School holiday ideas September 2017: Melbourne’s best parks and playgrounds

KIDS’ got cabin fever? Getting on your nerves? Then get them out of the house. Here’s our guide to the 23 best parks and playgrounds in Melbourne to tire them out these school holidays.

LOOKING for some screen-free school holidays fun?

Get the kids out and about with a day at one of Melbourne’s many glorious parks and adventure playgrounds.

Here are some of our favourites.

MELBOURNE’S BEST PLAYGROUNDS

EAST

The fences have finally been taken down at Tm Neville Arboretum.

Tim Neville Arboretum

98-106 Dorset Rd, Ferntree Gully

Picturesque park and gardens with children’s playground, barbecue facilities, wetlands and walking tracks. It’s dog friendly and has plenty of easy parking.

Kokoda Memorial Track (1000 Steps)

Kokoda Memorial Track

Dandenong Ranges National Park, Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Ferny Creek

With a cafe, plenty of picnic areas, barbecue facilities and a playground — this is the ideal spot to park for the afternoon. Get in early as this popular fitness track and tourist spot gets super busy during the day.

Wombat Bend Playspace, Templestowe Lower. Picture: Christopher Chan

Wombat Bend Playspace, Finns Reserve

Templestowe Road and Union Street, Templestowe Lower

This off-lead reserve is a popular, family-friendly park and boasts walking paths, a nature play area, barbecue facilities and picnic shelters.

Hays Paddock playground, Kew East.

Hays Paddock

Longstaff and Leason sts, Kew East

You know a park is going to be good when it has hammocks, climbing ropes and even a learner’s bike circuit.

Halliday Park Play Space, Mitcham. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Halliday Park Play Space

300 Mitcham Rd, Mitcham

A park that caters to kids both young and old? That’s got to be a winner. There are also picnic shelters and barbecues as well as easy parking.

Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster. Picture: Christopher Chan

Ruffey Lake Park

Victoria Street, Doncaster

Ruffey Lake Park spans 68-hectares and is one of the most popular parks in Manningham. It boasts four picnic areas, three playgrounds, a lake, a jogging track and a disc golf course. All the play areas have access to full amenities, including car parks, toilets, shade, electric barbecues and large picnic shelters.

Beckett Park, Balwyn.

Beckett Park

Parring Rd, Balwyn

You’re guaranteed to have an a-maze-ing time at this Balwyn barrel of fun. The park adjoins Maranoa Gardens and is an important revegetation site for indigenous species. A stone observation tower provides views across Melbourne and as far as Mount Macedon in the north west, and there are plenty of shaded tables to enjoy a picnic lunch. The children’s playground features ramps, swings, slides, money bars and an inground trampoline.

NORTH

Nature Play at Royal Park.

Nature Play at Royal Park

Corner Gatehouse Street and Flemington Road, Parkville

This nature-inspired park is partnership project between City of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to re-establish parkland on the former Royal Children’s Hospital site. The ropes course, slides and water play areas are always popular. There are also barbecue facilities and picnic tables.

Coburg Lake Reserve, Coburg. Picture: Ellen Smith

Coburg Lake Reserve

2A Gaffney Street, Coburg North

An on-leash park and recreational area with plenty of barbecues, picnic tables and shelter. Have fun on kids playground, test your fitness on the outdoor gym equipment or enjoy a game of bocce on the public bocce course.

Fitzroy Adventure Playground (Cubbies), Fitzroy

Fitzroy Adventure Playground

Cnr Condell and Young sts, Fitzroy North

Cubbies opened its gates in 1974 and is operated by Save the Children Australia. It offers children of the inner north a safe, supervised play area and features a solar-powered play space, slides, cubbies, a veggie patch and more. Families must be registered to play.

SOUTH EAST

St Kilda Adventure Playground. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Adventure Playground

Neptune St, St Kilda

For kids who are sick of the same old slides and swings, St Kilda’s Adventure Playground offers a change of playground scenery. Kitted out with a big aeroplane, go-kart track, wooden horse, flying fox, trampolines and even a chook house — it’s a unique and exciting playground for kids who love a bit of outdoor action. Barbecue, picnic facilities and parking are available. There are also lovely walking tracks and bike paths nearby.

Jells Park, Wheelers Hill.

Jells Park

Corner Waverley and Jells rds, Wheelers Hill

This sprawling suburban park spans 127 hectares of wide open spaces, playground and picnic areas. Relax under the shade of the Pines, enjoy the lake views at the Elms, watch the children enjoying the playground at Stringybark or Yabbie Hill or relax overlooking the greenery with a coffee at Madeline’s cafe. Note: There are no rubbish bins at Jells but plenty of parking.

Markham Reserve, Ashburton. Picture: David Crosling

Markham Reserve

80 Victory Blvd, Ashburton

A fenced playground and picnic spot with a variety of kids games. Not a lot of shade but plenty of parking and within easy access of local bike baths if you decide to take two wheels instead of four.

Victory Park, Chelsea

Victory Park

8-12 Camp St, Chelsea

This sandy playground at the Chelsea foreshore is a popular park among beach-going families. The play equipment has a nautical theme, with a lighthouse and present telescope that looks out over the bay being one of the main attractions for budding sailors. Cafes and shops are also close by.

Bicentennial Park, Chelsea. Picture: Jason Sammon

Bicentennial Park

Thames Promenade and Scotch Parade

A whimsical park that caters to all ages. It features two big slides, Smurf village, play hut, sand pit and basket swing. The monkey bars, flying fox and wooden climbing structure also popular among older kids. Shelters, barbecue facilities, picnic tables and toilets make this a lovely family-friendly spot.

Ballam Park, Frankston. Picture: Christopher Chan

Ballam Park

Cranbourne Road, Frankston

With two regional playground areas, shade and barbecues provided in the picnic areas, walking track, public toilets, tennis wall and basketball ring — Ballam Park provides a great day out for people of all ages. There is an off-leash dog area, and the park is also home to Ballam Park Homestead, a historic home and museum from the 1850s run by the Frankston Historical Society

Casey Fields, Cranbourne. Picture: Jason Sammon

Casey Fields

Casey Fields Boulevard, Cranbourne East

This is touted as one of Melbourne’s best playgrounds and, for those who have visited, it’s not hard to see why. A high slide snakes its way like lava down a man-made mountain. There are also all your standard play equipment such as rope climbing activities, wooden play structures, sand pits and swing sets. Set on 76 hectares of pristine parkland — there is plenty of space to kick the footy as well as a lake if you want to try your hand at fishing. Plenty of shade, barbecues, toilets and other amenities make for a fun family day out.

Valley Reserve, Mount Waverly. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Valley Reserve

80 Waimarie Drive, Mount Waverley

This epic park has been in the running for Melbourne’s Best playground for years and it’s $500,00-plus fit out boasts rope climbing courses, a tree house and flying foxes and well as a mix of traditional play elements (swings, slides) and ropes, logs and other structures for balance, climbing and fitness. In October last year, the playspace won the Parks and Leisure Australia Award of Excellence for the best playspace in Australia (in the above $500,000 category).

Booran Reserve, Glen Huntly. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Booran Reserve

Corner Booran and Glenhuntly rds, Glen Huntly

This $10.8 million playground is a win for families in Melbourne’s south east. It offers something for everyone with a double flying fox, raised sand pit, in-ground trampolines, basketball ring, climbing ropes and even water play area among its many play pieces. Picnic shelters, on-leash dog areas and barbecue facilities make is a great community space.

Hodgson Reserve, Bentleigh Picture: Chris Eastman

Hodgson Reserve

Arthur St, Bentleigh

This popular park has myriad activities for kids of all ages, including 3D snakes and ladders, outdoor fitness equipments, youth play zone and plenty of covered picnic areas — as well as a rotunda and barbecue facilities. Or take part in a little friendly family competition at the lawn bowls or tennis clubs.

WEST

Woodlea Estate, Rockbank

Woodlea Estate Playground

Leakes Road, Rockbank

Stop in at Go West Tuck Shop and Eatery for a quick bite and a coffee then cross the road and go nuts at Woodlea Estate’s epic playground. With tunnels, rope bridges, mini trampolines, swings, a massive slide, flying fox, sand pit and even a ping pong table and mini footy goals — it’s the ultimate adventure park. There are also barbecue facilities and parking is a breeze.

Saltwater Coast Crocodile Park, Point Cook. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Saltwater Coast Crocodile Park

Citybay Drive and Saltwater Promenade, Saltwater Coast, Point Cook

As the name suggests, Crocodile Park in Point Cook has a water theme and is one of sixteen parkland areas in the Saltwater Coast housing development. Boardwalks, bridges, wetlands, barbecue facilities and even a cafe — as well as plenty of play equipment — make up this wet and wonderful park. Just remember to bring a change of clothes and a towel if you’re planning on visiting because you won’t be able to keep the little ones out of the water.

Bayview Park, Point Cook

Bayview Park

Alamanda Boulevard, Point Cook

Young seafarers will love this pirate-themed park in Point Cook. They can captain the wooden pirate ship, keep a lookout from the bird’s nest and even pretend to fire canons from the upper deck. Afterwards, stop in at Alamanda Cafe and Bistro for a bite to eat or some light refreshments. A barbecue area, basketball courts, picnic tables and sandpit are added features.

HAVE WE MISSED YOUR FAVOURITE MELBOURNE PLAYGROUND? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.