is dragged up the hill by this metal rope. The first time I thought that I needed to have the brakes disengaged, so leaning forward for the whole uphill ride. Phew, that was quite a stomach workout... but at the top, they said that the brakes don't reach the track on this section so it wasn't necessary... and so on subsequent climbs, I could just lie back and enjoy the sun on my face!
... and once you reach the top, it is a curvy sled track... just like a ice sled thing that you see in the Olympic games... and you can go pretty damn fast if you have your brakes off all the way.... but that is a touch dangerous, they do have slower zones marked so that you don't flip out of the tube!
Sadly, no photos as I was going down... I preferred to have control of the brakes instead! I went down with the primary schooler... under 8s need to go with an adult. She was scared the first time (even though we went slowly...), and wanted out... but I didn't let her out, and by the end... she was a speed demon and couldn't get enough of it!
Definitely a place worth visiting... old school fun, and it wasn't that busy... I guess most families prefer something that is closer to the city, or more hi-tech!