Month: January 2017

Bulla Hill Railway

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Located:

The Bulla Hill Railway is located in Bulla, just off the Ring Road. It took us about 40 minutes from Point Cook, and we stopped by Melbourne Airport’s viewing car park, before continuing onto the railway. The miniature railway runs public open days on the first and third Sunday of the month (during daylight savings) and only on the third Sunday after April. Details can be found on their website. Each train ride takes around 10 minutes and costs $3 per person.  The trip features many dinosaur statues and has some great views of the area. They even have eftpos facilities, toilets, a mini kiosk, and BBQ facilities so that you can make a day of it. There were plenty of birthday parties when we visited. The car park is free, and there is also a great playground for the kids to enjoy.

Equipment:

  • miniature railway
  • kiosk
  • toilets
  • BBQ facilities, with some covered gazebo style seating
  • viewing bridge to see the trains
  • playground – train theme
    • ramps, ladders to climb up
    • tunnel for the front of train
    • easy molded climbing ramp
    • steering wheel
    • slide
    • shopfront
    • speaking tube
  • 2 swings, one with toddler harness

Jack liked:

Jack simply loved the whole day! When we stopped by the viewing car park, I didn’t think we were ever going to be able to leave. He simply loved watching the huge planes, fly so low, as they were coming into land. The drive wasn’t too far away to arrive at the railway, and parking was relatively easy. We walked straight up to the window for a ticket, and straight on to the waiting train. No lines make for a very happy and eager little toddler! Jack loves dinosaurs and trains, so to get a mix of both, made this a very successful trip out. The dinosaurs were big enough to create impact,  without being scary. And at $3 per person, its a great little trip out that won’t break the bank. To top off the day, he had a ball playing on the playground. He loved climbing the big steps, into the tunnel, running up the ramps, and of course, going down the slide.

P G Sadler Reserve, Williamstown

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Located:

This playground is located opposite the Williamstown Beach, and is housed on a large grassy reserve. Next to the playground is the cricket/lacrosse/football ovals, and beside that, is the Williamstown Botanic Gardens. I can imagine that this area would get quite busy on warm days, especially on the weekend. There are park benches next to the playground, and toilets are a short walk away to the Botanic Gardens.

Equipment:

2 structures

  • Larger structure:
    • dual open slide
    • climbing wall, climbing ladder
    • clock, tic tac toe
    • climbing disc
    • balance disc walk
    • monkey bars
    • bridge walk
  • smaller structure
    • 2 smaller slides
    • abacus
    • shopfront window
    • stairs
    • curved metal climbing ladder
  • 2 sets of swings, 1 toddler harness
  • 2 spring rockers
  • see saw

Jack liked:

Having his friend to play with him. Both boys are close in age, and liked racing around from the slide to the ladder, and seeing who could get down the dual slide quicker. I lost count of the number of times they were both up and down the slide.  When we first got to the park, Jack raced to the rockers, and then moved onto the swings. Overall there was  a bit for him to do. The climbing section would entertain the older kids as well. If the kids do get bored of this playground area, there is also another playground, near Hatt Reserve (less than 200m away). There is always the option of going for a ride or walk along the beach path too!

Atherstone Regional Playspace, Melton South

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Located:

During the Christmas break, Jack and I headed out for a drive to find this new playspace, in a relatively new estate of Melton South, Atherstone. After noticing that the roads literally come to an end as you turn into the estate, you start to marvel at the beautifully maintained (and green) grass in comparison to the paddocks around you. To find this playspace, you need to continue down the main road (Bridge Rd), and past the first playground right at the entrance to the estate. This playground is fully fenced (yay), sits across the road from the athletics track, and it even has toilets, and covered seating (lots of yays)!

Equipment:

  • fully fenced
  • water play – pump, channels
  • nest swing
  • 1 toddler swing, 2 swings, disability swing set (with handles)
  • expansive bridge, with fireman poles
  • different climbing options under the bridge (rockwalls)
  • natural stepping path
  • rotating carousel with handles, at ground level
  • flying fox (no harness though)
  • small metal slides, into sand
  • 3 in-ground trampolines

Jack liked:

He loved running over that bridge! He’s obsessed with bridges – and this one just kept going on and on and on! As per usual, he had a go on the swing, and had a few bounces on the in-ground trampolines. The trampolines were fairly popular the morning we visited. He would’ve loved a go on the flying fox, but he’s too little to hold on by himself, without one of the fully harnessed seats. We didn’t have a play in the water play/river bed sections as someone forgot to bring a spare change of clothes! It’s a great space for those that love to have an adventure, those that love climbing and for those mums with little runners as the fully fenced playground brings a sense of relief about avoiding parks built on main roads. Would love to visit this playground when it’s slightly cooler, and can’t wait to see how this playground gets better when the trees grow and provide some extra shade.

Ron Barrassi Senior Park, Docklands

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Located:

This playground is nestled right under the Bolte Bridge, at the end of Docklands Drive, Docklands. I love the look of this park – the industrial type structures, the gigantic bridge overhead, beautifully manicured grass ovals, the peaks of the city on view in the distance and knowing that the water is a stones throw away.  There is a parking bay right next to the park, so parking was easy mid-week. There are toilets and even an off lead dog area for your 4 legged friends to have a run. You may even spot a few bunnies hopping around on your visit.

Equipment:

  • 1 stone path water play area
  • nest swing
  • sand play, complete with complex pulley’s for multi-level play
  • gigantic climbing tower, with 2 slides, both enclosed
  • 1 smaller open (metal) slide
  • rope bridge
  • sand digger
  • spinning tyres
  • different textures for climbing elements

Jack liked:

Jack ran straight to the sand digger when we arrived. It was warm enough to take part in the water play, but I didn’t bring a change of clothes, so tried to keep him away from that area. The smaller slide was more interesting to him, and he could easily navigate the rocks to climb to the top. He went into the slide/climbing structure, but needed my help to get around the internal ladder. Once we got to the top, he decided he didn’t want to go down. Unfortunately this meant I had to balance Jack and camera down the slide! Not the best plan. He sat in the tyre and let me spin him briefly, but decided that wasn’t really for him. There’s not a lot of shade here, so definitely bring hat and sunscreen.

Yarraville Gardens Park, Yarraville

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Located:

This playground is located within the beautiful Yarraville Gardens. The huge trees that line the playground, ensure that road noise is lessened and the makes the park feel cooler. The playground is fenced off from the main road, and large trees line the fence as well, making it a great park for those with wanderers. There are toilets available at the Gardens, parking is plentiful mid-week, but when the food trucks run, can be a tad harder to snaffle.

Equipment:

  • set of swings, 1 with adaptive harness, 1 with toddler harness
  • 1 equipment set
    • 1 curved enclosed slide
    • 1 double slide
    • 1 open medium slide
    • 2 fixed bridges
    • 1 tunnel
    • climbing wall – rock climbing, timber holds
    • climbing  – metal ladder, net ladder, steps
    • monkey bars
    • narrow walking bridge
    • balance steps
  • rotating climbing net
  • spinning poles
  • spring rocker
  • clock
  • naughts and crosses
  • crocodile shaped mounds

Jack liked:


Nearly everything with this playground! It was the most I had seen him go up, down, back and around! He was hesitant to try the red metal bridge climbing frame as he is not tall enough to hang onto the hand rail, but eventually had a go while holding onto my hand. We also avoid the net climbing frames for the same reason. He loves the bridges, the tunnels and the slides.  He worked his way up to giving the crocodile a hug.

 

Eastern Beach Playground, Geelong

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Located:

This playground is located near the Eastern Beach Swimming Enclosure, after the Marina and shopping strip on the waterfront, but near the Geelong Botanical Gardens. There is plenty of parking, either below or above on the road or parade. Or, you can catch the Thomas Train from near the Carousel, all the way to this end of the beach. If the weather is warm, there is a pool the kids can have a wade in, or the beach within the enclosed swimming area.  There are also toilets, change rooms and plenty of grassed areas for a game or two. The day we visited there were a few families playing volleyball on the grass.

Equipment:

  • 1 large play area
    • twisty open slide
    • open straight slide
    • smaller straight slide
    • fixed bridge
    • linking rope climb
    • musical rotating section
    • rockwall
    • honeycomb ladder
    • brick climbing bridige
    • monkey bars
  • see saw
  • several spinning poles
  • wooden train
  • 6 swings, 2 with toddler harness
  • dolphin
  • spring rocker
  • supernova
  • noughts and crosses
  • animal match ups

Jack liked:

Being able to watch the Thomas train depart, and also playing on the wooden train. The wooden train was in high demand, which is sometimes difficult to navigate when all the toddlers want a go with the steering wheel. The playground had a bit to offer all ages. Jack could easily navigate most of the playground, but obviously left the climbing ropes to the bigger kids. We didn’t bring our swim gear, so will definitely be back when the weather is warm enough for a swim!
We managed to fit in 3 playground on our morning trip down here, and am yet to visit the playground in the Botanical Gardens! I always forget that Geelong just isn’t all that far away! There’s plenty left to do for our next trip down.

Poppy Kettle Playground, Geelong

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Located:

This playground is located on the Geelong waterfront, sandwiched between the Geelong Pier and the skate park. There is plenty of parking, but it does get busy, especially on the weekends. There are toilets right next to the playground as well. We enjoyed sitting on the park bench, eating fish and chips and watching the seals play in the water. There is also a little water fountain/water play area at the front edge of the park, which was a gift to the people of Geelong.

Equipment:

  • skate park
  • Multicolored enclosed slide
  • look out to climb into, complete with speaking tube
  • fixed boat to climb into, with speaking tube
  • winding, curved pathways to get up to the slide entrance
  • a few more speaking tubes dotted around the playground
  • large net structure to climb
  • spring boat
  • sand to play in
  • Loch Ness Monster to climb on

Jack liked:

The Loch Ness Monster – he is familiar with the one at Werribee South so he gladly went up to wave at it. He was also excited to have a play in both boats on display. The spring rocker boat had a steering wheel, so I think that one was the clear favourite. He wasn’t in the mood to try the slide, but was happy to climb to the top platform and watch the bigger kids go down it. It was a really nice spot to stop, and have some lunch and it seemed to entertain kids of all ages.

Rippleside Park, Geelong

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Located:

This playground is located off Bell Parade, Geelong. If you take the scenic route to head into the Geelong Waterfront, chances are you’ve driven past this huge wooden playground. This playground, according to the signs, was a community project, which was constructed in 6 days. When you look at the different components of the playground, you start to wonder how that was even possible! This playground is nestled into a huge grassed area, with water views, toilets and BBQ facilities. There is plenty of parking.

Equipment:

  • huge multilevel wooden playground, composed of bridges, steps, walkways, and different linking pieces.
  • 2 smaller open slides, 3 enclosed slides
  • monkey bars, rings
  • balance beams
  • 1 nest swing, 4 swings, 2 toddler swings
  • rubber lined chain ladders for climbing, balancing upon
  • tyres to climb in and down
  • naughts and crosses
  • flying fox
  • cubby houses, lower level play

Jack liked:

Exploring the different levels, however he was feeling particularly clingy with me, which made taking photos and getting him interested in playing by himself, a little hard. Eventually he was happy chasing dad up the playground and down the slides. He was also happy having  a swing, as per usual.  The playground was busy with kids of all ages when we visited, and the great thing with this playground is that there are so many different areas. If the kids get bored off playing here, they can bring a ball and kick in the huge grassed area adjacent as well.

McNish Reserve, Dinosaur Park, Yarraville

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Located:

In Yarraville, this playground is within the Cruickshank Park precinct. The park, and the car parking , is accessible down Court Street.
We visited this playground between the Christmas and New Years holidays, as the traffic was virtually non-existent. Every time I try to get to this park, I seem to encounter an insane amount of traffic, still gridlocked from Melbourne’s peak hour. The playground is easy to find, and parking was not a problem as the car park is right next to the playground. The morning we visited, there were a few locals who had ridden their bikes to have a play. The walking track behind the park is very popular with cycling families, and those with dogs. Most dogs were having a cool off in the creek just down from the play area. The theming of the park is brilliant, and you can instantly tell why this park is nicknamed the Dinosaur Park. Mimi, the dinosaur, looks right at home and you can tell that the kids love playing around her.

Equipment:

  • dinosaur structure, complete with rope climbing entry under her tummy, and slide down into her tail
  • dinosaur eggs . Half an egg to climb into, another egg with windows on the side
  • 2 dinosaur spring rockers
  • rope climbing structure

Jack liked:

the eggs to play in, hide in, and to poke his head out of. He was a bit hesitant at first to explore the dinosaur by himself. However when an older boy came to play, he happily joined in climbing up the ropes and going down the slide. The side of the dinosaur has perspex windows, so Jack was happy knocking on those, and looking through them at me. He had a go on the dinosaur rockers as well. Although the park looks great, once the kids have gotten over the excitement of the dinosaur, there isn’t a whole lot here for them to do. Worth a trip just for the novelty though.

Camp Hill Playspace, Bendigo

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Located:

This playground is part of Camp Hill Primary School, and is nestled within the Botanical Gardens. The park is also referred to as Rosalind Park. This was the third park that we visited on our afternoon trip into Bendigo. We parked near the Conservatory and it was an easy walk through the gardens, to reach the playground.

Equipment:

  • Ramps and walkways to different levels of the playground
  • 2 slides
  • huge climbing net
  • fireman pole
  • steering wheel
  • tic tac toe
  • clock
  • climbing net
  • climbing pole

Jack liked:

The ramps to run around the playground. He’s fascinated with bridges at the minute, and he loves saying up, up, up and down, down, down. The lower level was great for Jack with the clock and the circle to climb through. The playground was wet when we visited, so we avoided going down the slides. The area is more suited for primary school aged kids, as the gaps from the walkway to the equipment is bigger than Jack could easily reach.