The first thing Thomas said when he bounded out of bed this morning was “When are we going to Science City?” – so to say that he was excited would be an understatement. I came across the review I wrote for Science City when we last visited 12 years ago and it wasn’t pleasant reading and all I could hope for was that it had improved since then.

We weren’t off to the best of starts when we arrived and it started raining. Given most of the complex is outdoors there was a chance we would be soaked as the day progressed. However it was only a light sprinkling and it seemed like it would pass soon. We were one of the first to enter the complex as soon as gates opened and had a quiet wander through the aviary where we also got to see some squirrels bounding around.

We started in a “Time Machine” ride which was really a 4D experience. The simulator took us on a roller coaster ride along the Great Wall of China with lots of ups and downs and swerves. With bursts of air and rocking/rolling seats, we had to hang on. It was a truly engaging experience and the kids wanted to do it over and over again.

The next section was called “Dynamotion” and had a bunch of interactive exhibits. The mirror gallery was fascinating and especially the mirror maze (look at video below). The kids had a blast trying all the exhibits and challenging each other. Matthew rode a bike where the faster he pedalled the further a ball travelled. Emily tried her coordination skills while riding and balancing at the same time. Thomas used an air gun to try and control a ball into a basket. They also practised their musical skills on a giant piano which they needed to jump on top of. There was also a huge gravitron along the entire circumference of the exhibition hall which was mesmerising.

Our next stop was in a “Dark Ride” which mapped the evolution of life. We sat in a small cart and went through multiple displays outlining the forming of the universe and the creation of all matter. The dinosaur exhibits were pretty impressive with moving parts and sound effects. It ended with neanderthals and ancient animals (like Woolly Mammoths) and the kids were hoping it would go for longer.

The centre of the park had a huge hedge maze which the kids enjoyed running through. All along the route there were different interactive displays, including swings, gears, a Mobius Strip, as well as a bunch of others. We could have easily spent a couple of more hours just in the park area with lots to play with and interact with.

The one exhibit that everyone was looking forward to was a ride in the “Road Train” that went all the way around Science City. We were the only ones on the ride and had front row seats as we zipped around. With fewer passengers the carriages were a lot lighter and hence they bounced around more – which seemed to increase the enjoyment factor for the kids. We even collected some stray dogs along the way who ran alongside and kept us company.

Given it had been quite a long day we decided to go to Stadel for a traditional South Indian dinner. We always go here for a meal when we visit and they never fail to disappoint. However, this time even they had outdone themselves. They had a special kids menu with “Mickey Mouse Dosas” which were a bit hit.