Do you love bowling? Or are you looking for something to do when it's raining in Nelson Bay? Then why not check out the local Salamander Super Strike Tenpin Bowling Alley, just next to
Harvey Norman at Salamander Bay shopping centre. It is a fun activity that all ages can enjoy together - from toddlers to grandparents and everyone in between. Throughout the week and during the school holidays they have special deals to make the experience even cheaper - see
here for the latest special offers. Remember to print them out before you arrive to ensure you get the deal (or alternatively, they can scan it from your phone).
Our family visited Super Strike on a rainy Sunday morning after seeing on their website that they had an "Early Striker" deal - which meant that you if you played between 9am - 11am, the games were just $8 each (excluding school holidays). As a family who loves to bowl, we were there just after 9am and had the place to ourselves for an hour before other Early Strikers started to
roll in - pardon the pun!
Everyone loves bowling! Image: Original images from StrikeBowl Facebook
Opening time at 9am on a Sunday. There are 12 lanes with modern facilities and music to listen to while you play
Pick your ball from the racks provided - if you have kids, the lightest ball is orange
On our visit, the friendly staff member at the counter set us all up with shoes (with a Velcro version for our daughter) and entered each of our names into the computer for scoring. Every ten pin bowling alley you go to is a little different, so we were impressed that the bumpers automatically came up on the lane when it was our daughter's turn to bowl. Next, to each set of seats there were also children's bowling ramps, so there were plenty to use on all the lanes.
After some comical lunges and a few stretches, we began our two games of bowling with a few strikes, a lot of gully balls, plenty of laughs and high-fiving all around. You can't beat ten pin bowling for some old-fashioned, family fun.
Kids can use the bowling ramps to help them bowl, if they wish
By the time we left, more Early Strikers had arrived!
If you get hungry or thirsty whilst playing, there are meal deals, fried food and drinks to buy up at the counter, including alcohol for the adults. After your game, why not stay for a while and try and beat each other at games of air hockey or other arcade games, located at the back of the bowling area. If you have
kids or
teenagers, there are two small rooms for birthday parties at each end of the lanes, to inject some colour and fun into their bowling party.
Arcade games to play...
...and party rooms for the kids & teenagers
Although our family were more than happy with our $8 a game deal, other value options include the "$7 Buck Chuck" with $7 games of tenpin bowling per person every day from 4pm - 6pm, and the "Sunday Super Special" - which is three games for $14 per person each Sunday, from 4pm. If you gather a few friends together on Friday or Saturday night after 8:30pm, you can play as many games as you can fit in for $19.50 per person, which includes a standard beer, wine or soft drink! These deals are current as of October, 2018, however, check the
website before you go for the current specials.
You don't need to wait for the next rainy day in Nelson Bay to visit Super Strike -
anytime is a good time to bowl!
...especially if you're going to get a strike!
Please note - on our visit there were notices on the TV screens around the centre announcing that "Good things were coming in late 2018". Keep checking their
Facebook for details.
For more articles on what to do in the Port Stephens region, see
here. To receive all the latest articles to your inbox, click on "Subscribe" at the top. Enjoy your bowling!
