Australia’s first mini excavator park for kids, Dig IT, will open at Queensland’s Tamborine Mountain on 13 May.
Dig IT has been designed for both children and their parents, featuring a range of activities that are fun, educational, and engaging, to help kids learn about the construction industry, earthworks, engineering, building, the importance of safety, and teamwork.
The park features nine Queensland-built Cat® mini excavators, which kids can operate under the supervision of trained operators.
The experience includes:
Mini excavator digging: Kids get hands-on experience operating a mini excavator, digging and moving dirt and rocks. Experienced instructors teach the basics of excavation and safety, making sure that everyone has a great time while staying safe. At the completion of each challenge, kids receive their induction card, meaning at the end of their session they have been fully inducted into the Dig IT worksite.
- The Dig Zone – kids get trained on a 1.7-tonne excavator, digging in the earth
- The Demolition Zone – the challenge is to use the wrecking ball to knock over the Dig IT towers
- The Croc Zone – on a 1.7-tonne excavator, using precision, kids attempt to hook a croc
- The RC Zone – using remote control machines such as dozers, dump trucks, excavators, and rear loaders the kids will get to use machines – just like on the work site.
Mini excavator challenges: These offer kids a great way to test their skills and compete against their friends. They’ll get to navigate obstacle courses and complete tasks, while learning about the importance of teamwork and safety.
Kids invited to ‘name the nine’
Dig IT’s Kate Keegan and Sam Maccoll are also inviting kids to name the park’s nine excavators, with the creators of the chosen names to be awarded with an annual pass.
“Dig IT is the place for kids to gather and work, they will be the operators of these amazing machines, so it’s only right that the kids of Australia get to name them,” Keegan said.
‘Name the nine’ entries will close on 26 May, with an official naming ceremony to be held the following week.
To enter the competition, or for more information on Dig IT, click here.