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Running out of winter activity ideas? We’ve got a newbie to add to your cold-season hit list. Australia's largest family-owned entertainment chain, iPlay Australia, is officially launching in Victoria this month with a huge new venue in Frankston, and another huge play space in the works for Melbourne.
Opening on Thursday, July 30, the new iPlay Frankston has taken over a former TK Maxx site, transforming the 2,500-square-metre space (roughly the size of two Olympic swimming pools) into a multi-million-dollar indoor entertainment hub. Inside, you'll find more than 160 arcade games, an indoor bumper car arena, dedicated party and event spaces, and the debut of Pandemonium Challenge Rooms – a brand-new experience making its Australian premiere in Frankston.
Think of the Challenge Rooms as part escape room, part game show – where teams race against the clock through 11 physical and mental challenges, earning points as they battle their way up the leaderboard.
The arcade floor is packed with both nostalgic faves and fresh arrivals to scratch your nostalgia itch. Expect cult classics like Mai Mai, Maximum Tune 6 and Godzilla Kaiju Drop, alongside a dedicated claw machine zone stocked with licensed prizes and collectibles.
The Frankston opening marks a major milestone for iPlay Australia, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Founded in Brisbane by electrical engineer John Sophios, the family-run business has grown from a single tabletop game into one of Australia's biggest entertainment brands, with 28 venues operating across Queensland, NSW, Western Australia, the ACT and now Victoria.
The Frankston venue is just the beginning of the company's Victorian expansion, with a second Melbourne location already in the works (more info on that one to be announced soon). Over the next 12 months, iPlay also plans to expand into the Northern Territory – but our friends in Frankston get to cash in on play time first.
iPlay Frankston opens to the public from 10am on Thursday, July 30, and will operate daily from 10am until 10pm. Bookings are now open for casual visits, birthday parties and group events, with pre-opening offers including two-for-one bumper car rides and Pandemonium Challenge Room sessions.
Keen? You can book your play session over here.
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