Playground

Located:

In the new Harpley Estate, on the outskirts of Werribee, is this very pretty and tranquil park and playground. The lakes and waterways, with bridges, and smooth paths, look like a great bike ride or walk for those with older kids. Although I didn’t see a heap of bird life on my brief wander over, there are hidden sculptures dotted throughout the area, and there is a unique search to find all the animals listed on the signs.
The playground sits on the edge of the display village, and parking is easily accessible in the display home parking. The first thing I noticed when I saw the park was the gigantic Brolga bird atop the mound.

Equipment:

• BBQ’s, sheltered undercover seating, water
• natural setting, wtih bike paths
• 2 x Flying fox, both poles, no seat
• spinning carousel – multi user, sitting
• 2 x poles that allow the user to sway
• moving bridge with cables
• stepping stone area
• sandpit, with digger
• musical steps
• tunnels
• rope climbing, to tower
• rubber mound with steel slide set in top
• toadstool seating
• hammock swing

Jack liked:

The moving bridge! He jumped up and down on that a few times before we tempted him across. I’m not sure that he would’ve been able to get up to the bridge by himself. The gaps between the rungs were probably set too far apart for his age. He also enjoyed sitting in the hammock swing, and having a spin on the spinning carousel. I can’t handle all that spinning like the kids can! I was desperate to get off! He was also happy wandering along the bridges to look at the water, but he was most desperate to just have a kick of the football with Uncle Jeff.

Located:

At the front of the Alamanda Estate, this playground is fairly well hidden from sight. As you drive along Sneydes Road, all you see are the wetlands, where a multitude of bird species spend their time. At the corner of the wetlands and  Alamanda Boulevard, you have Alamanda Cafe, an all-important stop in the morning for Mummy’s coffee fix. As you wander along the pathways, it’s always a tough choice – to turn off to see the ducks, or continue straight to head to the playground?
This playground is the one that we most frequent, and it’s also one, that I have avoided taking photos and writing up.  Most weekend mornings you will see us here, happily watching the birds, and then having a play at the playground. During daylight savings, I’d walk down from home and Jack would point at the birds, and quack at the ducks. Since he’s been walking, I was always happy to have him run along the boardwalk, frightening the seagulls. We’ve even been fortunate enough to watch the parent swans sit on their eggs in their nest, and watch the cygnets hatch and grow- they are losing their baby feathers, and are almost as dark as their parents now!

Equipment:

• Fenced boardwalks through the wetlands, allowing close interaction with the wildlife
• 2 sets of playground equipment, one area for the smaller toddlers, the other for the bigger kids
• BBQ facilities, sheltered seating
• Cafe facilities and Soho shops close by

Smaller Equipment

• wooden playground, with rubber pathways, tanbark filled
• slide – open and twisty
• musical steps on the ramp leading to the slide
• 2 swings, one with toddler restraint
• clock, steering wheel
• rope climbing ladder
• tunnels
• spring motorcycle
• noughts and crosses

Larger Equipment

• chain bridges
• spinpoint maypole
• twisty enclosed slide
• balance disc walk
• rockwalls to climb
• poles to slide down
• spider web climber
• 4 other swings

Jack liked:

Walking down to see the ducks. Normally the seagulls line up along the fences, and he runs along with his hands out behind him chasing them away. This whole area always keeps him busy. He likes being able to climb around the playground. He very rarely ventures into the bigger play area, as his legs just aren’t long enough to navigate the paths, ropes and bridges to get up onto the equipment. He loves going for a swing, will happily sit on the motorcycle rocker for a little bit as well. His latest fascination is putting tanbark into the footholes on the side of the equipment. Not sure why he thinks the holes need to be filled up, but I constantly find him there attempting to do this every time.

in a budding new estate, Woodlea, have built a playground that will leave the kids begging to come back time and again. I first noticed the top of the slide, as we drove over the bridge from the freeway, and I felt like the biggest kid ever as all I wanted to see was a glimpse of the whole park. We visited on a busy Sunday afternoon, and kids of all ages were having a great time! There’s the added bonus of an eatery right across from the park, so Mum and Dad will be set with a hot coffee while the kids can run around and burn off their energy!

Equipment:

Gigantic slide zone:

• smaller, open slide
• larger, enclosed slide
• ropes and ladders to climb
• bridge (with large gaps) to climb to get to larger slides. Not suitable for toddlers by themselves

Middle zone:

• mini spring trampolines
• network of tunnels
• shade-covered sandpit
• digger
• several buckets on chains, to lift the sand up to the platforms
• smaller slide
• undercover seating

Flying Fox Zone:

• Table tennis table (complete with balls and paddles when I was there!)
• half court basketball court
• 2 flying foxes, one with complete seat and harness for smaller kids. Word of warning – make sure you belt the kids in! They can get to a decent speed by the time the line runs out!

There’s also a connected oval for the bigger kids to kick a ball around.

Jack liked:

trying to climb all the bits that he was too small to climb! He was happy to have a jump on the trampoline until he hit his nose when he overbalanced getting off it. Jack was, to be honest, in a bit of a grumpy mood. We tried him on nearly everything, without him showing much interest. After that we gave up and wandered into a few of the display homes (It’s a massive display village, with heaps of parking thankfully!). We stopped off at the park on the way home, and Jack finally showed an interest in the flying fox. Basically screamed as we pulled him out, as there were other people waiting. All he could say was ‘moooorrrreeee’. I think I’ll make the 25 minute trip out here, but most likely during warmer weather and possibly midweek!

Located:

on the corner of McGrath Rd & Heaths Rd, Wyndham Vale, this park is huge!  The sun was shining and a visit mid-school holidays ensured that the park was absolutely packed! The park is split into several different play structures. There is also adjoining parkland, with off-lead dog areas, skate ramps and BBQ areas.

Equipment:

• wooden play area – train, house, slide,
• 4 sets of toddler swings, 4 sets of sling swings
• music station
• several interweaving playground sections – joined by chain bridges, wooden bridges, tunnels.
• multiple slides
• multiple sections to climb – ladders, climbing rockswalls, molded plastic ramps,
• balance apparatus – beams, balance disk walk, stepping stones
• ladybird spring rocker

Jack liked:

climbing all the bits that give me a small heart attack! He is set on going backwards down the chain net, when his little legs struggle to reach them! He was happy climbing through the tunnels, and he loves the molded plastic ramps. He was equally happy balancing and walking along the crocodile and loved climbing into the ladybird. I’ll definitely come back here after the school holidays – it’s hard to get a picture of the entire area, as there were so many kids around (and I don’t like including other kids in the photos). There’s a heap to do with kids of all ages.

Located:

in Altona Meadows, this park has been on my list to visit for awhile. It was updated late last year, and there are still works in progress – toilets aren’t far off being finished. The park is quite sizeable, and appeals to kids of all ages. The equipment is modern, the dual flying foxes look like great fun, and the addition of the water play creek looks great for the warmer months. Jack however, still thought it was great to play in the middle of winter!

Equipment:

• water play creek, with pump
• double flying fox
• swings
• slide
• fishing play – fish scales, fishing rod (that appeared broken at the time), 2 steering wheels
• spinning carousel
• gyro swing
• little play house
• BBQ, shelter, toilets (opening soon)
• landscaped gardens, with pathways
• next to the off-lead dog park and several ovals

Jack liked:

the water play area. Although he wasn’t strong enough to pump the pump, he liked splashing in the remnants of the puddles. He was happy to have a play and wander the paths and bridges throughout the park, Much to my disappointment,  he didn’t want to have a go on the flying foxes. He did like the big chair, with the view of the city skyline, but think it was more the novelty of climbing into it, rather than the view!