Frontier Park Playground, Frontier Avenue, Aintree
Aintree has become the playground capital of Melbourne and this new playground is a fantastic addition with huge slides, a range of fun and engaging areas, water play area, basketball court and small skatepark.
Some big towers set in a landscape of soft colourful mounds provide the launch place for three huge tunnel slides. For dare-devils there is also a rope tunnel stretching between the towers high above the ground. There are a number of ways of reaching the slides depending on how daring you are - either an easy set of twisting stairs, a vertical rope tunnel or a traverse across some scary bridges. For those who prefer their slides closer to the ground there is a smaller wave slide on the side of a mound.
Another area which is fun but quite close to the ground is a long balance traverse with a variety of logs and bridges. There is a nice sized sandpit with a water pump and beside this is a big carousel where kids can stand and spin around until they reach their desired level of dizziness. A huge birds nest swing towers above this.
A water play area comprising a shallow concrete channel lined by water sprays and passing through rock barriers and chutes which kids can raise or lower and eventually ends in a drain. The water play operating hours are October to March from 8am to 8pm. The water features can activate without notice at any time.
Even though the colourful striped mounds are appealing to the eye and provide a soft surface they can be very slippery when wet so take care. I suddenly lost my footing completely on the top of a mound and ended up flat on my back.
There is a pentagonal frame with five swings (only one has a safety chain and is suitable to younger kids).
Next to the playground is a basketball court with baskets at both ends and a small skate park with ramps, quarter, rail and fun box in the middle.
On the side is a shelter with three tables and BBQ, toilets and some unshaded tables and seats are scattered about.
Along Fields Street beside the playground is "The Aintree Walk of Honour" which is an interesting set of information boards about wars which Australia have been involved in. It has information boards covering the Boer War, WWI, WWII, Peace Keeping, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War I, Afghanistan Conflict, Gulf War II and Future Conflicts.
The playground is located at the far end of Woodlea Boulevard which is off Leakes Road.
Photos:
Location
Cnr Woodlea Boulevard and Frontier Avenue, Aintree 3336 Map
Web Links
→ 100 Free Water Play Spaces in Melbourne and Regional Victoria
→ The Best Playgrounds in Aintree
