Best children’s playgrounds in Melbourne’s west

Kids are spoiled for choice when it comes to playgrounds and parks in Melbourne’s west. Here’s a list of some of the best.

There’s lots of fun to be had at playgrounds in Melbourne’s west. Picture: iStock

School holidays may be over, but that doesn’t mean the fun needs to stop.

In Melbourne’s west, big and little kids alike are spoiled for choice when it comes to playgrounds and parks.

Things have kicked up a notch since the simple days of sandpits, slides and swing sets.

Todays youngsters now get giant jumping cushions, dinosaurs and castles.

Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

MCNISH DINOSAUR PARK, YARRAVILLE

What child doesn’t like dinosaurs?

If yours is mad about Pterodactyls and can’t get enough of that ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex, they won’t want to miss the McNish Dinosaur Reserve in Court St, Yarraville.

The playground has all your crowd favourites including a slide and climbing ropes, but overlooking it all is a massive 3 metre high, 6 metre long dinosaur.

For even more prehistoric themed fun, head to the new Truganina dinosaur park at Stockland’s Grandview estate at Altezze Drive, between Healey Drive and Bratan Way.

The park, which was due to open early this year, has a huge sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex head, a climbable tail and dinosaur eggs with baby hatchling dinosaur sculptures.

FOOTSCRAY PARK

Footscray Park has something to suit all ages and abilities.

There’s a sensory play space as well as an interactive musical installation for young pop stars in the making.

The wet play area with its water jets is also a great spot to cool off in the hot summer months.

Clambering rocks, climbing nets, a sandpit, climbing frames and swings with harnesses are hot favourites.

To top it all of, there’s heaps of natural shade and flowers to admire thanks to the park’s beautiful established gardens.

SALTWATER COAST CROCODILE PARK, POINT COOK

If your child’s fascination with blood thirsty carnivores hasn’t been satiated by the dinosaur parks in Yarraville and Truganina, take them to the Crocodile Park Playground at Point Cook.

This nautical themed blue and white wonderland was based on Roald Dahl’s 1978 children’s story of The Enormous Crocodile.

Get lost among the chomp towers, try your hand at the monkey bars or take a lunch break at the picnic area. This spot has it all — including toilets nearby.

AEROPLANE PARK, TARNEIT

Plane spotting is a favourite past time for a lot of adults, and for kids it’s just as much fun.

Tarneit’s aeroplane park in Stanhope Rd has a big cargo plane themed jungle gym that will have plane enthusiasts big and small squealing with delight.

The equipment includes baby and big kid swings, a seesaw and lots of space to run around and play ball games.

There’s also water taps, barbecues and picnic shelters.

HARPLEY ESTATE, WERRIBEE

Harpley estate’s playground is a work of art.

Harpley Estate is a residential development in Melbourne’s outer west that includes an Australian animal themed public playground.

The sprawling play area has a lookout tower, rope ladders, walking bridges, a flying fox, hand pump, sandpit and much more.

Soft, spongy pathways connect the play zones and cushion the fall for youngsters a little unstable on their legs.

There’s also a shaded lunch area and lots of animal sculptures to admire.

Overlooking it all is a huge bird with wings outstretched, taking pride of place in the centre of the playground.

CORNERSTONE ESTATE, WERRIBEE

If the kids are bouncing off the walls during lockdown, then as soon as it’s over you may want to take them to Cornerstone Estate in Blackforest Rd, Werribee.

There, they can unleash all that pent up energy on the estate’s free giant jumping cushion dug into the ground and surrounded by soft sand.

The cushion is temporarily closed during lockdown but is free to use at other times.

The developer, Peet Ltd, have also installed a smaller in-ground jumping pillow at their Newhaven information centre at 6-8 Journey Rd in Tarneit.

BUCKINGHAM RESERVE PLAYGROUND, SUNSHINE WEST

Nothing says good times like a giant rocket shaped jungle gym. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Climb the nine metre high rocket tower for a trip into outer space at this exciting adventure playground in Buckingham Crescent, Sunshine West.

The playground has equipment to suit a range of ages and abilities and includes soft surface play areas, a water play space with pumps and water channels, a steep metal slide for thrills and a huge horizontal climbing rope frame.

The park can be accessed from the Kororoit Creek Trail.

Brimbank Council has also added toilets and a picnic area as part of upgrade works.

BRAYBROOK PARK

Like the aeroplane park in Tarneit, Braybrook Park also sports an aviation theme.

The original playground was destroyed by fire in 2015, but the new plane structure is arguably better than its predecessor.

As well as a plane-shaped jungle gym there’s a basketball ring, cricket nets and a soccer ground to keep kids entertained.

There are also musical bridges, a carousel, two flying foxes, swings and a wooden climbing wall.