60 Top Playgrounds in Melbourne for Free Family Fun

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If you're looking for a new playground in Melbourne or something different from your local, we've done the playing first to ensure no kids go home without jumping, swimming, climbing and running to their heart's content in a spot they love.

From fenced playgrounds to adventure playgrounds, pirate pitstops and even train-themed playgrounds, there's something for every play taste on our list of the best playgrounds in Melbourne!

60 Top Playgrounds in Melbourne for Free Family Fun

Playgrounds in Melbourne CBD

1. ArtPlay Playground

ArtPlay Playground
A colourful and creative play space in the centre of the city. 


Playgrounds in the city centre are usually as rare as hen’s teeth, but this one is as central as it gets – just a hop, skip and jump into Fed Square for some active child-friendly fun in the fresh air.

ArtPlay was designed to be a playground with something for children of all abilities and ages, with equipment that even older kids will love. ArtPlay Playground highlights include rock and rope climbing equipment, tube slides, swinging hammocks and a liberty swing that is ideal for less physically able children. Plus, the nearby hill is great to roll down!

Location: Birrarung Marr, Russell St Ext, Melbourne

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10 Awesome Water Parks in Melbourne

2. Ron Barassi Senior Park

Ron Barassi Senior Park
Ron Barassi Senior Park


One of the most popular playgrounds in Docklands, Ron Barassi Senior Park opened in 2015 and quickly became the place to be for kids eager to let off some steam, with loads of play equipment on offer, including swings, a sandpit, water pumps, huge climbing structure and more. There's a pavilion nearby, plus a sports field, barbecue facilities, and a walking circuit to cover all your family's needs.

Location: 500 Docklands Drive, Docklands

3. The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, Botanic Garden

More garden than a playground, but still absolutely amazing; we love the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden as it encourages children to get back to nature by getting their hands dirty and getting amongst the plants.

Features include the Ruin Garden, the Meeting Place (with a water feature for some water play in summer), a Wetland area, a Bamboo Forest, The Gorge, a Plant Tunnel, a Kitchen Garden, and The Rill - a gentle stream of water that runs through the whole garden.

The garden is open from 10 am to sunset each Wednesday through to Sunday and closed for school groups early in the week and for a period throughout winter.

Location: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne

4. Harmony Garden, Point Park

Harmony Garden
Harmony Garden, Point Park


The adorable Harmony Garden in Point Park is one of the best playgrounds in Melbourne for nature and art lovers. The art-based nature playspace is nestled in the heart of Docklands and offers kids a chance to relish their love of nature and nature-based play with rain gardens, water storage cells, musical instruments, slides, sandpit diggers, a merry-go-round and more.

Location: Yarra's Edge, Docklands

Playgrounds in the Inner Suburbs

5. Pipemaker's Park

Playgrounds in Melbourne
Pipemaker's Park


The sprawling Pipemaker's Park on the banks of the Maribyrnong River offers eight glorious hectares of rolling lawns, picnic spaces, free barbecue facilities, and two large playspaces to entertain kids for hours. 

The playgrounds at Pipemarker's Park celebrate the local Wurundjeri people with painted rocks, colourful totem signs, a designated water area, a campfire area, and other incredible artworks. And as for the play equipment, there's loads of that too, with a giant climbing fort, slides, swings, musical instruments, soft-play spaces, sand and more.

Location: Van Ness Ave, Maribyrnong 

6. Windsor Siding

Windsor siding houses a wooden train with a carriage enclosed in its playground area.

A fabulous multi-level climbing structure to play on with pulleys and scoops to get busy with is nearby, as is another structure with slides, balance beams, ladders, monkey bars, flying foxes and swings. 

Location: Union St, Windsor

Northern Suburbs Playgrounds

7. Royal Park Nature Play

Royal Park Nature Play
Melbourne playgrounds don't get more adventurous than Nature Play at Royal Park. 


This spectacular play space in the Royal Park precinct has something for all ages. Natural play elements? Yup – that means ‘messy’.

The equipment on offer at Nature Play Playground includes a splashy water play area as well as a climbing forest, a rock wall with slides and, of course, swings. While the bigger kids are running amok, the sand play areas are perfect for very little ones to find a safe spot for digging and getting messy. 

Location: 28 Gatehouse St, Parkville 

8. Community Bank Adventure Playground

Community Bank Adventure Playground
If the kids are keen for some water play, head to Community Bank Adventure Playground.


Playgrounds in Melbourne don't come much cooler than Community Bank - literally!

Suitable for children of all ages, at Community Bank Adventure Playground, you'll find a fun and challenging five-storey tower complete with three slides, flying foxes, several birds nest swings, regular swings, roundabouts, springers, climbable tractor, scooter tracks, covered sandpit, toilets, huge seesaw, plenty of picnic space and tall shady trees, and a small water splash park that's open from December to March.

Location: Northern Hwy and Queen St, Wallan

9. Delbridge Drive Reserve

Surrounded by extensive walking/running tracks and athletic fields, there's plenty to do for the whole family at Delbridge Drive Reserve.

Kids love the eagle's-nest rope climbing frame, slide, sandpit, and cute expression swing. Delbridge offers plenty of picnic and barbecue spaces, and there are water fountains and toilets, plus parking is a breeze.

Location: 87 Delbridge Dr, Sydenham

10. Gumnut Park Playground

Gumnut Park
Gumnut Park Playground


With an adorable name and even more adorable playing equipment, it's easy to see why Gumnut Park is one of our favourites.

Inspired by May Gibbs' Gumnut Babies Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, the sprawling adventure playground in Donnybrook transports kids (and kids at heart!) to a storybook wonderland with gumnut-shaped climbing pods, mega slides, gumnut cubby houses, climbing towers, mesh tunnels, and more all surrounded by stunning red gumtrees.

Location: Olivine Bvd, Donnybrook

11. Diamond Creek Regional Playspace

Diamond Creek Regional Playspace
Diamond Creek Regional Playspace


If you're looking for playgrounds in Melbourne that cater to both big and little kids, Diamond Creek Regional Playspace ticks all the right boxes!

With climbing frames galore, a mega sandpit, digging pits, wooden tunnels, cubby houses, slides, water pumps, and even a parkour station, there's just so much to love about Diamond Creek Regional Playspace!

Location: 28 Main Hurstbridge Rd, Diamond Creek

12. Edinburgh Gardens South

If you're out and about at or near Edingburgh Gardens, don't miss an opportunity to stop off for a play at the very popular Edinburgh Gardens South playground.

All the usual playspace essentials can be found in the fully-fenced playground, including a huge wooden climbing structure, swings, slides, sandpit, spider's net, see-saw, merry-go-round, and even some chalkboards. 

Location: 173 Alfred Cres, Fitzroy North

13. Eildon Street Park, Doncaster

Eildon Street train
How adorable is the train at Eildon Street Park?! 


A very cool Willy Wonka-themed train with a fun play area underneath lives at Eildon Street Park in Doncaster, with surrounding playground equipment.

Best suited for babies and toddlers, it's quite a small area, and everything is brightly coloured and easy for littlies to access.

Location: Eildon Street Reserve

14. Harmony Park

A fun spot to go for a play in Coburg, Harmony Park is an all-abilities playground and offers up the chance to play and exercise with equipment, nature play, a wetland, and a skate park.

Location: 187-191 Gaffney St, Coburg

15. Norris Bank Reserve

Norris Bank Reserve
Norris Bank Reserve


If you've heard mumblings at school drop-off of a super-cool lime-green twisty slide, it's likely the mumblings were about Norris Bank Reserve in Bundoora. 

The twisty lime-green slide is undoubtedly the drawcard of Norris Bank Reserve, but there's so much on offer as well. Kids will have a ball on the six-metre-high play towers, flying fox, nature play, swing zone, scooter loop, stage area, water play area and more. Toilets and picnic facilities are also nearby.

Location: McLeans Road and Fifer Rise, Bundoora

16. Golden Sun Moth Park

Golden Sun Moth Park
Golden Sun Moth Park


A playground in the shape of a giant moth! What will they of next?!

The famous moth-shaped playground in Craigieburn was designed by Warrandale Industries and continues to excite and intrigue kids and families with its unique shape and bevy of play offerings. The 30-metre-long 'Golden Sun Moth' sits within the Highlands Estate and offers up loads of imaginative play with a play deck, slides, a birds' nest swing, a junior play structure, a flying fox, talking tubes, rockers, and not to mention the unique facial features of the moth itself!

Location: 327 Grand Boulevard, Craigieburn

17. Riverside Park

Riverside Park pirate ship
Ready to walk the plank, aye matey?! 


If you're looking for playgrounds in Melbourne with a pirate theme, look no further! Riverside Park is known as 'Pirate Park' thanks to the extra-cool Black Sapphire ship just ready to be taken over.

The climbable ship is appropriately moored on a huge sandpit and has plenty of fun items on board to keep little ones entertained. A giant steering wheel, a walkable plank, rope bridges, a telescope, and even a giant ship's bell.

There is also another more traditional playground, a large grassy picnic area, drink fountains and toilets, so you can really make a day of it. BYO rum!

Location: The Boulevard, Essendon West

18. Green Gully Reserve

Green Gully Reserve
Green Gully Reserve


Another one of the best playgrounds in Melbourne with a huge lime-green twisty slide (maybe this is the one people were mumbling about?!), Green Gully Reserve will have the kids chomping at the bit to go for a play, stat!

At Green Gully Reserve, nature play is definitely on the menu. From the beautiful natural surroundings to the nature-play stations and native bird sculptures, it's clear the local council wants children to really feel at one with nature when stopping off for a play - mission accomplished!

Location: 151C Green Gully Rd, Keilor Downs

Eastern Suburbs Playgrounds

19. Markham Reserve

Markham Reserve
It's happy faces all around at the fenced-in Markham Reserve. 


For a fantastic, large playground that's fully enclosed and with loads of grassy goodness to enjoy, Markham Reserve in leafy Ashburton is a winner.

The play equipment is many and varied, with climbing walls, monkey bars, swings, and see-saws – and we have to mention the iconic carved kookaburras that overlook a small sandpit, one of several nature-inspired artistic elements of the park.

Known as a five-star playground in Melbourne for the sheer amount of activities and facilities, Markham Reserve is a park well worth stopping by for a play. There is parking available as well as seating and toilets.

Location: 80 Victory Blvd, Ashburton

20. Ashcroft Park

Ashcroft Park
Ashcroft Park


Attention all aeroplane-obsessed kids: the Ashcroft Park control tower needs you for a special aerodynamic assignment!

Fondly known as the 'Control Tower' playground, Ashcroft Park is an aeroplane-lovers dream playground. Kids can let their imaginations run completely wild on the aircraft landing strip leading to the famous control tower, plus, there's a huge twisty slide, a rope ladder, mini cubby house, a sandpit with diggers, balance beams, a net climbing structure and plenty more.

Location: 36 Mandrel Dr, Williams Landing

21. Hays Paddock

When it first opened in 1998, Hays Paddock was billed as an Australian first – a playground leader in catering for children of all abilities, including those challenged by hearing, vision, mobility and behaviour issues.

The spider’s web trampoline provides lots of bouncy fun, while the double-width slide is perfect for friendly races. A swing with a harness is in its own fenced section, and the huge sandpit - complete with diggers! - is the place to be for interactive, messy play. Bring some special duck food to visit the birdlife at Kew Billabong, just beyond the playground’s fence line. 

Location: Leason St, Kew East

22. Ringwood Lake Park

Ringwood Lake Park
Ringwood Lake Park


For kids who love playing in climbing forts, Ringwood Lake Park offers hours of imaginative play in an idyllic setting alongside picturesque Ringwood Lake. 

The state-of-the-art playground was designed by Omnitech Playgrounds and features interconnected trails and play equipment that weave through the treetop canopies, plus track glides, rope courses, balance platforms, and natural play elements such as sand and water areas.

Location: 172 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood

23. Bayswater Park Playground

Train playgrounds in Melbourne
Bayswater Park is the cream of the crop when it comes to Melbourne train playgrounds. Image: Mamma Knows East.


Bayswater Park Playground features a full-sized red steam engine for everybody's enjoyment - not something you see every day!

Complete with a railway platform, covered seats and even a Fat Controller to oversee proceedings (albeit a wooden one), and a ticket window, kids (ok and adults) can replicate an entire imaginary trip without ever leaving the park. 

Nearby is a smaller wooden train with two carriages, climbing structures with ramps, slides, fireman's pole, sandpit, swings, and musical equipment - basically a fully-equipped playground for young and old. 

Location: 799 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater

24. Ruffey Lake Park

The sprawling 68-hectare park in Doncaster offers not one but three fun playgrounds.

Take your pick from the Victoria Street Playground, the Boulevarde Playground, or Church Road North. All outdoor spaces will be loved by the kiddies, and don't forget to check out the two cool exercise stations.

Location: 99 Victoria St, Doncaster

25. Tim Neville Arboretum

Tim Neville Arboretum
Say hello to the dragons!


Fairy gardens, dragons, a drawbridge and even a moat are all on display at Tim Neville Arboretum to whisk your little ones to a magical faraway land!

The Arboretum itself is an 11-acre, multipurpose recreation reserve with plenty of picnic areas, grassy expanses, a lake, a wetlands system complete with ducks, a boardwalk crossing, and rose-filled gardens - heaven!

Location: 98 Dorset Rd, Ferntree Gully

26. Lilydale Lake Playspace

If waterplay is a prerequisite to finding the best playgrounds in Melbourne, then consider it done!

The super-fun Lilydale Lake Splash Pads are part of Lilydale Lake Playspace and are the place to be on a scorching hot day in Melbourne. Water jets and sprays will keep the kids cool before, during, and after playtime in the large play space, which includes slides, flying foxes, swings, sand-play zones, and more.

South East Melbourne

27. Booran Reserve 

Booran Reserve
Booran Reserve 


Hotly contested as one of the best playgrounds in Melbourne, the $10m Booran Reserve Playground is a huge community hub with a lot going for it.

The equipment runs from a multi-level sandpit area to a gigantic climbing structure and twisty slide that is several storeys high. There are swings, a flying fox, an outdoor art gallery, mini trampolines, a cricket pitch, a basketball court, a water play area, a Dutch disc-spinner, fun tunnels to climb through and over, clean toilets and a huge expanse of space for picnickers and folks who want to barbecue. 

The area around Booran Reserve Playground is beautifully landscaped with native shrubs and running water. The undulating pathways were designed to allow intuitive movement and assist those with limited vision and mobility. A fantastic Melbourne playground for all ages.

Location: 1051 Glen Huntly Rd, Glen Huntly 

28. Victory Park

It's next to impossible trying to get the kids to leave Victory Park after a play, and, to be honest, we can’t blame them! 

Victory Park is an almost-totally-fenced wonderland of wooden fortresses for neverending exploration and imaginative play. There are plenty of swings, so there's rarely a lineup, turrets and towers from which to do battle with imaginary dragons, and even a sandpit for when you need a good sit down! The lower monkey bars are particularly good for the younger kiddies. 

There is a lovely walking/bike trail around the park, memorials to see, and picnic/bbq facilities to enjoy. The Ascot Vale Leisure Centre is right next door with handy toilets and a cafe.

Location: 21 Patterson Rd, Bentleigh

29. Highett Reserve

Highett Reserve
Highett Reserve


Highett Reserve is the perfect spot for little ones who love castles and fairytales.

Let them create their own magic inside the timber castle with slides, fireman poles, and climbing frames. Plus, there are adorable toadstools and statues of frogs and snakes, all nestled under a large tree so there's plenty of shade - winning!

Location: 33 Turner Rd, Highett

30. Dendy Park South

Right near the corner of Nepean and Dendy St, you’ll find Dendy Playground, a cool, contemporary and funky coloured playground designed especially for the younger kids. With fabulous large shade sails and soft white sand underfoot, it’s a great park to whip off the kids’ shoes and let them play with abandon while you have a breather.

The equipment is modern and safe for tots, and the surrounding areas facilitate barbecues and birthday parties.

Location: Dendy St, Brighton 

31. Variety Livvi's Place at Edgebrook

Variety Livvi's Place at Edgebrook
Variety Livvi's Place at Edgebrook.


Variety Livvi's Place are the masters of creating incredible play spaces all across Australia, and Variety Livvi's Place at Edgebrook is no exception.

The expansive all-abilities playground has it all, including slides, merry-go-rounds, tunnels, flying foxes, twirly slides, a large xylophone, sandpits, spinning wheels, inground trampolines, balance beams, and even a waterplay zone!

The entire playground is split up into themes for the kids to ogle and enjoy, while the parents make the most of the covered picnic areas, barbecues, and FREE parking!

Location: 23 Merribrook Bvd, Clyde

32. Thomas Street Reserve

As far as wooden adventure spaces go, Thomas Street Reserve is a cracker.

The large wooden fort inspires plenty of games of hide-and-seek, and with multi-level walkways and lots of little nooks and crannies, there are plenty of places to tuck away. (Note to parents: don’t get stuck!).

The usual swings and slides keep the little ones happy, and with the sprawling parkland just behind the playground, there’s plenty of room to kick a ball around too. On weekends it can get pretty busy, so get there early.

Location: 164 Thomas St, Hampton

33. Ray Bastin Reserve Playground

Ray Bastin Reserve 
Ray Bastin Reserve 


Melbourne's 'space rocket park' is a must-visit for all space-obsessed kids!

There's loads on offer at Ray Bastin Reserve Playground, but we know the kids will make a beeline straight for the control station so they can blast off out of this world! Spinning wheels, climbing frames, rocking planes, swings, sandpits, slides and more are features of this super cool and super colourful playground.

Location: 10 Norfolk Dr, Narre Warren

34. Halliday Park

Flying foxes? Tunnels? Slides? Sandpits? Water play area? Yup, Halliday Park has the lot! 

Sandpits are a timeless classic (the built-in toys here help), and the in-ground trampoline makes bouncing (mostly) safe.

For picnic pleasure, the huge oak trees that dot Halliday Park provide some cool shade, while the hammock is a nice place to chill out when the strain of the monkey bars gets all too much.

Location: 310 Mitcham Rd, Mitcham

35. Yabbie Hill at Jells Park

Yabbie Hill Playground
The giant yabbie at Yabbie Hill.


Kids can celebrate nature and local animals at the adorable Yabbie Hill play space at Jells Park.

Yabbie Hill is one of three playgrounds at Jells Park and one of the biggest! Trampolines, swings, slides, a ropes course, a sandpit, water pumps, cubby houses, telephone pipes, and more are surrounded by adorable kangaroos, possums, birds, and the giant yabbie, of course!

There are picnic areas, toilets, and coffee nearby, plus plenty of tracks for cycling and scootering, so we highly recommend making a whole day of your adventures at Jells Park

Location: Jells Rd, Wheelers Hill

36. Montrose Community Adventure Playground

Montrose Community Adventure Playground is designed like a mini village, complete with a library, fire station and, of course, plenty of play equipment!

There’s a super cute springer in a ladybug design, an awesome rope pyramid structure, a bird’s nest swing, rope bridges, heaps of walkways, and so much more. It’s set in natural bushland with sports ovals, picnic and BBQ facilities, animal sculptures and plenty of shade. Your children won’t want to leave!

Location: 950 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Montrose

37. Carrum Foreshore Playground

Carrum Foreshore Playground
Carrum Foreshore Playground

 

The charming nautical playspace at Carrum Foreshore is a little on the smaller side but perfect for little tots to have a marine-themed play by the seaside. Hours of imaginative play are on offer with a lighthouse and telescope, rock maze, rocking boat, swings, slides, and oodles of sand!

Location: Old Post Office Ln, Carrum

38. Megasaurus Park

Megasaurus Park
Megasaurus Park


The giant Megasaurus climbing structure at Megasauraus Park lords over a bunch of cool equipment at one of the best playgrounds in Melbourne in the Livingston estate.

The flying fox is fast, and there are enough unusual features and broad green runnable grass nearby to make Megasaurus Park an excellent choice the next time your kids are tired of the same old same old at their local playground.

Location: Newington Dr, Cranbourne East

39. Roy Dore Reserve Playground

Roy Dore Reserve 
Roy Dore Reserve 


Roy Dore Reserve Playground features two longwave slides, a rope ladder and high nets, cubbies, gangplank, tic-tac-toe, mirrors, balance beams and a 'Find the Pirate's Treasure' maze panel. On land, there are cannons to shoot into the shady seashore (aka sandpit).

There are toilets and water fountains available, alongside picnic and BBQ areas.

Location: 17 Dyson Rd, Carrum 

40. Casey Fields Regional Playspace

Need room to move? Yes, indeed! 30,000 square metres, in fact, and it’s filled with all kinds of equipment and activity opportunities. Barbecues and picnic facilities make Casey Fields Regional Playground a wonderful spot for family birthday gatherings.

Start the kids off on the six-metre-high climbing net and rope bridge, and then let them find their way to the pirate ship for some classic imaginative play. And who doesn’t love a good hill to roll down? The lush lawns here make it a pleasure. Please note there is a lake and a jetty, so make sure you keep an eye on little ones.

Location: Melbourne City FC, Cranbourne East

41. North Road Foreshore Reserve Playground

North Road Foreshore Reserve
North Road Foreshore Reserve 


North Road Foreshore Reserve is nestled right next to the tranquil shores of Brighton and has the largest pirate ship we've ever seen!

Along with the massive pirate ship that takes centre stage at North Road Foreshore, water play is a firm favourite at this playspot with spinning spouts and water sprinklers on offer to keep the kids cool on a hot summer's day. 

A slide, climbing nets, a tightrope, cute cubby houses, mini trampolines, a see-saw, a net swing, a rocking boat and a sandpit complete this prime spot. 

Location: 2b North Rd, Brighton

42. Train Street Park

Train Street Park is exactly what it sounds like - a train-themed playground right next to a train station on Train Street.

A really cute train-themed set of play equipment is there, alongside other fun park stuff, including places to stop and have a picnic. Best of all, it's fully fenced in case your little train passengers have a real trip planned!

Location: 15 Train St, Highett

43. Ballam Park

Ballam Park
Ballam Park


Could this be one of the most colourful playgrounds in Melbourne?!

Ballam Park in Frankston has something for everyone. To start with, it's huge! There's a big skate park, basketball court, and ninja course on the western side while on the eastern side, there's a colourful adventure playground and toddler's space with all the usual favourites, including slides, swings, wooden poles, a flying fox and more.

Location: 260R Cranbourne Rd, Frankston

44. Valley Reserve

Valley Reserve
Valley Reserve


Did you know that Valley Reserve took out the 2016 Best New Major Playspace in Victoria in the Parks and Leisure Australia awards?

Valley Reserve has an adventure playground written all over it, with large wooden poles and interconnecting ropes dominating the space and giving kids the freedom to create their own obstacle course, complete with a flying fox.

Smaller kids will feel more at home playing in the sandpits, on the slide, noughts and crosses board, or climbing all over the famous King Parrot sculpture. 

Location: Waimarie Drive, Mount Waverley 

Playgrounds in the Western Suburbs

45. Buckingham Reserve

Playgrounds in Melbourne
Buckingham Reserve


Looking for a lovely birthday party location in Melbourne? All the essentials are on offer at Buckingham Reserve, with a decent amount of shade, picnic tables, barbecues, a drinking fountain, public toilets and handy parking.

The jewel in the crown at Buckingham Reserve is the huge rocket ship structure with a giant spiral slide. Ropes, swings, spinners, slides, flying foxes, climbing frames – this park has all the latest and greatest equipment.

Water play is a big trend in playgrounds at the moment, and this park doesn’t disappoint, with moving parts that include water gates kids can open and close.

Location: 2a Buckingham Cres, Sunshine West

46. Frontier Park Playground

Playgrounds in Melbourne
Frontier Park 


One of two massive adventure playgrounds in the Woodlea estate, the Frontier Park playground is such a great place for a whole lot of family fun.

The playground is situated right next to full-sized basketball courts, an extensive skate park and sporting fields, and boasts three huge towers, a nature play area, a sandpit, massive twisty slides, a pentagon swing set, ropes, tunnels and rope tunnels, bridges, smaller slides, rock climbing features, carousel, birds nest swing, and meandering water play area with fountains and pumps - need we say more!

Picnic tables are dotted throughout Frontier Park, with a large shaded barbecue area and toilets.

Location: Woodlea Boulevard and Frontier Ave, Aintree

47. Brooklyn Reserve

Brooklyn Reserve is awesome for families who are bringing kids of different ages. There is an area for older (or adventurous) kids with a huge slide, climbing frame, basketball court, swings and fun things to play on, while on the other side of the shaded picnic/barbecue area, there's an area suited to smaller folk with expression swing, sandpit, small slide, small roundabout, and a climbing frame lower to the ground.

Bring a trike or scooter, as they've really upped the ante with footpaths!

There's plenty of parking near Brooklyn Reserve in the surrounding streets and near to great cafes, too; otherwise, there's a huge expanse of green to pop a picnic blanket down on.

Location: Nolan Avenue, Brooklyn

48. Footscray Park 

Footscray Park 
Footscray Park 


If you're looking for one of the best all-abilities playgrounds in Melbourne with water play as well, you've found one at Footscray Park.

Kids have a selection of awesome play equipment to choose from at Footscray Park, including two flying foxes, a carousel, climbing frames, slides, a nest swing, musical instruments, a sand pit, and more. The surrounding trees and flowerbeds help to make this spot a calming oasis, and the water play is just heaven for the kids when the temperatures soar.

Location: Ballarat Rd, Footscray

49. Aeroplane Park

Aeroplane Park Melbourne
Aeroplane Park in Braybrook.


Aeroplane Park in Braybrook is, you guessed it, a fabulous aeroplane-themed playground!

A giant steel aeroplane takes centre stage at Braybrook's Aeroplane Park and will wow the socks off of aeroplane-obsessed kids (and adults!). The features of the giant aeroplane are pretty impressive, including swings underneath the wings, a tall ‘traffic control’ play structure, seating, plane rockers and baggage carousel, sea-saws, flying foxes, spinners, and bridge feature with tunnel and slide - wowza!

Location: 107 Churchill Ave, Braybrook

50. Curlew Community Park

If you're out and about in Laverton and the kids are keen to go for a play, stop off at Curlew Community Park and let the kids run wild.

The play space at Curlew Community Park opened in 2019 and offers a mix of nature play, water play, basketball and riding opportunities. There's a fantastic pump track for all manner of wheels to go for a spin, swings, a climbing structure, and slides, plus the wooden boat and water play section is adored by kids of all ages.

Location: 5 Epsom St, Laverton

51. Sunvale Community Park

Sunvale Community Park
Sunvale Community Park


Sunvale Community Park offers play equipment and water play, plus one of the coolest play towers we've ever seen - the kids are going to love it!

Sunvale Community Park is spaced out beautifully with a play zone and a large skating and scootering park, plus, plenty of green open spaces and barbecue facilities. 

Location: 20 Neil St, Sunshine

South Melbourne & Bayside

52. Bicentennial Park 

Famed for its awesome yellow slides, Bicentennial Park is a fully fenced and beautifully designed Melbourne playground that the kids will want to return to time and time again.

There is HEAPS to do at this playground, with numerous pieces of modern equipment and an enormous area to explore. Plenty of seating, barbecue areas, shaded areas, tables and toilets make Bicentennial Park a fabulous place to base the family for the afternoon.

Location: Thames Promenade and Scotch Parade, Chelsea

53. Skinners Adventure Playground

Skinners Adventure Playground
Skinners Adventure Playground


You wouldn't think a junkyard would be an enticing play space but Skinners Adventure Playground is here to debunk any negative ideas you might have about kids playing in a junkyard!

Skinners Adventure Playground is one of the most famous playgrounds in Melbourne - a communal backyard that has been transformed into a kids' junkyard paradise, full of colourful creative play. Shipping containers, veggie patches, colourful tyres, cubbies made from recycled materials, slides, trampolines and a whole smorgasbord of bits and bobs are on offer at Skinners. 

Please note that this is a staffed playground, so make sure you check the website for opening hours before visiting.

Location: 211A Dorcas St, South Melbourne

54. Saltwater Coast Crocodile Park

Saltwater Coast playground
Saltwater Coast Crocodile Park


Saltwater Crocodile Park offers traditional play equipment and a whole bunch of cool water elements like jets and a paddling pool filled with a water-spitting crocodile structure! 

Everything is bright blue and white, and the sand is so, so soft – it’s like relaxing in a resort, especially if you’re facing the pretty wetlands and boardwalk. 

Location: 260 Saltwater Promenade, Point Cook

55. Maritime Cove

Maritime Cove
Maritime Cove


Maritime Park showcases the marine history of Port Melbourne with recycled maritime equipment - how cool!

Old and new are interspersed at Maritime Cove with a new wooden fort and twirly slide placed alongside replica shipping containers, old steel buoys, marine bollards, old rail lines, and a ladder bridge giving the playground rustic charm and providing hours of fun for the kids. 

Location: 200 The Blvd, Port Melbourne

56. St Kilda Adventure Playground

St Kilda Adventure Playground
St Kilda Adventure Playground


St Kilda's Adventure Playground is another free communal backyard that has been transformed into a dream play space for kids.

Climbing structures, trampolines, cubbies, natural play spaces and more are on offer in brightly-coloured designs to intrigue and delight kids. St Kilda Adventure Playground is staffed during opening hours and offers hours of free, unstructured play for kids aged five to 12 years. Turtles, rabbits and chickens have been known to join in the fun!

Please note that this is a staffed playground, so make sure you check the website for opening hours before visiting.

Location: Neptune St, St Kilda

57. Coogoorah Park Playground

Coogoorah Park pirate ship
Coogoorah Park 


For shipwreck fun, head to Coogoorah Park and the wreck of the Inverlochy, complete with wave slides, pointed bow, climbing walls, chain ladder, rope ladder, balance fireman's pole and a cute place to stash your treasure or hold your prisoners underneath. Even better, there's a crow's nest from which you can see the enemy advancing!

Plenty of shelters, picnic spots, barbecues and toilets are nearby, and the park is set next to a wetlands area perfect for stretching the legs with a nature walk.

Location: 21A River Reserve Rd, Anglesea 

58. Geelong Play Space

Geelong Play Space
Geelong Play Space


Right next to the Geelong Botanic Gardens with views of Corio Bay, Geelong Playspace is well worth a visit. Your little buccaneers will love the pirate ship at this one! There are also tunnels, climbing walls, a sandpit, colourful stepping stones, and so much more.

This award-winner also includes a Liberty Swing for children in wheelchairs, the key for which can be collected at The National Wool Museum or the Carousel on the waterfront. There are seats and shaded areas around, as well as barbecue areas outside of the fenced zone – sausage sizzle, anyone?

Location: Eastern Park Circuit, East Geelong

59. Fairy Park

Fairy Park Geelong
Fairy Park, Geelong


While not a playground per se, visiting the trains at Fairy Park is a must for all train enthusiasts! 

Among the myths, tales and legends Fairy Park is known for (it's a fun and vibrant step back into medieval history!) is a huge model train set and train museum at the hilltop Castle. The museum houses a rare collection of Marklin model trains, perfect for little enthusiasts!

Location: 2388 Geelong-Ballan Rd, Anakie

60. Rosebud Foreshore Playground

Rosebud Foreshore Playground
Rosebud Foreshore Playground


If you're looking for playgrounds along the Mornington Peninsula, head straight to Rosebud Foreshore Playground.

The kids take off at a gallop every time they get near Rosebud Foreshore Playground, and it’s almost like they don’t know where to start! 

The huge hill with climbing stones, ropes, and a slide is a drawcard, and once they’ve scooted up and down seven hundred times, there’s still an entire park’s worth of entertainment on offer.

The usual swings, bird's nest swing and the flying fox are joined by a roundabout, stepping stones, and the magic of the foreshore just across the walkway. The water is low and perfect for paddling.

Location: Point Nepean Rd & Jetty Rd, Rosebud

Is your favourite park not on the list? Let us know in the comments!

More Fun Things to do in Melbourne

Melbourne's Kid-Friendly Rock Pools
Cherry Picking in Melbourne
Spectacular Waterfalls in Melbourne
 

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Reviews


Annie Ngo

Apr 24 2022

Yea