Dining with kids is generally a nightmare.

I usually resort to chucking them on the iPad and hoping to quickly gulp down my food (and wine) and get out of there as soon as I can!

But I’ve found the perfect place to take the kids… great food, great people, and a playground as good as you’ll see in any suburban park.

The Woolsthorpe Union Station Hotel is the heart of the tiny town (population 420).

It’s about 20 minutes out of Warrnambool, deep in Victoria’s Western District.

When it was threatened with closure, local racing and business identity Col McKenna bought and transformed it.

The 100-year-old building has been renovated, there’s a front bar full of sporting and racing memorabilia (Col owned Caulfield Cup winner Jameka) a large bistro and huge outdoor deck.

When he bought the pub he said the playground was going to be the centre of the venue, a place where parents can go and relax.

The playground includes a rock climbing wall, maze, slides, multiple swings, sandpit and even a jumping castle.

Parents can sit under the huge oak trees and enjoy lunch and a drink.

Kids’ meals too are a focus, with fish bites, chicken nuggets, spring rolls and sausages served alongside mash or chips and a decent serve of vegetables.

My kids especially loved the mash!

Entrees include duck spring rolls (can recommend) buffalo hot wings and garlic prawns.

Union Station has a focus on local produce, and who can go past a juicy western district steak?

My dining companion (my husband!) had a scotch fillet with mushroom sauce, but I think I won the day with the house special, a local rack of lamb.

Four juicy points of meat served alongside glazed vegetables and a delicious lemon butter sauce.

We sat outside under the oak trees and enjoyed a glass of pinot and whiled away a few hours.

If you’re heading down to this part of Victoria, especially if youre a parent, Union Station is a ripping good feed and the kids (and parents) will have a ripper of a time!