Kingpin is Helping Aussie Parents Have a Well-Deserved Night Off

Being a parent is rewarding, but let's be honest, it's also exhausting. Between school drop-offs, work, dinner prep and running the household, finding time for your partner, friends or yourself can feel impossible, and with cost-of-living pressures and babysitter prices on top, a child-free night out can feel completely out of reach.

New research from Kingpin confirms what many parents are already feeling. Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) Australian parents are burnt out, the average parent has gone more than three months (13.64 weeks) without a child-free night out, and 78% want more child-free time than they currently get. For most, the barrier is financial: 77% say the cost of a babysitter is what's keeping them in.

But the impact runs deeper than the wallet. Without regular time away from parenting duties, 42% of parents feel exhausted, 33% feel burnt out, 29% mentally drained, 26% overwhelmed and 24% disconnected from their partner.

That's why Kingpin has launched Parents Off Duty, a limited-edition initiative that covers the cost of babysitting to encourage parents to finally switch off, reconnect and enjoy some time to themselves. 

With everything under one roof, whether that's a date night playing darts, cocktails with a group of friends, or simply an uninterrupted lunch, Kingpin gives parents the perfect space to enjoy a well-deserved break. 

And the research shows just how powerful a single night off from parenting duties can be: one child-free night out could lift parents' average happiness by 12%. 

What Is Parents Off Duty?

Parents Off Duty is Kingpin’s new initiative helping parents enjoy quality time away from the daily juggle, with a little extra support to get there. 

Parents who book a ‘Parents Off Duty’ experience between 1 and 7 June 2026 at any of Kingpin’s nine venues across Australia will receive a free $100 babysitting voucher from Kiddo to help cover the cost of up to three hours of childcare while they enjoy their night out.

Kiddo is Australia’s trusted on-demand babysitting platform, with a network of more than 20,000 verified sitters nationwide. 

What’s Included?

The ‘Parents Off Duty’ experience starts from just $45 per person and includes:

• Two Kingpin activities per person (think AR darts, karaoke, arcade games, escape rooms and more)

• A $20 food and beverage voucher per person

• One $100 Kiddo voucher to help cover up to 3 hours of babysitting costs

Bookings require a minimum of two people, making it the perfect excuse for date night, a catch-up with friends or simply some overdue adult time.

Heads up: Vouchers are limited to an initial release of 270, available on a first-come, first-served basis, so move quickly to avoid missing out. Terms and conditions apply. 

How to Book Your Night Off

Getting involved is simple. Bookings open at 4.00pm AEST on 20 May 2026.

1. Plan your night. Choose a date between 1 and 7 June 2026 with your partner or friends.

2. Book at Kingpinplay.com. Visit Kingpinplay.com, select your venue and date, then buy the ‘Parents Off Duty’ package. Experiences start from $45pp including 2 activities and a $20 food & drink voucher (min. 2 guests) Terms & conditions apply.

3. Get your babysitting voucher. You’ll receive a confirmation email with a unique code for a $100 voucher for Kiddo, covering up to 3 hours of babysitting.

4. Book your sitter. Download the Kiddo App, secure one of the 20,000 verified sitters on the platform and enter your code*.

5. Enjoy your night out. Head to Kingpin and enjoy a well-deserved night off.

Parents Off Duty is available at all nine Kingpin venues across Australia. Choose from Macarthur and North Strathfield in NSW, Crown and Melbourne in VIC, Canberra in the ACT, Chermside and Townsville in QLD, Norwood in SA, and Darwin in the NT.

Parents Off Duty is the latest expression of Kingpin’s ‘Escape Ordinary’ philosophy, delivering experience-led moments that help Australians step away from routine and reconnect.

T&Cs apply