Like any overprotective working parent, I did some thorough homework when choosing a child care centre to look after my precious cargo for those long days at the office.

Before enrolling my 2 year old at the new Sunkids on Scottsdale Drive in Robina, it had to pass the ultimate test.  My tiny test subject toddled her way happily around the spacious centre – being drawn from one exciting play zone to another, easily traversing from indoors to out and back again. Sunkids Children’s Centres new flagship offering at Robina definitely scored an A+ from this happy little soon-to-be customer, and so the deal was sealed for mum too.

Gourmet menu, al fresco dining, yoga … this is a child care centre?

The double height light-filled foyer leads you across a timber deck to the large, covered, central play yard.  With a unique play stream water feature, alfresco dining piazza (where else would your little person enjoy chef-prepared meals?), meditation and yoga, Sunkids is more like a five-star resort than a childcare centre. Children can even take part in cooking classes … and I must say, the gourmet menu had me wanting to join the kids for lunch (not a vegemite sandwich in sight)!

The multi million dollar state-of-the-art facility, which opened earlier this week, is designed around an innovative outdoor play area, with rock riverbeds, integrated water and sand zones and landscaped gardens for children to nestle around at reading time.

This is the second Sunkids centre to open on Scottsdale Drive in the past 18 months to meet the high demand for quality daycare in central Gold Coast City.  The centres are almost opposite each other in CBDRobina’s thriving M1 Business Precinct, which is also home to CityPods offices, Pacifica Seafoods, Bounce, a 7 Eleven and Condev Construction’s headquarters.

The new centre, open from 6.15am to 6.15pm, offers 116 places for children ranging from babies (their serene nursery room is amazing), through to kindergarten age.

The Queensland Government-approved kindergarten program is delivered by qualified teachers and includes access to the latest learning tools and technology.

Sunkids Robina centre manager Rebecca Politz said the centre had been purpose-built to provide an engaging environment for young children in the lead up to school.

“Outdoor play is really important in developing gross motor skills and challenging children in a safe environment, so we have placed a significant focus on this in the design of the new centre,” she said.

“We have also incorporated a vegetable garden to help children learn about healthy foods, along with sustainable living through the ‘reuse, rethink, recycle’ motto.

“The centre features multi-purpose rooms, all equipped with natural timber furniture, allowing the children to take part in a range of activities that reflect their natural desire to explore and interact with their environment and a range of different mediums.”

The new centre will be operated by Kinder Educentres, which runs the Sunkids Children’s Centres brand and owns eight of the 15 Sunkids centres across South East Queensland.

Kinder Educentres chief executive Abdul Omar said the new Sunkids Robina would allow more families to access high quality childcare, with its existing centres in Robina and Burleigh virtually at capacity.

“Parents want to give their children the best start in life, so are looking for modern centres that have been designed to engage, excite and educate their young ones – and Sunkids Robina ticks all those boxes,” he said.

Kinder Educentres purchased the 3,043sqm site from Robina master developer, Robina Group, in mid-2014.

Robina Group general manager Hylton Slater said the new Sunkids Centre would service the area’s fast-growing population and employment base.

“The number of residents and workers in Robina/Varsity is set to double by 2050, so the delivery of high quality services such as the Sunkids Robina centre is vital as central Gold Coast City continues to grow,” he said.

Sites in Robina benefit from the Robina Central Planning Agreement (RCPA), which was enacted under an Act of Parliament, and grants Robina substantial planning benefits.  Read more about the RCPA here.

For more information on the new centre, visit http://sunkidsrobina.com.au/ or call 07 5575 9200.