The Best Playgrounds in each Council Area

We all play the game of playground lotto. Depending on where you live, there is a differing chance of a great playground residing in your locality. Historically the best playgrounds with a wide range of facilities were built in the inner ring of suburbs. However, more recently estate developers have been creating fantastic playgrounds to entice families to move to the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

We've created a summary of the best playgrounds for each council area below so you can see whether your lotto numbers came up. Note: These playgrounds are all rated more than four stars.

The number of top rated playgrounds per council area is:
8 Wyndham
6 Kingston
5 Melton, Port Phillip, Casey
4 Boroondara, Brimbank, Glen Eira, Knox
3 Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Ranges, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Greater Dandenong
2 Cardinia, Hume, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Whitehorse, Yarra
1 Banyule, Bayside, Darebin, Frankston, Maroondah, Melbourne, Monash, Stonnington
0 Hobsons Bay

Reviews of the top playgrounds in each council area are below. Click on the main link for the full review including photos.

Banyule:

Malahang Reserve Playground (Heidelberg West)


This is a playground with the lot. A huge area with lots of play equipment for all ages, grassy areas, picnic facilities, car park, toilets, exercise equipment, skate park, BMX jumps area and a fenced dog park.

Bayside:

Thomas Street South Reserve Playground (Hampton)


Get transported back into a medieval world of castles, jousting and minstrels and enter the fantasy zone of goblins, fairies and wizards. Add in a music zone with DJ table, water play area, huge hamster wheel, nature play elements and a Senior's exercise area to complete a lovely playground which King Arthur would be happy to visit even without a round table.

Boroondara:

Hays Paddock Playground (Kew East)


This iconic fenced playground was the original all-abilities playground in Melbourne. It includes a sandpit with sunshade with kids always using the construction equipment such as diggers, scoops and pulleys. The overall playground design enables all children to easily play together. The playground is in a lovely bushland setting with stands of eucalyptus trees. It is surrounded by huge grassy areas with picnic facilities, toilets, basketball half court, wetlands area, dog off leash area and even an archery paddock (although you should avoid this area when the archers are active if you don't want to end up like a pin cushion).

Markham Reserve Playground (Ashburton)


A large fenced playground with plenty of facilities including a small skate park, basketball court, picnic area and toilets. A huge ramp runs down the middle with play items such as slides and ladders coming off it. Other highlights are a large number of vertical and horizontal climbing nets and some beautifully carved kookaburras overlooking a covered sandpit. Outside the fenced area there are large grassy areas, sportsgrounds and the Gardiners Creek Trail.

Beckett Park Playground (Balwyn)


An interesting park with a stone observation tower (which you can climb the internal steps to the top and get views right across Melbourne as far as Mount Macedon), extensive playground with a wooden maze, interesting wooden sculptures and huge sandpit, grassy areas and next to Maranoa Australian Gardens and an Indigenous Flora Reserve. There are tables and toilets but no BBQs.

Central Gardens Playground (Hawthorn)


5 4 3 2 1 Blastoff! Central Gardens is known as 'Rocket Park' because it is dominated by a tall rocket climbing frame with slides. The rest of the playground has some standard equipment including a spinning carousel with lovely horse seats. The playground is set in beautiful gardens with toilets, plenty of seats, tables, BBQ and shade.

Brimbank:

Isabella Williams Memorial Reserve Playground (Deer Park)


Lava oozes down the sides of a large 'volcano' with tall climbing walls, nets and three long slides. Outside the lava zone is more play equipment such as a large red ride-on tractor and birds nest swing. The playground has picnic facilities, toilets, a fitness circuit with outdoor gym equipment and a path network through the adjoining grasslands to Kororoit Creek Reserve. The volcanic design references the western's plains past volcanic activities.

Brimbank Park Play Space (Keilor East)


A beautifully crafted all-abilities play space with natural elements most suited for younger kids with a few exciting elements for the older kids. Brimbank Park is huge and has some other smaller playgrounds, picnic facilities, a cafe and over 5km of walking tracks through the bush and along the Maribyrnong River.

Errington Reserve Playground (St Albans)


An all abilities playspace which is securely fenced off from the main road and next to a sports oval on the other side. The playground equipment is specifically designed for accessibility and inclusion and some highlights include a soft mound with slides, a pirate ship and a frog water feature. There are picnic facilities, toilets nearby and plenty of shade.

Buckingham Reserve Playground (Sunshine West)


Blast off in the massive nine metre high rocket tower and come back down to earth in a gleaming twisting tunnel slide. There is also a dual flying fox, rock walls, rubberised play areas, large shaded sandpit and a wonderful water play area with pumps, water channels, reservoirs and an augur. There are picnic facilities and toilets.

Cardinia:

Cardinia Community Adventure Playground (Pakenham)


The original wooden adventure structure which has plenty of bridges, ladders, pathways and nooks and crannies to explore has been retained and there have been some fantastic additions including a massive triple slide tower, boat shaped play area and a nice bike track for pre-schoolers to learn about the road rules. They can even stop at the bank to get some money to spend at the supermarket and ice-cream van.

Deep Creek Eco Playspace (Pakenham)


The fenced all-abilities playground is overlooked by a giant dragon fly with the most beautiful wings you are ever likely to see where kids can climb and explore, even inside its huge eyes. Under a shade shelter is an extensive water play area and there are split-level sandpits, a slalom bike and wheelchair track, huge birds nest swing and lots of musical equipment capable of making a crescendo of noise or music (depending on how musically gifted the children are). There are picnic facilities, toilets, wetlands area, kick about area and a cafe kiosk at the nearby golf club.

Casey:

Eliston District Park Playground (Clyde North)


A massive tower which is not content with one huge twisting slide - there are two of these monsters. Add in playground areas for little and big kids, sandpit, picnic area, skate park, three fitness stations, half basketball court, community garden, orchard and a big grassy lawn area and you've got a winner.

Casey Fields Playground (Cranbourne East)


Casey Fields is a 76 hectare site which has a spectacular playground, multiple sports fields, cycling and walking tracks, BMX track, artwork and a pond for fishing which has a jetty landing and is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. The playground has an adventure hill with a birds nest swing, climbing areas and large snaking slide, six metre high climbing net and rope bridge and two-storey high pirate ship play structure in a sea of sand. There are picnic facilities, toilets and large grassy areas to kick around a ball.

Dragon Park Playground (Officer)


A spectacular playground which has a huge dragon's head dominating the playground. If you're brave enough you can climb into the beast's mouth and descend down inside its neck on a slide. There are a series of other metal based play areas and engaging sculptures of animals and birds.

Ray Bastin Reserve Playground (Narre Warren)


A brilliant playground with a rocket theme. Take care because your kids might just blast off into outer space and may not come back in time for dinner. Everything is here for a successful launch including a rocket control panel, a towering rocket, moon buggy and an extra-terrestrial creature writhing in and out of the ground. The playground is next to a Skate Park and BMX track and there are picnic facilities and toilets.

Brompton Estate Playground (Cranbourne South)


A big tower with slide, hamster wheel, huge birds nest swing, shaded swings, sandpit with water play area, musical area, climbing area for bigger kids, picnic facilities, lots of grassy area for a picnic or ball games, toilets and a cafe across the road.

Darebin:

Bundoora Park Play Space (Bundoora)


The all-abilities fenced playspace is next to Bundoora Park Farm and you don't need to be Einstein to know that the playground has a farm theme with a bright red tractor, water tank slide, wooden maze with a horse inside and cute sheep and cow springers. Keep your eyes open for huge bull-ants, big sandpit with digger and water play feature. The playground is best suited to younger kids (under 8). There are picnic facilities within the playground area. The hay bale on top of this playground is a cafe overlooking the playground. Bundoora Park has some other playgrounds, huge grassy areas and a fenced dog park at the southern end.

Frankston:

Ballam Park Reserve Playground (Frankston)


Did someone mention twins? Ballam Park has two excellent play areas - on the eastern side is a wooden structure packed with interest for toddlers and on the western side is a great area for older kids. Apart from the main play structure there is a skate park with bumps and hills, a parkour course, basketball court, climbing wall, flying fox and in-ground trampolines. The huge park has plenty of grassy areas, picnic facilities, toilets, sporting fields and a dog off leash area.

Glen Eira:

Booran Reservoir Playspace (Glen Huntly)


This is how to transform an urban reservoir to a beautifully crafted play space with a cool $10.8 million. There is a huge 10m high double dome rope climbing net and if you reach the top, then you most certainly deserve a chance to go down the special slide. The playground also has an extensive water splash park with splash pad and water jets which spray water upwards in various patterns plus two-tiered sand pits with water features such as pumps, Archimedes screw, water gates and a rocky stream. Many features of the original reservoir have been incorporated into the design. Other elements include double flying fox, giant birds nest swing, in-ground trampolines and oversized mouse wheel. There is a good sized basketball court and opportunities for cricket, tennis, netball, futsal and four square. These sports are facilitated by some cricket stumps, soccer net and tennis net painted on the wall.

Packer Park Playground (Carnegie)


Packer Park is a huge park with plenty of recreation facilities including a public velodrome, basketball court, practice golf cage, fitness station, free lawn bowls and bocce court (which the public can use for free), hit-up wall, toilets, picnic facilities, dog off leash area and a very nice playground. The core of the colourful playground is a connected area of ramps and platforms containing slides, tunnels, climbers, fireman poles and more.

Caulfield Park Playground (Caulfield North)


Caulfield Park is so spacious that it has three playgrounds. The park has many sports ovals, outdoor fitness circuit, golf birdie cage, basketball court, toilets and dog off leash area. The Aviary Garden Playground off Inkerman Road is a bright and colourful playground set around a bowl of soft spongy material which is ideal for toddlers and pre-school children.

The second playground near Balaclava Road and the duck pond is also suited to younger kids and has some giant insect sculptures. Bring the Aerogard insect repellent.

The third playground off Park Crescent is best suited to older kids and has a fun slide from the top of the mound and plenty of climbing opportunities.

Murrumbeena Park Playground (Murrumbeena)


An extensive set of play areas including a main structure with different types of slides, a toddler area, flying fox, dry creek bed to explore with lovely wooden frog sculptures, large atom-shaped climbing frame and wooden cubby house. Try out the different types of swings - there are seven types to choose from. Our favourite is the pear swing where you stand and hang onto the enormous yellow fruit with your hands with as much tenacity as you can muster while it swings back and forth. The playground is next to an oval and there are picnic facilities.

Note: Harleston Park playground in Elsternwick has been rebuilt and yet to be reviewed.

Greater Dandenong:

Tatterson Park Playground (Keysborough)


Step through the magnifying glass which forms the entrance to the playground and the bugs suddenly become huge. Here's your chance to re-create the film "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" with a few scenes from "A Bug's Life". The playground is covered in shade sails and look out for ants, spiders, lady bugs, bees, grasshoppers and caterpillars - they shouldn't be too hard to find since they are all huge. There are also some play structures, picnic facilities, toilets and big grassy areas.

Burden Park Playground (Springvale South)


A giant wooden fortress with castles, towers and plenty of nooks and crannies to play hide and seek. I fully expected to see King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. There are also lots of slides, a sandpit, picnic facilities and lots of grassy areas to kick a ball around.

Ross Reserve All Abilities Play Space (Noble Park)


Fully fenced playground with play opportunities for all ages and abilities. There are big tunnel slides, plenty of swings and slides, huge hamster wheel, four in-ground trampolines, dual flying foxes, big sandpit under shade sails and music area.

Hobsons Bay:

No playground in this council area made our list.

Hume:

Golden Sun Moth Park Playground (Craigieburn)


A brilliantly conceived playground with the theme of a Golden Sun Moth which is an endangered species found in the area - you don't need to look hard to find one since there is a GIANT metal one in the middle of the playground. You can climb up or slide down the legs of the moth (six legs for an insect), go down the tail slide or climb along its rope belly. The playground is divided into an area for 1-4 year olds and another adjacent more challenging area for 5 years and older. There are two huge pyramid rope climbing frames, huge birds nest swing and long flying fox. There are picnic facilities and the playground is next to a multi-purpose trail.

Note: Galaxy Land playground in Sunbury has been rebuilt and yet to be reviewed.

Kingston:

Carrum Foreshore Playground (Carrum)


A marine-themed seaside playground in a humongous sandpit next to the Carrum Life Saving Club which sits beside family friendly Carrum Beach. A lighthouse with telescope overlooks the bay and the playground sea of sand where you'll find a rock labyrinth decorated with sea creatures, speedboat on rockers (see sickness anyone?), a miniature wooden pier and some slides and swings. The sandy playground area is surrounded by paths and decking, relaxing blue and white high backed deck chairs, bench seating, water taps, toilets and open sided shelters with BBQ and table.

Victory Park Playground (Chelsea)


Located on the foreshore of Chelsea Beach which provides a chance of a combination of trip to the beach and a playground. The shallow water makes Chelsea a good family beach. Apart from the lighthouse which provides some challenge to reach the top for views across the bay, the remainder of the equipment is not very high and best suited to younger kids but does include a huge sandpit with a wooden castle. There are picnic facilities including toilets nearby.

Heatherton Park Playground (Clayton South)


"Trip, trap, trip, trap! " went the bridge. "Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll. Make sure you don't get gobbled up by a troll - which is not so easy in this playground, known locally as 'Troll Park' because it is full of nasty trolls. This place is great for kids with an imagination but they may not be able to sleep well the night after a visit. Be prepared for some gruesome play equipment including a giant mouth with three tongue slides. There are picnic facilities, toilets, basketball half court and huge grassy areas.

The Grange Reserve Playground (Clayton South)


The playground has a UFO theme to recognize a UFO sighting in the reserve on the 6th April, 1966. Students and teachers from the nearby Westall High School and Westall Primary School rushed to see the hovering flying saucers in the reserve and this sighting has never been explained. We visited the area and also saw a UFO - it is a huge saucer shape hovering above the ground with access via a number of ladders. Inside is a control panel with steering wheels including the requisite flux capacitor. If the aliens scare you too much, you can escape via a fireman's pole, short quick tunnel slide or a twisty spiral slide. As well as more standard play equipment such as a sandpit and wooden tree house, there are picnic facilities, toilet and information panels about the UFO incident.

Mentone Racecourse Reserve Playground (Mentone)


The playground is set on the site of the former Mentone racecourse and the playground has a horse racing theme throughout - in fact it is the Black Caviar of horse racing themed playgrounds. It is a huge reserve with a large ornamental lake with lots of water birds. This playground is a horse lovers delight. There are ride-on rocking horses, a wooden maze, life-size wooden horse sculptures and a good range of play equipment. The lake and grassy areas makes this a lovely place for a picnic and facilities such as shelter, tables, toilets and BBQs are provided.

Bicentennial Park Playground (Chelsea)


This is a destination playground - it's huge, fenced and has a large amount of varied play equipment. Mt Chelsea, a huge soft mound with two long slides towers over the playground. There's even a Mt Chelsea station with a ticket office and fun train pulling into the station. Other nice elements are large shaded sandpits and a whimsical Smurf village with cubbies encompassing music and play. There is an extensive outdoor gym within the fenced area and across the car park is an excellent skate park and youth area with basketball court. Plenty of picnic facilities, parking and toilets.

Knox:

Wally Tew Reserve Playground (Ferntree Gully)


The theme of the playground is 'Forest Floor' and this forest floor has HUGE metal bugs with ladders and slides. The environment encourages nature play and features include junior and senior play structures, huge sandpit with digger, huge birds nest swing, artistic elements and noise makers - whether this is music or loud noise depends on the ear of the beholder. The playground is fully fenced and there are picnic facilities and toilets.

Tim Neville Arboretum Playground (Ferntree Gully)


A medieval themed playground with a castle, drawbridge and moat which provides a great basis for imaginative play. It is fully fenced to keep all the dragons and the Loch Ness monster which writhes in and out of the ground inside. There is a dual flying fox, sandpit, wobbly pads, panels with Auslan letters and words, castle themed area with stocks and a rock where you try and extract the Excalibur sword. Generally the playground is suited to younger kids. The Tim Neville Arboretum is outside the fenced area and has picnic facilities, toilets, gardens, duck-filled pond, amphitheatre and a secret garden.

Rowville Adventure Playground (Rowville)


A place to explore which is set on multiple levels and has lots of fun and interesting elements. Plenty of climbing options and swings, shaded sandpit and flying fox. There are plenty of nice touches scattered about such as wooden mushrooms and a lovely fish shaped water tap. There are picnic facilities and toilets.

Bayswater Park Playground (Bayswater)


This is one of the best - a full sized train engine which you can climb up into the cabin after buying a pretend ticket at the ticket booth. All aboard! There is a broad sweep of unusual play equipment including an elevated wooden structure to explore, large climbing frame in an elephant shape with a slide as a trunk, two hippos lolling about in a rubber lake, five communal swings arranged in a pentagon shape and everyone swings towards the centre (you don't even need to be a maths whizz to swing here), swings which can be swung around in a circle by a muscular member of the family, and a big rope climbing frame with a slide skimming back down to the ground. More recent additions to the playground are climbing walls, small parkour area, big horizontal climbing net, basketball area, tennis rebound wall, small skate park area, giant chess board, bocce court and a wonderful bike training area for young kids which even has traffic lights. Plenty of picnic facilities and toilets.

Manningham:

Ruffey Lake Park Playground (Doncaster East)


Ruffey Lake Park is 68 hectares of bushland, lake and grassy areas and and is home to three playgrounds. The best playground is off Victoria Street which has a great covered sandpit with water features - a wheel pump at the top releases water which can be directed through dams and gates to the bottom. There are some very nice slides, climbing areas, giant gecko, two flying foxes and plenty of picnic facilities.

The playground off The Boulevard is a more standard playground with most of the equipment under shade sails and more suited to younger kids.

The third playground off Church Road on the north side is very basic only suited to young kids. This playground is next to the Ruffey Lake Park Disc Golf Course.

All three playgrounds have picnic facilities including toilets and free parking. It's quite a trek to walk between the playgrounds but there are some nice walks to connect the areas including the Ruffey Lake Park Fruit, Frogs and Family Fun Walk. Many parts of the park is a dog off leash area.

Wombat Bend Playspace (Templestowe Lower)


A beautifully crafted playspace which is fully fenced. Get in line because the bat wing carousel with hanging seats which parents push around is super popular. The fun starts near the entrance where there is a wooden maze with mirrors and buttons to press - any kid is going to have fun pressing the buttons and listening to the funny voices. Other nice elements are the flying foxes, sand pit, sculptures and musical bridge. Outside the gates is a nature play centre where materials are provided for children to build bush cubbies. The playground is set in a lovely location beside the Yarra River and there are picnic facilities, car park and toilets.

Maribyrnong:

Braybrook Park Aeroplane Playground (Braybrook)


A new aeroplane themed playground has risen from the ashes of the iconic aeroplane playground which was destroyed by a fire in 2015. This time a runway, high control tower with slides, flying foxes and toddler area have been added. There are picnic facilities and toilets at Braybrook Community Centre which is next door.

Footscray Park Play Space (Footscray)


Footscray Park which lines the Maribyrnong River, is a pleasure to visit with beautiful Edwardian public gardens with an ornamental pond inhabited by giant orange koi and plenty of ducks and water birds to explore. The nature play based playground which complements the park has a high tree house with climbing areas, sand pit, dual flying fox, lovely music area with drums, xylophone and percussion play area with vertical metal cylinders to bang on and a water play area with a creek bed and splash pad with water jets. There are plenty of picnic facilities in the park. The playground is mostly fenced but there are gaps near the toilets.

Maroondah:

Ringwood Lake Playground (Ringwood)


The accessible playground is set in a lovely shady area of trees near the Ringwood Lake. A large ramp with a number of tunnel slides leads up to some 'pod nests' in the sky from which start even bigger, steeper and faster slides. Other fun elements are a water play area where the water runs down the back of a giant eel into a sandpit surrounded by another giant eel, wooden animal sculptures and expression swing. Picnic facilities and a toilet are provided. There is no fence between the playground and lake so parental vigilance may be required.

Melbourne:

Royal Park Nature Playground (Parkville)


An award winning, nature based playground with a combination of adventure ropes area, hilltop slides and water play area near the Royal Children's Hospital. A special attraction are the hills which are great for rolling down. There are picnic facilities at the playground and public toilets.

Melton:

Frontier Park Playground (Rockbank)


Calling all dare-devils, this playground is for you. There are two very tree-houses connected by a net tunnel bridge and three massive snaking slides descending down to colourful soft fall. In addition there is a sand pit, obstacle course, small skate park, basketball court, water play, picnic facilities and toilets. Rockbank is the epicentre of great playgrounds. Make a day trip and visit all of these other playgrounds in close proximity: Bullion Park, Muster Drive, Nugget Park and Jackwood Park.

Bullion Park Playground (Rockbank)


A magnificent tower and slide, rope bridges, in-ground trampolines, large covered sandpit, double flying fox, table tennis table, basketball court, grassy oval with football posts at one end and picnic facilities. There is a cafe across the road with toilets.

Tenterfield Park Playground (Burnside Heights)


A fun and colourful playground with a "town" theme stacked full of interesting elements. There is a long ramp and lots of little shops including the florist, bakery, hair-dresser, green grocer, show shop and service station. This is a playground of joy and has picnic facilities but no toilets.

Maddingley Park Playground (Maddingley)


A community built wooden adventure playground. Enter and immerse yourself in a tangled mix of towers, nine swings, see-saw, wooden train and carriage, tunnels, lots of levels, nooks and crannies, huts, rubber walkways, monkey rungs, chain traverses, three tunnel slides, hidden cubbies, balance beam, chain ladders, scrambling wall and the bow of a boat. If that's not enough to exhaust any kid, there is a big sandpit outside the main area with picnic facilities and toilets.

Navan Park Playground (Melton)


A rocket ship with two big twisty metal slides blasts above a playground which has something for all age groups. There is a huge array of play equipment around the rocket - it may be plastic but it's still a lot of fun. A real highlight is a large sandpit with a castle and lots of equipment for handling the sand such as scoops and conveyors. There is a special 'teen zone' which has "Sky Surfer" (stand up and surf on the suspended surfboard), "Mountain Trek" (sit on or climb across hanging disks) and "Trick Skate" (revolving skate board rockers). There are picnic facilities, toilets, outdoor gym exercise circuit, fenced dog park and a big lake, which is 100m away, has a walking trail around it.

Monash:

Valley Reserve Play Space (Mount Waverley)


The award winning playground is set in Valley Reserve, a 15-hectare area of bushland. There is a beautifully crafted King Parrot metal climbing frame, sandpit, swings and low climbing structures at the lower level. The most impressive part, which is overlooked by a wooden Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, is the rope climbing area with elevated platforms, balance logs and rope ladders. At the higher level of the playground are two flying foxes and a high tree house accompanied by a carved stone owl. Look out for the Eastern long-necked turtle sculpture in the sandpit area. On the edge of the playground is a huge birds nest swing which provides a massive swinging pendulum. It swings so high that some training at NASA is almost a pre-requisite before going into orbit on the swing. There are picnic facilities and toilets.

Moonee Valley:

Riverside Park Playground (Aberfeldie)


The highlight of the playground is a beautifully crafted Pirate ship, "Black Sapphire". The ship is moored to a jetty in a sea of sand. The attention to detail is amazing - there is a crows nest, treasure map, captains area, telescope, sunken treasure and a ships wheel. If we could find a way to get the ship into the nearby Maribyrnong River, we could sail down the river and attack those scurvy dogs in Williamstown (Ahh, the dreams of a buccaneer). The remainder of the playground has a tower with big tunnel slide. There are picnic facilities and toilets.

Victory Park Playground (Ascot Vale)


Community built wooden adventure playgrounds are always heaps of fun. This fortress-style example has a varied mix of towers, slides, walkways and swings plus a sandpit. There are picnic facilities and toilets with a kiosk available at the Ascot Vale Sports & Fitness venue next door.

Moreland:

Coburg Lake Reserve Playground (Coburg)


Make your way to Coburg Lake and there will be three nice playgrounds to choose from. The main playground beside the lake has a rocket ship with two twisting metal slides plus an elevated cubby and slides.

Within a few minutes walk across the creek are two other playgrounds; De Chene Parade Playground (with an amazing outdoor lounge room theme, flying fox and a giant board game of Twister) and Doug Hull Adventure Park in Carr Street (a decent playground but not exactly Indiana Jones type adventure). The main playground has picnic facilities and toilets.

Harmony Park Playground (Coburg)


Harmony Park has an all-abilities playground, skate park, basketball court and grassy areas for ball games. With the theme of 'harmony', the first place to seek out is the wooden fort with its onion dome which pays homage to the Middle Eastern population living in the surrounding area. Some of the best features are a large sandpit under shade sails, musical car tyres and speed-boat on a rocker. There are picnic facilities and toilets.

Mornington Peninsula:

Rosebud Foreshore Playground (Rosebud)


If you see a mound near Rosebud beach, then you must be at the playground. Metal slides snake down from the top of the mounds to a play area below. There are plenty of ways to get to the top of the biggest mound where you'll find a flying fox. There are picnic facilities and toilets and the shops are very close by.

Ryes Up! Community Playground (Rye)


This fenced playground, located on the Rye foreshore just east of the Rye pier, is a great example of what 700 community volunteers can build in the space of just five days. The playground has a seaside theme and the wooden structure is in the shape of a huge ship. Colourful marine animals such as starfish, fish and seahorses dot the walls of the playground. There is also a lighthouse and lots of swings. The area has picnic facilities and toilets and there are food shops across the road.

Sorrento Historic Park Playground (Sorrento)


Another wonderful wooden adventure playground set in a lovely grassy park dotted with shady trees and having breathtaking views across the Bay. The playground resembles a castle and promotes imaginative play. It is a maze of tunnels, play elements, slides, climbing nets, swings and sand pits. The park has picnic facilities and toilets.

Nillumbik:

Eltham North Reserve Playground (Eltham North)


The playground was burnt down in 2017 but has been rebuilt to be even better than the previous version - like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The unique aspect of this playground is a huge shed with tractor and climbing areas which means there are play opportunities even in wet weather. Outside the shed there is a double flying fox, sandpit, dry creek bed with water play features and a town centre comprised of a number of colourful shops including a general store and ice-cream shop. There are plenty of picnic facilities including toilets. For refreshments, it is a short 50 metre walk to Edendale Community Environment Farm, where a cafe serves delicious food and drinks (entrance to the farm is free).

Diamond Creek Regional Playspace (Diamond Creek)


A wonderful nature themed playground with plenty of climbing opportunities, huge sandpit, lovely sculptures and cubbies which is all overlooked by a cafe in a restored W-class tram.

Fergusons Paddock Playground (Hurstbridge)


An amazing array of sporting areas and playgrounds for public access which are located behind the Hurstbridge Primary School. There are six playground areas with some being under shade sails. It's a case of play, play, play ...

Port Phillip:

Aughtie Drive Adventure Playground (Albert Park)


A community built wooden adventure playground near Albert Park Lake which was built in 1993. The huge wooden fort has lots of nooks and crannies to explore with plenty of swings, slides, tunnels and bridges. There are picnic facilities, toilets and grassy areas.

Skinners Park Playground, Dorcas Street (South Melbourne)


An amazing community playground which was created mainly for the children living in the nearby public housing estates but is still accessible to the general public. The playground is open in the late afternoons weekdays and on weekends and is staffed. It is recommended for children aged 5-12 but younger kids also love it. The playground is like a kid-friendly junkyard and has an eclectic mix of things to do including basketball/soccer court, chicken house, cubby house in a tree with large curved slide, very long chain traverse, pond, in-ground trampoline, various cubby houses, structures from shipping containers, artwork, swings, see-saw, climbing net and many other things to explore. There are picnic facilities and toilets.

Alma Park East Adventure Playground (St Kilda East)


A truly unique set of play items including a real tree house in a spreading Moreton Bay Fig with slides, castle decorated with carved wooden animals, five person swing set and an enormous glittery pink slug with ladder and fireman's pole inside. Add in some normal exciting equipment such as a flying fox and climbing rope pyramid plus picnic facilities, grassy areas, outdoor gym, dog off leash area and you have a real winner.

Maritime Cove Community Park Playground (Port Melbourne)


A brilliant and unique place space next to Sandridge Beach which was created by the Port of Melbourne using re-purposed equipment to create a Maritime themed park. The playground, which is covered in lovely soft sand, weaves equipment such as a Crows Nest, channel markers, marine bollards, coloured buoys, rail lines, ladder bridge and steel buoys into a fun and exciting play environment. There are two fun water play areas including a fun and sneaky sprinkler system. In the playground area there are two shelters from old shipping containers with some seats, water tap and beach shower. Toilets, outdoor exercise station and a cafe are close by.

St Kilda Adventure Playground (St Kilda)


The best of the community playgrounds created for the children living in the nearby public housing estates. Luckily for us, it is also accessible to the general public. The playground is open in the late afternoons weekdays and on weekends and is staffed. Chock full of play areas including a big aeroplane, trampolines, tree for climbing, go-kart path, big metal slide, chook house, ride on dinosaur, various swings and slides, flying fox, cubby house, pirate ship, metal half-pipe, little basketball court, big tepee, big wooden castle with lots of nooks and crannies (like the House of Horrors at Luna Park without the horror) and great tunnel slide. The playground is constantly changing and evolving. There are picnic facilities and toilets inside the neighbourhood house.

Stonnington:

Phoenix Park Playground (Malvern East)


A wonderful wooden, community built, fort style playground with a neighbourhood house, library, picnic facilities, skate park and a cafe on site. The playground itself has ten swings of various types and the large wooden structure has many nooks, crannies and play areas including a sand pit. It will keep kids of any age enthralled and the whole structure is surrounded by a fence with only one entry/exit point.

Whitehorse:

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Playspace (Blackburn)


A giant turtle takes centre stage in this playground while plenty of creepy-crawlies, such as embedded creatures in the logs, fossils embedded in the paths and a giant green grasshopper, play a supporting hands. Add in a challenging play structure, climbing walls, rope pyramid, birds nest swing and lovely xylophone. You'll know when it is time for dinner from the analemmatic sundial (well at least on a sunny day). There are picnic facilities and toilets. After a play, take a walk around Blackburn Lake. There's even another playground on the other side of the lake.

Surrey Park Playground (Box Hill)


Huge spiral slide which has 540 degrees of turn. What a buzz and there is a constant queue up to the top of the slide. Be ready for minor injuries at the rate of about one every five minutes and more tears when the kids are told they are going home. Sadly these slides are gradually getting removed but this is a good example next to a boat shaped play structure and another structure for younger kids with a lighthouse. Picnic facilities but no toilets. After a play, stroll over to the Surrey Dive which was a former quarry for a brickworks and was a popular swimming hole from 1905 to 1967. The site was the first Olympic standard swimming pool in Australia, and included 10 lanes, diving boards and changing rooms. After the Victorian drought in 1967/68, the Dive dried up and the council decided to fill it in and turn it into an ornamental lake. Now it is home to model sail boats and waterbirds.

Whittlesea:

Gumnut Park Playground (Donnybrook)


A destination playground inspired by the stories of May Gibbs' Snugglepot & Cuddlepie. A series of huge gumnut cubbies sit level with the treetops of river red gums which are interconnected with scary mesh tunnels and feature massive and spectacular slides. Add in flying foxes, toddler area, huge sandpit, in-ground trampolines, climbing and balance area, skate/BMX park and basketball half court. Plenty of picnic facilities including toilets and an on-site cafe.

Norris Bank Reserve Playground (Bundoora)


Something for everyone here - take a pick from a big climbing structure with multiple slides, two flying foxes, swing zone with lots of different swings, sandpit, small theatre stage area, nice scooter loop with bumps and banked corners, a water play area (which seems to have a reliability problem), basketball court and hit-up wall. There are also picnic facilities, toilets, bocce courts, grassy areas and fenced dog park.

Mill Park All Abilities Play Space (Mill Park)


The playground is fully fenced and includes a water play area, multi-level climbing tower, full sized basketball court, multiple sheltered areas, sensory area, double flying fox and much more.

Wyndham:

Wyndham Park Playground (Werribee)


A fantastic recreation and play complex at Wyndham Park along the Werribee River. It includes an adventure playground, nature play area including water play, multiple outdoor gyms, small skatepark, central lawn, display garden, toilets and lots of picnic facilities. Highlights include a 12 metre high tower which has a fast twisting metal tunnel slide, huge rope climbing frame, dual flying foxes and revolving hamster wheel.

Crocodile Park Playground (Point Cook)


A snapping good playground - provided you can avoid the jaws of the crocodile. The design of the playground drew on the Roald Dahl children's story 'The Enormous Crocodile' where a crocodile lives in a playground pretending to be a friendly see-saw before quickly gobbling children for dinner. The playground is visually appealing with a blue and white nautical theme coupled with blue soft fall surface and sandy areas. There is a nice mix of big slides, climbing areas and an extensive water play area where water cascades from a crocodile's mouth into a trough and then through a series of stepping stones to an area of squirting jets. The playground is located next to a wetlands area with a series of boardwalks. There are picnic facilities and toilets and a cafe are quite close.

Barrabool Boulevard Playground (Mambourin / Werribee)


This playground has it all. There are two big climbing structures each with an exciting slide, play areas for younger kids, water play area, huge basketball court with markings for hopscotch and four square, tennis rebound wall, big climbing wall, decent skate park, grassy area with metal soccer goal and combined AFL/rugby goals, outdoor gym circuit, water taps, picnic facilities, toilets and and a cafe is only 100 m down the road.

Mandrel Drive Playground (Williams Landing)


An aviation themed playground which gets its inspiration from the nearby RAAF base. The control tower stands tall above the playground with a fantastic curved tunnel slide - it makes you wish to be a traffic controller. There is also some other fun items including a sandpit with diggers and sand play equipment, rope climbing frame, outdoor gym and basketball court. There are picnic facilities and some beautifully crafted concrete seats in the form of suitcases. No toilets.

Hogans Road Playground (Hoppers Crossing)


High twin towers with three high metal tunnel slides. Also climbing walls, basketball court and another area with equipment for younger kids. Picnic facilities and toilets are available on weekends at the Community Centre.

Upper Point Cook Playground (Point Cook)


This playground has something for all kinds of kids - a small soccer field, basketball court and skate park for the sporting types, two massive tunnel slides for the adventurous types, picnic facilities including toilet for family types, flying foxes, climbing net and swings for the all types and even a beer barrel shaped structure for Dad types.

Bayview Park Pirate Playground (Point Cook)


Welcome to Fear Factor - a special slide which starts from a hill with a huge Pirate Ship (which is a little playground in itself) and is frighteningly long and steep. Sitting at the top of the slide certainly causes some fear and trepidation because the slide is so steep and long. If you manage to safely get to the bottom of the hill, there is a basketball / netball court, smaller slide, birds nest swing, rope climbing pyramid and a shaded sandpit with digger and sand play equipment. There are picnic facilities but no toilet.

Presidents Park Playground (Wyndham Vale)


Presidents Park is massive - as well as a great, semi-fenced playground, it has a leading edge skate park, picnic facilities, toilets, walking trails, lake, grassy areas, dog off leash area and a fenced dog park. A popular place for families which is bursting with adventurous equipment.

Yarra City:

Quarries Park Playground (Clifton Hill)


A wooden adventure style playground with a mass of ramps, swings and climbing areas with a fun steep metal slide. The park has large grassy areas with a skatepark, dog off leash area, picnic facilities and toilets.

Edinburgh Gardens Playground (Fitzroy North)


A fenced all-abilities playground located on the south side of Edinburgh Gardens. There's a wooden structure with a very high wave slide, a line of swings, big sandpit and a toddler area with chalk boards. There are picnic facilities and toilets a short walk away. The park is lovely with shady trees framing the paths, dog off leash areas, basketball court, sports fields, tennis courts and there is another small fenced playground on the north side of the park.

Yarra Ranges:

McKenzie Reserve Playground (Yarra Glen)


Don't be put off by huge dung beetles - kids love a good roll with a dung beetle. The rest of the playground is suited to all ages and has a central wooden play structure, huge pyramid rope climbing frame, an equally huge birds nest swing, lots of swings, big sandpit which is partially shaded with a rock waterfall and a water bubbler and family sized see-saw. There are picnic facilities and toilets. An added bonus is the close proximity to Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.

Montrose Community Playground (Montrose)


A delightful playground which caters for all ages. For older kids there is a ramp leading to a beautifully painted wall with an Australian bush setting, two large pyramid rope climbing frames, slides and swings (there is a fun swing that revolves around and a birds nest swing). There is also a play area for younger kids and the highlight is a circular path which leads past a series of beautifully made shop fronts representing places from the local community including the fire station, library, bank, post office, chocolate shop, butcher and hairdresser. There are picnic facilities and next to an oval with toilets.

Olinda Playspace (Olinda)


A lovely nature-based playspace which is located on the site of the former Olinda golf course. A double bogey for the golfers and a birdie for families. The playground is overlooked by a huge gecko and has a huge sandpit with two separate water play tables, a water pump heading a creek bed which meanders down under a bridge to a massively sized frog, fun cubbies, big spinner, dual flying foxes, in-ground trampolines, rope course, various swings and slides. There are picnic facilities, toilets, huge grassy areas and a massive, but hilly, dog off leash area.

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The Best Playgrounds in each Council Area, Melbourne, Victoria,