Are you looking for tween birthday party ideas?
This weekend we had an EPIC birthday party for my 11 year old son. Now I am not going to be at all sexist and say this type of party is ONLY suitable for a boy, because as you will see from the photos we had a lot of 11 year old girls at the party too and they all loved it!
Tween birthday party ideas
Lordy, 11 year olds are hard to plan birthday parties for. They are too old for the birthday parties from their younger years (goodbye indoor playcentre, goodbye hide and go seek) and too young to be left to their own devices to organise and execute an 11 year old’s party because they want to GO SOMEWHERE. Hello Mum’s (or Dad’s) taxi!
So what are you going to do? Well… this is what WE did and you might LOVE it too… we also have discount coupons at the bottom it you decide you want to try it out!
Tween birthday party – planning
The key to hosting a top birthday party for an 11 year old tween comes in the planning prior to the party!
Here’s what you need to do in advance:
- Check which venues have availability
- Book the venue
- Send out the invitations with the RSVP details
- Arrange the food
- Arrange the transport
Venues – Birthday party ideas for a 9 – 12 year old tween
When you are looking for great tween birthday party ideas and venues in Brisbane a 9 – 12 year old’s birthday, you will actually be spilt for choice. As long as you know where to look! Here’s a tip about a tween party… they want you to take them somewhere to have fun, but they DON’T want you to have fun with them… as a rule. So with that in mind these venues are spot on… you can leave them to enjoy the facilities in a safe environment and/or just ‘hang’ back so they can enjoy their friends without you hovering over them.
1. Victoria Park Golf Complex
Victoria Park has a range of hassle-free and budget friendly kid’s party options incorporating a fun game of Putt Putt and food and drink packages. Choose from a Breakfast Party, Burger Party, Pizza Party or a Morning Tea Party. They also have an on-site playground (if your tweens are bringing younger siblings – because tweens are way too cool for playgrounds… maybe?) open seven days and their children’s games area is open on weekends. All packages are recommended for kids under 13 years. For more information and to see Victoria Park’s full range of their kid’s party packages, please visit www.victoriapark.com.au/bistro today.
2. Kingston Park Raceway for go-karting excitement!
Go-Karting is action-packed and fun! Kingston Park Raceway caters for birthday parties, offering a number of package deals. Tweens (10 years or older) have the party options where they can race their mates in real Go Karts on the 605m Monte Carlo Track which was built especially for the Go Karters that love to have fun and go that little bit faster.
3. Bowling birthday party
Bowling remains a popular pastime and most locations will host kid’s birthday parties. The kids will have a ball knocking down the pins. Most have bumper lanes and light weight balls to make it even easier for everyone! Let the kids lose on their own lane and the adults can have another lane to themselves. Or sit in the coffee shop and let the kids be entertained for hours. Super easy way to keep the tweens busy and in a safe partially supervise (but not hovered over) birthday venue. We’ve got a list of bowling options in Brisbane here.
4. Urban Xtreme Hendra
Located at 4/370 Nudgee Rd in Hendra, Urban Xtreme was opened late 2017 with an indoor ski venue and has quickly developed its range to include laser tag and an indoor trampoline park. They are developing at a rate of knots and have BIG plans for this venue (Including a Ninja Warrior course). We took advantage of the Scoopon deal that was running in May 2018 for 2 hours per kid to use both the laser tag and the trampolines on a Friday afternoon after school.
Families Tip: I really struggled to find the venue – so take note: Put the address in your sat nav/phone and when you are directly across from the Hendra Polic Station’s driveway it is on the other side of the road. Drive down the long driveway and turn left. THEN you will see it!!
Laser tag – Xtreme Laser
This was truly EPIC!! Featuring a multi-level Laser Tag arena, and the worlds most advanced “Helios” Laser Tag system, Xtreme Laser was dubbed ‘the best part of the birthday party’ by the 10 kids we took to Ubran Xtreme! The Xtreme Laser course was so much fun for the kids to run around hiding and seeking (hey.. they are NOT too old for this game, you just need to add a ‘twist’!) and their birthday party compadres!
Indoor trampoline park – Xtreme Jump
We were so lucky to have the trampolines included in our party because the Xtreme Jump Trampoline area is NOW OPEN and ready for non-stop action. Prepare to bounce, flip and jump your way to exceptional fitness and fun. The kids loved bouncing, playing and soaring on the over 500m2 of interconnected awesomeness! They played dodge ball and other trampoline games with the staff during out visit!
The trampolines are suitable for ages from 4 to adult so you should definitely consider this options for ages other than tweens!
Families Tip: Go on a week day after school – it was SO QUIET but I assume it won’t be forever, so be quick!! Use our Urban Xtreme discount code.
Tween Xtreme birthday party options – 2.5 hours
They offer a party package for 2.5 hours where you get an hour on the trampolines and an hour of laser tag. Prepare to tag, dodge & jump your way to the ultimate birthday xperience. You can book a birthday party package with them directly here.
The Xtreme Birthday Party includes:
- 2 x Laser Tag Sessions
- 1 x 40 min Xtreme Jump Session
- Party host & party games (trampoline & floor games)
- Pizza
- Snacks & drinks
- Lollybag
- Party Table & party host for 2.5 hours
- BYO Extra food and snacks (NOTE: Cake and candles not provided, however they will supply plates, cutlery and napkins)
Snow ski-ing in Brisbane
Whilst we didnt use the snow ski-ing area, it is worth mentioning!
Urban Xtreme is Queensland’s only indoor coaching facility where skiers and snowboarders can develop all year round to perfect their skills. Urban Xtreme leverages over 75 years of educational experience to provide skiers and snowboarders with expert tuition and state-of-the-art training facilities in an indoor environment that accelerates learning by up to 8 times the rate of learning on snow.
Whether you’re a beginner or advanced skier or snowboarder, our coaches will enhance your skills in a safe learning environment! Our team of coaches are fully qualified and members of the Australian Professional Snowsport Instructors.
5. Sleepover for tweens with Slumber Boutique
After you take the kids to one of the amazing tween birthday party ideas above, why not invite them back for a slumber party in their own tents at your house! We asked Slumber Boutique to set up tents for our guest and we were so impressed with their beautiful addition to our party, we had to include them in our write up of tween birthday party ideas!
The kids spent a night under one of their beautiful bespoke handmade tents. It’s truly a magical experience for both boys and girls. Their gorgeous tent packages come filled with fairy lights, mattresses, mini tables, lanterns, exquisite handmade bunting and lots more special touches from DIY photo booths, games packages, pamper boxes or craft boxes all tailored especially for your child.
They deliver and set up the tents in the comfort of your own home at an agreed time and then collect the following morning.
Slumber Boutique parties are a fantastic way of offering your child a magical party with a difference, giving them wonderful memories to share with their friends long after the tents have been packed away. You can find them here.
Families Tip: The best way to know if these tween birthday party ideas were OK, is to ask them! Master 11 said his favourite part of this party was the laser tag! He said the sleepover was so much fun too and that the beds were really comfortable and ‘relaxing’.
Let us know in comments if you have had an EPIC tween birthday party and what your kids got up to!! We’d LOVE to hear from you!
This article featured in Issue 28 of our printed magazine, published June 2018.
Good