Melbourne playgrounds: best in north

WE’VE travelled far and wide to find Melbourne’s 25 best playgrounds. Here are the top playgrounds in Melbourne’s north.

Playgrounds for SHS Upcoming Feature

WE’VE travelled far and wide to find Melbourne’s 25 best playgrounds.

Here are the top playgrounds in the NORTH, guaranteed to bring hours of free entertainment to kids from toddlers to teenagers.

Golden Sun Moth Park

Grand Boulevard, Craigieburn

Verdict: 9.5/10

Highlights: giant moth, long flying fox, high spinning birds nest swing, great spinning equipment including Supernova and rope cage, basketball court

MELBOURNE’S TOP 25 PLAYGROUNDS:

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EAST

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WEST

GROWING EVIDENCE PLAYGROUNDS MAKE KIDS HEALTHIER AND SMARTER

This is arguably Melbourne’s most unusual and interesting playground and is centred around a giant golden sun moth — an endangered local species.

The moths’ legs are made from curved slides, staircases, and inclined poles with hoops for kids to climb up, and there’s a huge tunnel slide out the end.

The moth’s belly is a giant net — great for balancing and walking — with a rope ladder leading up on top of the moth where there’s a cubby in the moth’s head.

There’s also a long flying fox with disc seat, high spinning birds nest swing, spinning rope cage, two huge rope climbing pyramids, four standard swings including baby swing, spinning cup with hand wheel, wobble board with hand hold, horizontal bars, and a spinning Supernova slanting ring for one or more kids to stand or sit on as it spins — it’s almost easier to list what this amazing playground does not have.

Febronya and her brother Urael inside the giant moth. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

A separate play area for kids under five has a wooden structure with two slides, wobbly bridge, monkey bars, musical clanging bars and ladder, as well as a big spinning bowl, small spinning disc, cocoon to climb on, four-person rocker, stepping stones and two springers.

Another smaller wooden structure has a wave slide, wobbly bridge, fireman’s pole and ladders. Not much shade. Big shelter with several picnic tables and barbecues plus water tap and toilets on site. Basketball court nearby within park.

Riverside Park

The Boulevard, Aberfeldie

Riverside Park’s pirate ship. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Verdict: 9/10

Highlights: wooden pirate ship, next to river, sand base

A stunning wooden pirate ship called the “Black Sapphire”with tall masts and tattered sails on a sand base on the banks of the Maribyrnong River is the hero of this otherwise rundown playground.

Littlies climb aboard via a wooden bridge, rope bridge or rope-pull climbing wall.

Inside is the “Captain’s Quarters” — a cubby with table and a long bench seats. Lots of great touches include three bells to ring, four telescopes, a big wooden steering wheel, and a treasure map that leads the way to a treasure chest outside the ship.

Also twin slides and a long tunnel underneath. Two other playgrounds along the riverbank include swings, slides, fixed-track flying fox, fireman’s pole and monkey bars, but it was no surprise to see these empty and the pirate ship packed.

The riverside location can be nerve-racking with toddlers. Quiet location. Barbecues and picnic tables nearby, including some under shelter.

Bundoora Park Playspace

River Red Gum Avenue, Bundoora

Bundoora Park Playspace’s maze. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Verdict: 9/10

Highlights: wooden maze, hammock swing, fenced, adjoins cafe

This lovely all-abilities playground has lots of low equipment for littlies scattered over a big securely fenced area with a toddler-proof gate, and adjoins a big cafe and Bundoora Park Farm (bundoorapark.com.au).

Highlights include a hammock swing, wooden maze with tunnels and distorting mirrors, a huge horizontal rope climbing frame, and a wonderful rock-ringed sandpit with a mechanical digger.

There’s a good water play area with bridges and a water pump, but this may not always be operating, as was the case on our most recent visit on a 41C day.

Bundoora Park Playspace’s horizontal rope climbing frame. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Also a water tank with a slide and ladder, spinning carousel, spiral slide, three spinners, seven swings, mound slides, lots of springers, giant bull-ants and a big red tractor with trailer.

Several picnic tables under shelters. There’s a pond on one side and a lake on the other outside the fence. Beautiful, tranquil bush setting far from traffic with lots of trees and birds chattering and part of a huge expanse of gently rolling parkland dotted with picturesque barbecue areas.

Malahang Reserve

Oriel Rd, Heidelberg West

Malahang Reserve. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Verdict: 9/10

Highlights: long flying foxes, next to basketball court, skate park and BMX track

Settle in for a good half-day’s entertainment for the whole family with a broad range of equipment suited to all ages across a huge area.

Highlights include three long flying foxes (two with disc seat, one with full seat harness for littlies) and a towering twin-pyramid rope climbing frame.

The bright and colourful main climbing structure is shaped like a paddle steamer and has a spiral slide, wave slide, tunnels, rope ladder, small rock-climbing wall, long ramp, steps, and lots of fun for littlies including two seats with rotating pedals and a steering wheel so they can drive the paddle steamer.

Malahang Reserve’s long flying fox. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Also several swings, two spinners, family-sized seesaw and two spinning cups with hand wheels. Sheltered barbecues and picnic tables.

Bigger kids will love the adjacent basketball court, skate park and BMX track.

MELBOURNE’S TOP 25 PLAYGROUNDS:

TOP 5

INNER

EAST

SOUTH

WEST

REVIEWS: Jen Kelly, Bridget Davies, Joe Young