The Gear We Actually Use
What survives a room full of kids — and where to find it in Australia
We're a circus school on the Gold Coast. We've been running since 2023, we get around 75 children a week through the door, and between them they have worked their way through a great many juggling balls, hoops, balance boards and bits of backyard gear. Parents ask us the same thing every term: which one should I buy? This page is the honest answer — what we use, what we look at before we spend the school’s money, and which Australian shops sell it.
Paid links: some of the links on this page are paid links. If you follow one and buy something, the shop pays Big Star Circus a small commission. It costs you nothing extra. It does not decide what goes on this page, and it never will — if we would not use something ourselves, it is not here.
How we decide what goes on this page
We've used it ourselves
Not a sample and not a freebie. We bought it, it went into a class, and it was handled by a room full of children who are not gentle with anything.
It has to survive being shared
Gear at home gets used by one child. Ours gets used by a whole class in a row, dropped on a hard floor, stood on, and thrown in a tub at the end. That is a harder test than most of it was built for.
We steer away from button batteries
Small button and coin batteries are the thing that genuinely worries us, so when we are choosing between two bits of kit we take the one without one. We cannot test or certify anybody else’s product — we are telling you what we look at, and asking you to check the packaging on whatever you buy.
We say what the downside is
Everything has one. A page where every item is wonderful is a page that is selling you something.
What we use
Juggling and balance
Juggling balls and scarves, spinning plates, flower sticks, hoops and balance boards. Scarves first if someone is starting out — they fall slowly enough to give a child time to think.
Backyard and outdoor play
Giant lawn games, obstacle gear, ride-ons and trampolines. The things that get a child outside on a Gold Coast afternoon instead of onto a screen.
Circus party bits
Decorations, invitations, costumes and favours. We get asked about these every party season, usually about four days before the party.
Where to find it in Australia
These are the Australian shops we point parents at. We are not their agent, their stockist or their partner, and none of them has any say in what we write here. Prices and stock are theirs, not ours — check on the day.
Lime Tree Kids
A big independent toy shop with a strong line in open-ended play — the sort of thing that still gets used in the third week. (Paid link.)
Yardgames
Giant lawn games, obstacle gear and ride-ons. They supply schools and kindergartens as well as families, which is why their stuff turns up in places like ours. (Paid link.)
Mattel Shop
Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Barbie and the rest, direct from the brand's own Australian shop rather than a reseller. (Paid link.)
Toymate
One of the broadest toy ranges in the country, including puzzles, magic sets, bikes and scooters. (Paid link.)
Casey's Toys
A family toy and hobby business trading for over forty years, with stores across New South Wales. (Paid link.)
CoolThings Australia
Gadgets, novelties and the odd thing you did not know existed. Good for stocking fillers. (Paid link.)
Springfree Trampoline AU
Trampolines built without the exposed springs you get on a traditional frame. Sold direct, and not cheap. (Paid link.)
Why we tell you about the commission
Because you would want to know, and because Australian law takes a dim view of a business that stays quiet about being paid. So: we earn a commission on some of the links above, it costs you nothing, and it buys more gear for the school. What it does not buy is a place on this page. If something falls apart in a term we take it off, commission or not — our reputation with 283 families is worth considerably more than a referral fee.
Got a question about any of it? Ask a coach at pick-up, or ring us on 0489 188 179. We would much rather talk you out of the wrong thing than watch you buy it.