Jubilee Estate, Wyndham Vale

Located:

We visited the newly opened playground, within the Jubilee Estate midweek. It was eerily quiet. The playground is viewable from the  display homes precinct, immediately as you turn off Welcome Parade. It has a distinctive look, which makes you want to run and explore the area. When landscaping works are completed, it will look like a lovely area. 

Equipment:

  • 1 large structure, joined with netting and 1 large metal slide at each end
  •  natural river/rock walk around the perimeter of the playground
  • 4 in-ground trampolines
  • spinning pole
  • 2 swings
  • 1 nest swing
  • 1 water pump for water play
  • 1 sand digger

Jack liked:

He loved walking around the sand beds, climbing over the rocks and the wooden logs. I was excited to see the structure, but it was too big for Jack to play on. Give him another couple of years and we may be able to climb and navigate the large structure with slide. Which also meant that we had a minor meltdown because he wanted to go down the slide, but there was no safe way to get him up there to have a go. I wouldn’t come here again until he was 4+.

He was attracted to the water pump/water play. In the middle of winter, with no change of clothes, I was less impressed with it. But kids will be kids, and he kept make a bee line to play with it. He was also able to use the digger by himself! The trampolines were a bonus, and he loved running up and jumping on it, before getting off and repeating the process. 

Somers Parade Playground, Altona

Located:

Sitting opposite the shops on Somers Parade in Altona (near the corner of Maidstone Street) is this little playground. We ventured over for a play after stopping by the bakery and picking up some items for lunch.  For the kids who like watching buses, the bus stop is also within viewing distance from the playground. 

 

Equipment:

  • spring rocker
  • 2 slides
  • 2 swings, one with toddler harness
  • steps
  • fixed bridge
  • binoculars
  • fireman pole
  • spinning pole
  • varied monkey bars
  • balancing walk
  • high net
  • abacus
  • steering wheel

Jack liked::

Playing in the smaller cubby-type playground, having a ride in the spring rocker and fighting his dad for the baby swing! The larger section of playground held little interest for Jack. The steps leading to the smaller section were fine for going up, but fairly narrow for Jack to come back down and he had a few issues. If he went down the slide everything would have been better! 

Harefield Crescent Playground, Kealba

Located:

This playground is around 25 minutes from home, in Kealba. It’s nestled in a quiet street and from memory, I think I remember that this playground was freshly updated in August 2016. The orange colouring is quite striking and makes even the big adults want to run and climb on the huge net structure. There’s a lot of different textures in this playground – Jack loved running over the bridge, jumping along the rubber mounds, and looking at the dry riverbed from the bridge. There is also some grassed areas, and walking paths around the park. 

 

Equipment:

  • half basketball court
  • flying fox
  • 1 large geometric climbing structure
  • 3 swings – 1 infant harness, 1 harnessed swing
  • hopscotch
  • BBQ, covered picnic tables, drinking water
  • 2 play structures
    • 3 slides
    • several types of climbing ladder
    • steps
    • shopfront
    • steering wheel
    • moving bridge
    • monkey bars
    • tic tac toe
  • bridge 
  • frog spring rocker
  • nest swing

Jack liked:

The giant lizard etched into the rubber mounding of the flying fox. He happily walked along the body, jumped up and down the hill and liked investigating the playgrounds pathways. He could easily access each part of the playground equipment, had a go on the swing and we played shops for ages! He was cautious on the bridge, but was happy going down either of the slides. We didn’t go on the nest swing or the large climbing net structure. The playground was empty on the weekend that we ventured here, but it is such a good looking playground! Jack really enjoyed it here!