If someone was to draw a Venn diagram to illustrate the common ground of ‘fine-dining’ and ‘family dining’, the overlapping area certainly wouldn’t be huge. With the exception of a few Auckland eateries that embrace the little ones when it comes to eating out, having the tots in tow can often be a deal-breaker to feeling comfortable at those more lofty establishments. Bridging this gap, however, is an incredible development set to open this Saturday 17th of December in Henderson.

‘Whoa! Studios’ is turning that child-fearing sentiment on its head. In fact, the whole place is geared towards creating a place where kids (and their respective imaginations) can run wild while parents are equally satiated by gorgeous environs and top-notch food offerings. The project, spearheaded by entrepreneur David Sutherland, is essentially comprised of three parts — a film studio and theatre with live pantomime-style shows; a stunning, open-plan, family fine-dining eatery; and an epic playground that has been devised by movie set-builders and acclaimed artists.

Celebrated chef Benjamin Bayly (The Grove, Baduzzi, TV2’s My Kitchen Rules) is behind the gastronomic side of things, bringing into play his finesse with the season’s best produce to create dishes that will please both young and old. Think hand-crafted pasta, mouthwatering scampi rolls, homemade chicken saveloys, slow-cooked Szechuan lamb with pancakes, cucumber and crispy onion. Furthermore, there will be gelato, ice creams, soft serve sundaes and cold-pressed juices made from scratch to (salubriously) keep energy levels at an all-time high.

What kids will really want to come for, however, is the playground of truly epic proportions. A huge crocheted web designed by Japanese artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam is suspended under an elevated rotunda; they can crawl into it, swing from it, bounce on it by the hour. With a pirate ship, a turreted castle, built-in trampolines and the theatre inside with some fantastic on-stage entertainment at the ready, this is the only place you’ll want to be over the holidays.