Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground, Pertobe Road, Warrnambool

Unbelievable. I read somewhere that one family comes to Warrnambool every Easter just for the playground. I was having a hard time swallowing that until I saw this playground - now I would be willing to come back at Easter, Christmas, Queens Birthday holiday, Anzac Day .....

There are a series of fantastic play areas running along the side of the lake. The area closest to the town has a big sandy area with a boat structure which has a tunnel slide, tic-tac-toe, ramps, steps, scrambling walls and ladders. Next to this is a wooden structure with a launching platform for two huge flying foxes (zip lines). One starts at a low level and has a curved seat made from a tyre which is easy for younger kids. This flying fox is restricted to kids aged up to 12 years. The ride is not too fast and has a gentle ending (provided Dad doesn't fling you down the hill). It is fun and addictive but you won't hear too many screams from this one. The other flying fox (for those older than 12) starts at the top of the structure and has a ski lift type disk for a seat and some metal handles. There is a kick at the end when the flying fox reaches the tyres. You can expect to hear some screaming on this one. The structure also has dual wave slides, fireman's pole and spiral ladder.



Close by is a sandpit with birds nest swing and a shelter with tables.

There is a large maze with wooden walls covered with delightful artwork which presents some level of difficulty but isn't so hard that you are likely to end up a quivering frustrated mess before reaching the centre and finding your way out again.



Outside the maze is a pedestrian underpass with some interesting artwork on the walls. The mural imagines what lies beyond the tunnel walls, with wombats and other animals in burrows, owls in hollows, a snake, tree roots and buried bones.



Next to the maze is a rocky waterfall with water tumbling down into a pond. A little river meanders from the pond to the lake. Next to the pond is a shelter with table and water tap.

You will come to a nature-themed water play area which includes a hand-operated water pump, channels, sluice gates and shallow splash-play surfaces. Water flows through channels inspired by the Kooyang (eel) and around sculptures of a southern right whale mother and calf. Water sprays from the whales’ blowholes when the play features are activated.



Next comes an area for the bigger kids with a very high tower with steep metal tunnel slide. There are lots of nets and levels to climb up through to reach the slide entrance. If that is too much there is a metal slide starting from a lower level.



Around the tower is a birds nest swing, beautiful mosaic Ballambar (Yellow Admiral Butterfly) sundial, spinning disk and log and rope climbing frame. On the side are beautiful tepees composed of logs with intricate carvings.



The next major area is mostly enclosed within wooden walls. A big sandpit holds the main wooden structure which is named the 'Bee Hive' and has a cute cubby, sand play equipment and slide.



The sand area also has some cute bugs in the form of a see-saw and two springers. In the centre are some huge eggs, lots of log steppers, balance circuit, speak and listen system and four swings (one with a harness seat).



Big shelter with BBQs, tables and seats. Also some unshaded seats. Water tap and toilets.

You then come to an area where motor fun boats, canoes, paddle boats and water bikes can be hired from Lake Pertobe Motor Boats. A motor boat holds 2 adults and 1 child or 1 adult and 3 children. This is great fun and even the kids can steer the boats.



Opposite this area is a big grassy area with a cricket pitch. Get together a team and try and beat the Warrnambool Whalers at 20/20.

After that a hill rises about the area which has a structure on top with three slides - a long straight metal slide, a fast bumpy metal slide and a tight twisty tunnel slide. The structure also has a scrambling wall, ladder and steps.



Nearby is another large sandpit with a huge metal spiral slide reached by two sets of steps, five person stand-up carousel (although it seemed like there were more like 25 people standing on it and almost that number getting trampled on the ground), springer and wooden structure with dual slides, monkey bars, ladder, walkway, steps, disks on a vertical pole, climbing wall, steering wall and shop front. On the side are two swings with harness seats.



At the end of the park is another big sandpit with an old, low wooden structure which has dual wave slides, single wave slide, tunnel, shop front, climbing mat, ramps, arched walkway, tic-tac-toe, abacus, steps and steering wheel. Also swings, fish springer and pelican springer.



This is next to a rocky fountain and small pond which drains back to the lake. Also a large shelter with BBQs, tables and water tap. A very wobbly suspension bridge leads out across the edges of the lakes where there are plenty of water birds to see. Seek out three in-ground trampolines in this area.



As an added bonus there is a cafe across the street which has great ice-creams.

The playground is next to lake and you need to be vigilant although the lake is fairly shallow around the edges.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are not permitted in the Lake Pertobe area.

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Location

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