WanAus 224 - Public Playgrounds Around the World Locationless, Locationless, Locationless
By WanderingAus on 21-Feb-13. Waypoint GA6244

This playground is located in VIc.

Mountjoy Pde, Lorne to be precise.

The playground is a replica of the nearby pier.

There is even a replica Couta fishing boat.

Hours of fun and a 5 star for uniqueness!!

TFTL

Rated: for Overall Experience

In Ashwater Cresent Penguin there is a walkway between the houses down the back to a playground with a picnic table and some bench seats, there is a little bit of grassed area before it heads down over the hill towards the main of town.

Playground in Turners Beach. Next to the community garden. There is a slide and an obstacle course for the kids.

Lara Lake Playground
off Forest Rd S, Lara Victoria.
Near the Lara swimming pool.
Park in the Pool Carpark and a short walk to the playground.
I have taken geoniece there a few times. Birdwatching in the area too.
This particular time we were there, a pair of Cape Barren Geese were wandering around and photo bombed my picture of geoniece in the playground.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This small playground in Glebe Hill, Howrah has a great pirate boat to play on. Have bought the grandchildren here many times. A bit cold and wet today, 29 December 2023. TFTL. Using for the Cacheopoly games

Rated: for Overall Experience

Pukekohe Park playground
In pukekhoe NZ
State... ER.... north island. Is that a state?
4/5 rating as it has one of nzs best inventions, affectionately known as... the spinny thing. Its like a 4 way see saw that spins. Amazing. Lots of other climbing and spinny stuff. Tall swings. Seats. Big sports ground. Great nz treasure we have found.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This is a fairly new playground, built only a couple of years ago. Located at Mark Taylor Oval, Waitara Avenue, Waitara NSW. The area has changed over recent years from mostly freestanding houses to blocks of units so I guess the kids didn't have a backyard to play in anymore.

The local bowling club that used to be on this site folded and was replaced by this rather large and popular playground for all the local people who mostly live in units, and some tennis courts. There are nearby toilets at the back of the old bowling club building (which has partly been refurbished into a takeaway) as well as a couple of covered picnic tables that seem popular for birthday parties and the like. Thanks for the opportunity for another smiley.

S 37° 46.117 E 144° 26.247
A childrens' playground at Maddingly Park Bacchus marsh. Victoria.
There are BB cues nearby, toilet facilities as well as sports ovals tennis courts. Parking nearby as well as the train station

Rated: for Overall Experience

Today we were a bit early for an appointment in Devonport so grabbed some lunch from the bakery and headed down to the beach at East Devonport to eat it.
There has always been a kid's playground here but it has had a revamp since the last time we visited.
It has always been a popular spot but will probably be even more popular now.
It is right beside the beach, although it isn't an ideal beach for swimming. It has barbeques, a new toilet block, a set of exercise equipment and a great cycle/walking path that runs beside it.
I'd give it a rating of 4 out of 5, probably because it is all so new, and has that nice spongy surface.
Doesn't have a real lot of different pieces of play equipment but the couple that are there look interesting and different than anything I've seen before.
Thanks, the park doesn't have a name that I know of but it can be found at S41 10.363 E146 22.232.

S37 17.647 e143 47.347
Queens park Clunes Victoria.
Currently shut for covid
A nice range of modern equipment.
Bins and by the river and seating

Rated: for Overall Experience

The WS James Reserve on the corner of our street has been a favourite for our kids when they were young, and for our grandchildren when they come to visit.
It is on the corner of Dunrobin and Rae Streets, Shepparton, Victoria, and has a train, climbing frame, slippery slide and swings,
Unfortunately there are no toilets or shelters in the park, but there are seats and a shady tree to sit beneath, as well as a drinking fountain.
It is used a lot, especially by the nearby State School teachers who sometimes walk the prep classes down there, and many ethnic groups utilise it.
It’s a real cool mini playground. For a small area the kids find plenty to keep themselves entertained.
Thanks WanderingAus for this Locationless

Rated: for Overall Experience

We stumbled across this secluded playground along Swan Point Esplanade (a no through road) in Swan Point Tasmania. Thanks WanderingAus for organising this locationless cache.

Whilst out walking the geodog this morning we stopped for the doggies to have a drink at Dowsett Park, Kingsgrove. The equipment has recently (in the last 12 months) been updated and it has turned this into a much more appealing space. There are now benches to sit on, a track around the outside and most importantly, a water station that allows you to drink, refill bottles and let the dogs drink, all in one! It's lovely to have these open green spaces remaining in the suburbs.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Out and about for the Summer Scavenger Series 2016 and spotted this impressive playground at Gembrook Victoria.
It is made out of wood and has BBQ facilities, toilets, skatepark
Thanks WanderingAus

Rated: for Overall Experience

This newly ronovated park is at Peppermint reserve on Peppermint cres, Kingswood, NSW
there is a swing, a round swing thing, a play gym with rock climbing wall, two slides, seesaw, and a big rope pyramid.
there is a bench seat and also a table and chairs under a shelter but no toilets or bins
the kids rated this a 5 in cool factor
note: bin has now been installed

Rated: for Overall Experience

This playground is on Rottnest Island and what I liked was the shade cloth covered most of the playground. Soft landing under play equipment which was well maintained. Setting and a shop were only metres away - not always good to have a shop too close though! Great views out to the water. My kids are too old for swings and climbing in children's playgrounds but would have loved to have a go !

Medlow Bath Playground in the Blue Mountains of NSW.

Toilets nearby, plus picnic tables. Cafe about 250 metres distant. Good assortment of play equipment.

Off-lease dog park adjacent.

Rated: for Overall Experience

A special subset of playgrounds, the water playground. This one is right in the middle of The Entrance and has good parent-watching-from-a-distance-so-as-not-to-get-wet seating options. Good for ages 2-10. My main tip would be to come prepared - when they want to just go for it, it's all fine until they realise how cold they are without the necessary drying apparatus.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This is the playground at Saltwater Creek Reserve on Central Coast Highway, Long Jetty. There do seem to be good facilities here and a variety of equipment, but the ground surrounding the playground was rather soggy on the day we visited after a couple of days of rain.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Lake Lyell Playground
Magpie Hollow Road
Lake Lyell, NSW

Found this lakeside playground while geocaching nearby.

Toilet available, plus picnic area.

Boating facilities, camping and cabins too.

Wasn't too busy while we were here.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Playground Near 'Little Australia'
Wilson Park
St. Bernards Drive
Lawson

This playground is located right next to the Lawson Swimming Pool and Wilson Park, site of the once-famous 'Little Australia.'

Deserted today, it's probably busy at weekends and during the summer.

Public toilets and picnic tables nearby. Very clean and well maintained.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Small Playground at Leura Cascades (off Cliff Drive) in Leura, NSW

This Blue Mountains playground is located the famous Leura Cascades. There are picnic benches and tables nearby, plus toilets.

However, the equipment is very limited (entirely shown in the two photos) and the area can be very crowded on weekends and school holidays.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Harley Park Playground
Emu Plains Road
Emu Plains, NSW

Drove by this somewhat isolated playground while geocaching down near the Nepean River.

Very quiet during the middle of the day, with all the children in school, I guess.

Very clean and tidy.

Rated: for Overall Experience

#GA497 - 14:45; In Sydney with Sol de lune, fitzy_1965 and toyhunters for the ' Let's Party - Come Celebrate Australia's First' event and on the way home we were collecting a few caches along the way. In Meadowbank Memorial Park in Bank Street, Melrose Park, NSW to gather information for an earthcache and noticed the kids park, so grabbed a photo to log with this cache. Some unusual insect shaped climbing apparatus was the feature that really caught my eye. TFTC WanderingAus

Rated: for Overall Experience

Robertswood Park
Robertswood Road
Blaxland, NSW

Spotted this quiet lower Blue Mountains playground while geocaching nearby.

Good quality playground equipment.

Quite clean-looking.

Toilets nearby.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Hazelbrook Bowling Club Playground
Lester Avenue
Hazelbrook, NSW



Found this playground while geocaching nearby.

There are several different playground areas here, all fairly close together, plus a toilet block.

Of course, the Bowling Club and its bistro is nearby and there's a large soccer field about 100 metres distant.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Sherwood Arboretum,
Jolimont Street, Sherwood, Brisbane, Qld.

Situated on the Brisbane River, these beautiful gardens and children's playgrounds were established in the early 1920s and are unique in that they contain 300 species of almost entirely native flora.

Featuring sweeping curved paths, great for riding bikes and trikes, a majestic avenue of Queensland kauris, two artificial lake wetlands, a small grove of forest and a riverfront path that is partially boardwalk this is a fantastic place for a ramble.

There’s a substantial playground for old and young, free barbecues and undercover picnic areas for those who want to make a day of it. The park also has about 6 toilets.

And sitting high above all these facilities you can’t miss the 1974 ‘flood marker’ sculpture which stands as an eerie reminder at the top of the riverside ridge.

As a family, we use this park fairly regularly as the kids particularly love it.

Playground 2 at Jordan Springs
Cranbrook, NSW

Found this second playground along the new lake.

Not a child in sight . . .

Rated: for Overall Experience

Playground at Jordan Springs
Cranbrook, NSW

Here's a brand new playground in the new 'Jordan Springs' development.

It was completely deserted today!

Wonder if any children have as yet moved into this housing development?

We bounced along the extremely 'springy' 'softfall' . . . weird!

Rated: for Overall Experience

Lomatia Park
Lomatia Lane
Springwood, NSW



Found this Blue Mountains playground at dusk, while geocaching nearby.

Nice set of play equipment, but the climbing frame is partly 'yellow taped' off for repairs. Looks fairly new, though. Slippery dip and softfall. Bence for parents.

There's a sports field nearby and I think there's a toilet over there.
When the cricket, baseball or softball is being played, this is no doubt a busy place.

Bush is nearby and slightly steep. You'd need to watch your children and not let them wander down into the gully.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Found on our Wagga Wagga trip. We failed to find the cache, norman, in Wagga Wagga, however it was at a playground, so we quickly took a photo from two different angles at the GZ. The container was about a 3, because it only had the usual parts of a playground.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Found this Lithgow playground while geocaching in the area.

Clean and nice equipment . . . very tidy.



There's a picnic area nearby.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Wentworth Falls Lake Playground, Wentworth Falls, NSW . . .



Re-discovered this one while attending the 2014 'Autumn Caching in the Bluies' event.

Beautiful spot in the Blue Mountains, not far from Katoomba. Lake with ducks and waterfowl. Lots of equipment. (See photos.) Many picnic tables. Ample parking. Toilets on site. Usually a fair few people here most days.

Located just off the Great Western Highway . . .

Rated: for Overall Experience

Small but well equipped playground in the Cremorne Point Reserve, toilet bloc and benches but not much else, however this may change in the future as this look very new indeed. very close to the ferry wharf and great views of the harbour.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Hinkler Park Playground
Warialda Street
Katoomba, NSW



Nice little park with play equipment, picnic benches and toilets. Usually fairly quiet.

Memorial to Bert Hinkler, the famous aviator . . .

"Bert Hinkler completed the first solo flight from England to Australia in an Avro Avian, registration G-EBOV, leaving England (Croydon Airfield, London) on 7 February 1928 and landing in Darwin on 22 February 1928. He then continued to his hometown of Bundaberg, Queensland, arriving on 27 February 1928. This flight reduced the England-Australia record from 28 days to just under 15.5 days."

Rated: for Overall Experience

Playground at Glenmore Park, NSW



This is a fairly new area, with lots of construction going on nearby.

Playground seems quiet and away from the street noise.

No toilet but decent equipment. Well-maintained with little or no rubbish. There are two picnic benches and a lot of open ground for kids to run and play.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This park is one that my kids love playing at.
Col Campbell Park - Lornsleigh St, Mt Louisa, Townsville, QLD.
The park has a free electric BBQ, with a nearby shade gazebo with picnic table/chairs. There's a water bubble for rehydration.
The play equipment consist of a flying fox, 2 swings, a small slippery slide, and a few others. There's also a half court basketball court.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Ched Towns Reserve Playground
Glenmore Park, NSW



Photographed this one while geocaching down Penrith way. Reasonably wide assortment of equipment, with toilets nearby. Might be very busy at peak times, because of the adjacent sporting fields.

There's an entire shopping centre within easy walking distance, visible in one of my photographs.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This park is located close to the Nanango Primary School on the other side of the road off Drayton Street. The park is adjacent to Sandy Creek and in the 2013 floods got absolutely devastated but the Council rebuilt it quickly and bigger and better. There are now proper shelter sheds with an electric BBQ and there is also a toddler road training track. Caters for children to ride there bikes. Ages up to about ten. An amenities block has also been provided.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Katoomba Falls Reserve Playground
Cliff Drive
Katoomba, NSW



Here's another of the many Blue Mountains playgrounds, this one near one of the busiest tourism centres of the upper moutnains.

Next to a camping area, near the Katoomba Falls Kiosk, and within a stone's throw of bustling the bustling 'Scenic World' operation, this playground can be quite busy at time, with all manner of children from all over the world!

The equipment is OK and there are toilets nearby. You can get a cup of cappuccino and a light meal across the street.

I'll upload three photos that should show a bit of the environs.

This could be a good place for a geo-family picnic, due to the attractions nearby (including quite a few geocaches).

Rated: for Overall Experience

Whitton Park Playground
Moore Street
Blaxland, NSW



Nice Blue Mountains playground which also includes a nearby sports oval.

My three photos will give an idea of what's here . . .

Rated: for Overall Experience

Dunns/Maraylya Park
Boundary Road
Maraylya, NSW

Discovered this playground while geocaching nearby.

Park has ample equipment for youngsters, plus a toilet nearby.

Picnic tables and tennis courts aren't far away.

Rated: for Overall Experience

very nice playground in Parramatta Park close to O'Connell Street. Well set up with plenty for the kids to do.
Good ammenities and plenty of shelter, seating and BBQs. The Parramatta RSL club is very close by as are several restaurant and of course Old Government House.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Winnifredbank Park
Corner of Pitt Town Road and Ivy Road
Windsor, NSW

Found this small but well-presented semi-rural playground while logging a geocache nearby.

Good quality playground equipment and seats for parents but no toilets in sight. I suspect that there were some available further along in the park. Also didn't spot any barbecue facilities.

Seems like a safe location.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Yarralumla reserve on corner of Cranbourne-Frankston Rd & Yarralumla drive Langwarrin, Victoria

There are swings, and mini tower with slide, three park benches to sit down on, and I think a bin.

As playgournds go it is fairly average, but would make a decent area for a group of cachers to meet up before getting together to find caches in the area.

I was going to log this a few days ago, but only took one photo, so I went back today to get my second photo so I can log the find.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Very nice and well appointed playground in a lovely Mt Victoria Memorial Park in Mt Victoria. no doubt the kids from the nearby school make good use of it.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Emu Plains Playground
Regatta Park
York Street
Emu Plains, NSW



Saw this deserted playground while geocaching nearby.

Lots of playground equipment. Well away from traffic. Benches for parents . . .

Fairly near the Nepean River but no danger for children.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Alice Prior Reserve
Glenhaven Road
Glenhaven, NSW



Another nice playground . . . here are two views.

Safe-looking equipment plus public toilets.

All in good condition and well-maintained . . .

Rated: for Overall Experience

Lennon Street Park.
Lennon Street, Manunda, Queensland.
There are swings, a seesaw, a slide, climbing equipment & a flying fox. It's covered by shade cloth, lots of trees, picnic tables & toilets.
I would rate it a 4

A small kiddies friendly unnamed playground park on the corner of Burke Road and Glossop Road in Linden in the Blue Mountains.
All nice and shiny but unused this early in the morning. Basketball hoop and tarmac as well but no amenities to be seen.
I have walked past and seen the local kids make good use of this playground.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Faulconbridge NSW Playground Near Famous 'Corridor of the Oaks' & Jackson Park



Drove by here on Sir Henry's Parade, exiting the back way from Springwood, while returning home from geocaching in the lower Blue Mountains.

Took three shots of this playground from three different angles.

Lots of playground equipment, toilet block, several picnic tables. Very quiet and off the main GWH.

'Corridor of Oaks' across the street has historical interest.

Rated: for Overall Experience

GCA 861 - 8062. Grabbed a couple of Locationless around Canberra today.

My favourite Park in the Canberra CBD. Glebe Park. A large park with this particular Playground. With swings, a seesaw, Climbing ropes and a Zebadee ! There are toilets, BBQs, Bubblers, open areas to play/run around. And plenty of coffee shops nearby just in case. With my family (3 kids) its rates 4/5 !

TFTC !! Very Nice !

Rated: for Overall Experience

Playground at Ellerman Park
Dural, NSW



This playground is near the public library, not far from Kenthurst Road and Round Corner.

There are public toilets next to the park,as well as inside the library.

Very safe. Picnic tables nearby, but no barbecues that I could see.

I used to live nearby.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This is called "Bicentennial Park" in St.Arnaud Vic
the play equipment has been upgraded a couple of times. Here there is also a FREE BBQ and a GC cache to Grab.

My first ever GCA cache! I was looking at cache types and found this locationless type, searched through some and found one I could complete! Here is my local playground down at my park! Thanks WanderingAus!

Logging Requirements: Winthrop Park, Cnr of Chesters Way and Raine Tce! Of course the park has a playground and it has a drink fountain, many benches and a parking lot!

Rated: for Overall Experience

Punchbowl Reserve playground in Launceston. A lovely playground in a picturesque reserve not far from the centre of town. There are bbq shelters, picnic tables, toilets and a duck pond with some fairly aggressive ducks! This is a very popular place when the weather is good but on a cold morning like today there were only a couple of families about. TFTC

Found this North Richmond, NSW playground while assisting a friend to find a (muggled) geocache nearby.



Nice quiet area. Looks very safe. Benches for parents but no toilets. Downside is that there's a stream behind the playground, which is definitely not a place for children to play unsupervised.

Rated: for Overall Experience

This playground is in the Village precinct at Whiteman Park
It is open from 0830 to 1800 and has all sorts of equipment - swings, slides, roundabouts and more. Close by are toilets,cafe , shelters, bbqs and craft shops.An excellent playground covered with shadecloth and trees

This Playground and other facilities is located at Lions Park adjacent to the Peanut Wagon and BP service Station at the junction of the D'Aigular Highway and King street Nanango Qld. The playground has a large shade cover and has climbing frames, slides, tunnels swings and a small agility course. Adjacent to the playground thee are BBQ's ( electric and free) and shade shelters with tables and seats. The playground is at the Northern end of an area known as Tipperary flats and there are structures and displays depicting Nanango's history right back to the late 1800's. Nanango is gazetted as the 4th oldest town in Queensland but in fact was the second town established outside of the Moreton bay settlement. My 4YO ad 6yo grandsons love playing here and there rating would be 5 but mine would be a three.

There is also a RV chemical toilet disposal adjacent to the toilet block located close to this area.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Spotted this playground while caching around Yorketown SA.

Weaners Flat Reserve Play Ground
Yorketown, South Australia
Toilets, BBQs, Shelter.
Heaps of play equipment
A time capsule to be opened in 2036
Cool factor is a high 5.

Reckon the local kids enjoy this one.

Photo's attached.

Thanks for another locationless.

Rated: for Overall Experience

South Australia 2013 with Sol de Lune. With a bit of help I managed a raft of locationless caches on this trip. Lots of fun. 984

Mt Peasant Football ground Play Ground
Torrens Valley Road, Mount Pleasant, South Australia, Australia
A good collection of play equipment including a climbing wall
cool factor 3



Thanks.
Albida

The Wandandian Recreation Reserve playground located off the Princes Highway is aimed at younger children & features two swings & a climbing set. There is a tan bark base to protect against falls. The climbing set includes bars, ropes (one with a spring loaded seat) & a swing bridge. Protection from the Sun is provided by gum trees on the western edge & an undercover bench.

There is a free electric BBQ nearby, undercover picnic tables, water, a tennis court but the toilets were locked. Rate it as 3 given the size of the village.

Rated: for Overall Experience

C.H.Gumley Reserve - Shoalhaven Heads, NSW is located adjacent to the SLSC & has a children's playground, two undercover free electric BBQs, one with substantial benches, an amenities block with showers, parking & a picnic table that overlooks the Tasman Sea.

The playground consists of two swings, a slippery dip, bouncies, a climbing rack & a zebdee. I'd rate it as 3.5.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Bloome Park Playground
Craigend Street
(Just off Leura Mall)
Leura, NSW



Another upper Blue Mountains public playground near our house, where we took our grandchildren when they visited from Queensland last year. My grandson fell off the swing and we thought he'd suffered a concussion. But he was OK . . .

Lots of space around the equipment for running and jumping, plus a couple of picnic tables.

You can easily stroll to the Leura Mall shops in about two minutes and find toilets there.

Would rate this one 4 out of 5, with a 5 requiring nearby toilets. But otherwise this should be a fun playground, no traffic around and very safe.

Rated: for Overall Experience

WanderingAus wandered by on a maintenance run to one of my geocaches, and decided to take a few photos of the nearby playground.

This playground is located in Centennial Pioneer Park Gosnells, beside the Canning River.



A major redevelopment of the Gosnells city centre took place from 1999 to 2005, and part of that redevelopment involved upgrading Centennial Pioneer Park and constructing a new playground, picnic and barbecue facilities, a Treetop Walk and Riverside Boardwalk, as well as a Wetland Boardwalk which meanders past a natural spring and through a natural wetland beside the Canning River.

At the same time the existing Town Hall and Public Library were demolished and replaced by the Five Star Green Rated The Agonis @ Gosnells Civic Centre, which includes a state-of-the-art Knowledge Centre.



In March 2009 I used artworks around the Gosnells city centre, and Treetop Walk signage, as waypoints for my multi-cache GC17V4V WanAus 31 - Gosnells History Walk. The final location of the geocache is not far from this playground.

Centennial Pioneer Park is located beside the Canning River near the cultural and commercial centre of Gosnells. Entry to the Wetland Boardwalk and the park can be made via the Treetop Walk and Riverside Boardwalk, or from about six other entries.



There are free barbecues, picnic tables, an excellent Adventure Playground, and an outdoor stage overlooked by a tiered Amphitheatre which is used for various cmmunity events including monthly Music in the Park during the warmer months and an annual Australia Day Celebration.

More information on the area is available at City of Gosnells.

This park has to rate at least a 4 (out of 5), with a huge range of equipment types, ample seating for adults, picnic and barbecue facilities, toilets, bins and heaps of parking.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Grose Street Playground
Grose Street
Leura, NSW



This small Blue Mountains playground doesn't seem to be very heavily used, although it's only one block and a bit away from the famous Leura Mall and its many tourist attractions, shops and cafes.

Grose Street runs parallel to Leura Mall and has mainly professional offices and some residential houses. So perhaps it's a little hard to find.

There are no toilets at the playground but some are available not far away in the car park between Leura Mall and Grose Street.

There are a couple of benches for sitting and a picnic table, but that's it. The rest is playground equipment.

I'd give it a 3 out of 5 as a playground, but it would rate higher as a safe and quiet place for kids to play, with little or no traffic danger.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Cascade Gardens Playground.
McRobies Rd, South Hobart, Tasmania.

The play equipment consists of one of those plastic structure set-ups with slides, climbing frames,platforms, ladders and a tunnel. Not very big, but a popular destination for locals nevertheless.

The nice thing about this location is that there are very good toilets (being cleaned while I was there), and several BBQs nearby.
The gardens are lovely, lots of azaleas and rhododendrons etc - they seem to thrive in the shade provided by the gums nearby.

Across the rivulet, is a larger grassy park area, with the impressive facade of the Cascade Brewery looming behind, with more BBQs, and I often see families having thier evenign meal there and playing hide and seek and so forth in the gardens.

The playground itself probably only gets a 2 - it's fairly small but for all round enjoyment I give it 4. I can tell you those toilets have saved me a few times mid-jog!

Thanks for the cache.

In the early 1980s, when our children were young, the Rotary Club of Ulverstone developed an area on the banks of the Leven River, just south of the bridge, into a playground for children. As well as the usual swings and small slides, the features were a large rocket, a space ship and a monster slide. The rocket and the space ship had slides coming from an upper level to the ground. Although the area on Kings Parade at Ulverstone in Tasmania was known officially as Rotary Park, to the kids it was known as “The Rocket Park”. Each day after school our kids, and many others, headed for “The Rocket Park” to play before going home. The park served the community well with even teenagers cohabiting successfully with young children. However in about 2008 plans were finalised for a new road bridge across the river and “The Rocket Park” was required as a construction site. The local council published plans for a new park on the same location once the new bridge was completed but the rocket, spaceship and slide were notable by their absence in the plans. There was a public outcry from the Rotary Club and members of the public (especially those in their 20s and 30s who had enjoyed the park as children). The “nervous nellies” cited OH&S and insurance costs as reasons for removal of the “dangerous” rocket, spaceship and slide although they could not given any instances of serious injuries since installation nearly thirty years earlier. Public opinion seemed to have won the day and an undertaking was given to include the “dangerous” items in the revised plan. Expectation was high as the bridge neared completion, especially about “The Rocket Park”. Finally play equipment was installed. The rocket and spaceship were repainted and put in place but with one notable difference – children could no longer climb up and into the structures and then slide down – they were to be static displays only. The official reason was that rescuers could not get to children inside the structures if they got stuck (again, no recorded instances of this happening previously). Thankfully the giant slide was upgraded and reinstalled virtually unchanged. The new park also has a range of modern “safe” play equipment including tunnels, climbing frames, vehicles and balance items. Within 20m are a number of gas-fired BBQs, picnic tables, tress (which can be climbed – how unsafe is that!!) and well maintained public toilets. A composite photo has been added to the Gallery showing a panorama of the park and closer views of a number of pieces of pay equipment.

The rating varies depending upon the age group of the users. Children under about the age of 6 would rate the park as about 4 to 4.5 – its good but it is like most other parks in the area – same type of equipment with copious amounts of soft fill and they really didn’t experience the old “Rocket Park”. Older kids (including those up to age of 35, some with children of their own now using the park) rate it at about 3 to 3.5. They say that they would rate it at 5 if the rocket and space ship were in their original form because it was these things that made the park different and exciting and allowed them to assess and to take calculated risks (essential for each child’s psychomotor development). It is interesting to note that we have seen two rockets of identical design in parks on the mainland and kids can still climb inside and slide back to the ground.

•The name of the park or playground;
Newstead Reserve

•The GPSR coordinates of the playground;
41° 27.071'S 147° 9.518'E

•Street, Suburb and state;
Corner of Amy Rd and Strahan Rd, Newstead, Tasmania

•A description of the play equipment and other facilities (toilets, BBqs, shade/shelter etc);
Swings, slide, flying fox, seating. No toilets or BBQ facilities on site.

•At least two photographs of the play ground, taken by you, from at least two sides. The more photos the better of course, especially if there is interesting or unusual play equipment;
Photos attached.

•A rating from 0 to 5 for excellence/cool factor; and
4

•A review, and any kids comments etc.
Nice play equipment, seating for parents and plenty of space to run around.

A playground in Hazel Berry Park which can be found on the corner of Victoria & Alexandra Sts in Berry NSW. The equipment includes 2 swings, climbers, a slippery dip & rockers. Amenities include toilets, a large expanse of grass (this is also the Showground), tall shady trees, a public pool & a short stay caravan park. Having seen the playground in Blayney, which is always busy, I'd rate this one half a star.

Rated: for Overall Experience

WanderingAus wandered by with two of our grandchildren, after picking them up for a sleepover. I knew there was a playground at Waterlily Close Reserve in Huntingdale, so I decided to get them to give a rating - they are always up for a new playground, so they readily agreed.




This playground is near the centre of a large park and has a variety of climbing toys, monkey bars, a slippery dip, a metal pipe 'Flying Fox, swings, and a Single Spring Single Seal 'Zebedee'.

Facilities near the playground include rubbish bins, and park benches for the weary parents to watch their offspring. There is also a basketball backboard nearby.

The park is bounded by Waterlily Close, Harpenden Street, Huntingdale Road and Showman Close in Huntingdale, Western Australia.

This park has to rate about a 3.5 (out of 5), with a good range of equipment types, a couple of shade sales, and only minimal additional facilities. They both gave the flying fox a solid workout, and as usual tried vainly to break the 'Zebedee'.

Rated: for Overall Experience

WanderingAus wandered by with the WanderingMrs and our three oldest grandchildren, after picking them up for a sleepover. I knew there was a playground at Denham Reserve in Thornlie, midway between their house and our house, so I decided to get them to give a rating - they are always up for a new playground, so they readily agreed.

The kids all gave it a good workout, although 15 year old Axcel, taller than me, wasn't suited to most of the equipment.




This playground is near the centre of a large park and has swings, flying fox, slippery dip, climbing and agility equipment, and a double spring double horsehead 'Zebedee'. A ride based on a spring is commonly referred to as a Zebedee. Zebedee was a jack-in-the-box character in the children's television series 'The Magic Roundabout'.

The park is between Denham Way and Ningaloo Way, Thornlie, Western Australia. All the houses on the park side of Ningaloo Way back onto the park.

This park has to rate about a 3.0 (out of 5), with a good range of equipment types, but no shade sales, and only minimal additional facilities. All three gave the flying fox a solid workout, and Mikayla and Ethan tried vainly to break the 'Zebedee'.

Rated: for Overall Experience

WanderingAus wandered by, heading from Ongerup to Katanning with the WanderingMrs and our three oldest grandchildren, after spending a week in Esperance with our son, his wife, and our two youngest grandchildren.

We stopped next to The Gnowangerup Community Park "Nobarach Park" for a toilet and playground break, and the kids all gave it a good workout, although 15 year old Axcel, taller than me, wasn't suited to most of the equipment.




Gnowangerup Community Park is at the corner of Yougenup Road and Alymore Street in Gnowangerup, Western Australia. The playground has an abundance of climbing, agility, slippery dip, swings and spinning equipment.

This park has to rate at least a 4.0 (out of 5), with a good range of equipment types, lots of shade sales, plus ample seating for adults, two barbecues, two picnic tables, taps, bins, toilets and heaps of parking. 11 year old Ethan rated it the second best playground ever, after the Katanning All Ages Adventure Playground, and 12 year old Mikayla rated it third best but couldn't remember which was second best. I suspect she might be remembering the Donnybrook Apple Fun Park, which we had taken them to on a previous trip a year earlier.

A year later we stopped for the night at the Gnowangerup Transit Park, and I dropped Mikayla and Ethan here while I went off on a Waymarking run. They only stayed a little over an hour, still rated it 'Awesome', and were looking forward to their fourth visit to the Katanning All Ages Adventure Playground the next day. (Axcel, at 16, had other interests this year).

Rated: for Overall Experience

Hi WanderingAus
This playground is in Glebe Hill Road, Rokeby, Tasmania.
It is known as the Glebe Hill Playground or The Ship Playground.
Most of the equipment is made of hard plastic; the main feature being the "ship" in the centre of the playground.
Rating out of five - three - as there are no other facilities associated with this play area.
My grand kids never want to leave as they just say:
"Can't we 'sail' for just a bit longer!"
TFTC and cheers
OldSaint.

Rated: for Overall Experience

Ready to roll, play on!!