Regatta Beach, Sanctuary Lakes

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Located:

In Sanctuary Lakes, at the furthest point, as Sanctuary Lakes Boulevard North turns into Sanctuary Lakes East Boulevard and North Shore Drive. You can see the peaks of the shade sails before you see the actual playground. This playground opened earlier this week, and there is still a bit of landscaping work to be completed. Jack and I visited on Boxing day, and there was a bit of water underfoot around the equipment. The water play was not in use yet, as were the water drinking  fountains and BBQ area. It’s great that the team who designed this, actually thought to include the shade sails to create some cooler play areas. Although warm this morning, the cool breeze off the water made for a pleasant trip to have a play. The area is both tanbark and soft rubber, which is great underfoot.

Equipment:

  • half court basketball
  • beach volleyball net
  • water play with sand digger
  • 2 swings, one with toddler harness
  • nest swing
  • extensive rope climbing area, suited for primary school aged kids
  • slide
  • spinner bowl
  • BBQ area, with tables and seating

Jack liked:

Watching the kayaks on the water, and although the park is called Regatta Beach, I didn’t even think to bring the bucket and spade to play in the sand! To be honest, this play area is more suited for older kids, who love to climb. There isn’t a lot to do for someone Jack’s age yet. I imagine that when the water play is up and running, he would have fun in that area. He was happy to have a go on the swing and the spinner bowl. He also liked that there was excess water around the digger, so he thought that that was hilarious to move around, although he is still not big enough to use and move the digger by himself.

Pipeline Reserve, Seabrook

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Located:

Every time I drive along Point Cook Road I see this playground, and remind myself that I need to take Jack to this one! One sunny evening, I finally ventured down for a play! Parking is relatively easy, as you need to enter the service lane, off Point Cook Road. The reserve is located close to the Seabrook Primary School. There is a walking path along the reserve, and large grassy areas. There is seating next to the playground, and there are some trees around that offer limited shade.

Equipment:

  • 2 swings, including toddler harness
  • spring see saw
  • suspending see saw
  • spring rocker (bike)
  • balance beam
  • 2 areas of equipment
    • suited for older kids
      • monkey bars, flying fox
      • chain walk bridge
      • taller slide
      • fireman pole
      • different climbing equipment – chain ladder, circular ladder
    • suited for younger kids
      • 2 slides
      • suspension bridge
      • stairs
      • curved climbing ladders
      • door and window underneath

Jack liked:

The swing and having a go on the see-saw with Dad. He thought getting airborne on the see saw was hilarious. He tried to work out the chain bridge, but thought the aim of the game was to step over the chain, not on top of it. The steps at least, allowed easy access to the bridge and the slides in the smaller area. He struggled with getting up and onto the larger area. He was not interested in leaving the park and was happy playing pretend house.

Bayview Park, Point Cook

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Located:

It’s finally open and I feel like I’m the excited one!

Bayview Park is located on Alamanda Boulevard, Point Cook. You can see the imposing slide as you drive along the Boulevard and I don’t know too many adults who haven’t had a go at that slide. When it burned down on 2/9/14 (article) it was a sad day for those who frequently visited the park. Following some hard work between local residents and council, it is great to finally see the return of this park.

Equipment:

Ground level

  • BBQ’s, picnic tables
  • sand play
  • climbing net tower
  • net swing

Up the stairs:

  • medium size slide
  • large, enclosed (and faster than I remember) slide
  • pirate ship
    • multiple smaller slides
    • tunnel
    • bridge
    • easy access ramps
    • rock-climbing walls
    • fixed ladders, ropes to climb
    • pirate ship steering wheel
    • speak and listen pole between the front and back (or bow and stern for correct terms)

Jack liked:

As soon as Jack got to the top you could hear him ooing and aahing. He headed straight for the mini slides, flew down them and ran back up the ramp to go again. He is at ease climbing vertical ladders, so he headed up to check out the view where both mum and dad were. He had a go climbing up the net ladders as well. He eventually went down the big slide with Dad, and we had tears at the end of our park play as he wanted to head up to the top all over again. He was more than comfortable going up and down the stairs to get to the mid-sided slide.

Toddler legs make climbing up this playground one of the longest treks around! Once they climb up they can easily access the first level of the ship, but unless capable of climbing ladders they’ll struggle to get to the next level of the play area. This means that they can access the tunnel under the ramp, the ramp itself, and 2 slides. The soft rubber used will be great for those with kids that are learning to walk.

The school kids that were waiting for the workers to finish up were having a great time flying down the big slide! This park will be back to being a popular location for many!

Elmstead Park, Williams Landing

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Located:

This park is located on the corner of Thornbury Way & Newport Avenue, in Williams Landing. This park had it’s official opening only a few weeks before we visited. The playground and gardens definitely have that new feeling still. The day we dropped by, it had been raining all morning, and I forgot a towel, so the slides were wet, and some of the bridges were slippery. There is a nice BBQ area with seats right near the playground, a large grassed area, and a basketball court on the opposite end.

Equipment:

  • sand pit, with sand play and sorting equipment
  • boar, with 2 steering wheels
  • bbq with undercover seating
  • balance beams
  • rocks and wooden bridges to walk along
  • 2 swings, 1 with toddler harness
  • 1 spinning pole
  • variety of textures – rubber, sand, tanbark, rocks
  • 1 play structure
    • 1 end entirely made of rockwalls, ropes.
    • easy to use stairs in the middle lead to narrow, fixed, metal walkway. This is made for bigger kids than Jack. He struggled to reach the handrail, and slipped off at one point in time. It is also quite high above the ground.
    • fireman pole
    • wooden moving bridge
    • dual slide
    • ladder
    • steering wheel
    • lower level – abacus, doorways

Jack liked:

The puddles on the rocks – he splashed around happily. He also liked walking along the balance beam, and then adapted the climbing skills to walking along the rocks and jumping off them. When he arrived at the park, the open boat structure appealed to Jack the most and he ran for it eagerly. He tried to play in the sand, but as the sand was already wet it didn’t want to go through the sieves.
When Jack was attempting to get up to the slides and walk along the equipment, he slipped off the metal narrow bridge. He also slipped on the moving wooden bridge, but brushed himself off and kept going. However, he was a bit disappointed that the slide was wet, and I had to help him get down the ladder.

This playground has great textures for younger kids, and is a good mix for those parents with different ages. However the playground structure is definitely aimed at older kids. Jack still enjoyed himself, and we will return soon.

McCormack Park, Laverton

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Located:

Off Bladin Street, hidden along Jennings Street, and right next to Laverton Swim and Fitness Centre, is this funky playground, complete with one very cool snake. Jack spotted the snake as soon as we got out of the car. This park also has toilets, undercover seating and BBQ’s – a great addition to have!

Equipment:

  • giant snake, great for climbing
  • music station – drums, xylophone styled instrument
  • climbing net
  • slide, with foot and hand holds
  • seated spinning equipment
  • lots of different textures – climbing rocks, sand, wood climbing, tanbark, concrete, rubber mound
  • digger
  • nest swing

Jack liked:

Jack instantly loved the snake – he was busy pointing it out to me as soon as he saw it. When he went up to it, he attempted to mimic the snake, with his tongue hanging out. This park is actually great for this age. There was a heap of different stations, different textures, climbing and musical things for the kids to do. There was also a digger that didn’t require Jack to sit on, he struggled a little with the overall weight, but he had a go. The slide was easily accessible for Jack to climb, and he also had a great time hitting the musical pipes.

 

Lake Wendouree Adventure Playground

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Located:

On the edge of Lake Wendouree, and opposite the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, this wooden playground is truly epic. It is well and truly worth stopping by and having a play. Multiple levels encompass different climbing features, bridges, walks, slides – you name it! The surrounding area is tree lined, parking is plentiful and there is coffee available just a short walk away. If the playground doesn’t hold the kids attention, the birdlife is plentiful and the swans don’t shy away. The Ballarat Tramway Museum also operates trams on the weekend – the Scrubber car was out on the tracks when we visited, much to Jack’s delight!

Equipment:

  • 2 lots of swings (x 4), some with toddler harness, Liberty swing
  • small double slide, medium double slide, enclosed twisty slide
  • wooden bridges, wooden walks,
  • different climbing structures, monkey bars
  • rubber suspension walks, swings
  • swan
  • train & train station window
  • teepee
  • flying fox

Jack liked:

As soon as we entered the playground, he ran right up to the swan and touched his nose. He was happy to climb up and into the different areas. He was fascinated with the train, and kept insisting that the train had a nose. Jack was happy to push me down the larger, enclosed twisty slide, and follow me down. There were a few climbing sections he struggled with, but overall, a playground that he was more than capable of climbing and playing in.

He was also ecstatic that he saw the tram (Ning-ning in his words, anyway). There is a heap that you can do in this area. We wandered over to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens as well. But will spam the pictures in another post!

Soldiers Reserve, Werribee

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Located:

This playground is located on Duncans Road and it easily spotted as you drive along the road. It’s within close proximity to Werribee Secondary College, and there is also a football oval in the same precinct. I parked in the side street, where there is heaps of parking and walked through to the playground. The area was deserted when I visited mid-week. This is a great playground if you had multiples of different ages and abilities. There are a few seats around for the parents too. It was also fenced off from the main road, for parents that have wanderers.

Equipment:

  • 2 playground sections
    • area suited for younger kids
      • slide
      • abacus
      • fixed stairs for climbing
      • steering wheel
      • fixed bridge
      • 1 frog spring rocker
      • 1 spring see saw (seats 2)
      • swings
      • clock
      • disc climbing walk
    • area suited for advanced climbers
      • twisty, open slide
      • spinning totem pole
      • swings
      • hammock swing
      • 2 x flying fox
      • multiple climbing frames (nets)
      • multiple climbing walls (rock climbing)

Jack liked:

the smaller playground to start with, but he did get extremely adventurous and climb through things that I never thought he would in the bigger, climbing area! He made it through a tunnel of nets, to reach the solid platform, before trying to climb up the ladder rope to the slide. Every time I thought he was safe and I’d take a photo, or try to, he’d take the wrong step, and fall slightly. This is definitely not a park to be away from the little, adventurous ones! He liked the slide, but there was no ‘easy’ ladder’ or pathway to get him up to the top by himself. I was thankful when he eventually retreated to the other area to climb up the stairs!

 

Torquay Adventure Playground, Torquay

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Located:

The Torquay Adventure Playground is located along The Esplanade,in Torquay. Torquay is renowned for their surf beaches, and I frequently forget that it’s only just over an hours drive away from Melbourne. This playground was under a revamp when we dropped past on a recent weekend away. The playground is beautifully sheltered under large trees, and has multiple covered BBQ areas and toilets. This area was popular for catch ups and birthday party’s when we visited on Saturday. There is a car park next to the playground, and the views from the walking path are stunning

Equipment:

  • 3 playground components
    • large elevated wooden paths
      • multiple climbing ladders
      • slide
      • bouncing bridge
      • fireman pole
      • ramps
    • second wooden component (boat shaped)
      • stairs
      • slide
      • climbing wall
    • coloured wooden sand-play area
      • multi-levels, pvc pipes to feed the sand through
  • general climbing areas
  • 2 lots of  swings
    • 4 swings
    • 4 infant swings
  • liberty swing
  • nautical-themed sculptures
  • digger

Jack liked:

running through the area, trying to figure out what part to go to next. He did go down the green slide, in the boat shaped area, and literally flew off the end, and landed a good metre from the end of the slide. This ended in tears! Even the yellow slide, in the elevated playground, I had to catch Jack before he became airborne down the bottom! There were a heap of climbing options that he could easily navigate to get up onto the ramps. He loved jumping on the bridge with his dad too. I’d love to come back here when the revamp has been finished.

Price Reserve, Werribee South

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Located:

Along the Werribee South Foreshore, this playground is nestled far enough away from the water to escape the wintry arctic breeze, but still within viewing distance of the water. You can park in O’Connors Road,  just before the general store. There’s also a large enough oval, so you can bring a footy and have a kick as well.  Plus if the kids get bored of this playground you can head to James D Bellin Reserve, a stones throw away! This particular day Jack and I visited, we swung past Wyndham Harbour Marina on the way home. Jack liked looking at the boats and climbing the large rocks that make up the breakwall.

Equipment:

  • 1 swing (no toddler seat)
  • 1 climbing frame
  • 1 flying fox
  • General playground equipment:
    • 2 slides
    • 1 moving bridge, 1 fixed bridge
    • abacus
    • fireman pole
    • tunnel
    • numerous climbing ladders to get up

Jack liked:

that there were a few different ladders he could climb up by himself. He loves walking over different textures, so for him the bridges are a fun item. He was also happy going down either slide.

Homestead Run, Seabrook

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Located:

The playground is located on the corner of William Leake Avenue and Andrew Chirnside Avenue, Seabrook. It’s found just off Point Cook Road, and is easy to spot. There is a large oval, tennis courts and it’s also home to the Seabrook Community Centre. The park has mature trees, and does offer a bit of shade. One edge of the park is also fenced from the road. The kids that were here all loved going for a ride on the car.

Equipment:

  • large spring, rocker car to climb on
  • 2 swings, one with toddler harness
  • 1 merry go round
  • 1 kangaroo spring rocker
  • 1 set of playground equipment
    • tunnel
    • fireman pole
    • steering wheel
    • climbing ladders and poles
    • noughts and crosses
    • door/window

Jack liked:

the car! It was big enough to fit himself, his Uncle and the dog! There was a seat at the front with the steering wheel and enough room in the back of the car for all of us to fit! He went in the swing but struggled to climb up onto the playground platform to get up onto the slide by himself. He needed a boost every time to get up to start exploring. He hasn’t yet learnt to climb the poles to navigate upwards.
As a side note – Jack decided on this particular day that he was only going to wear his Ugg boots. I thought I took his shoes with me, as I was heading to his Uncles’s place and we had planned to walk his dog to the park, however, I managed to leave his shoes on the bench at home. This short trip to the park took double the time – thanks to Jack shuffling along in his (very cute!) giraffe Ugg Boots!