mentone racecourse reserve, mentone
This incredible reserve has a lake, zip-liner, basketball court, maze, swings, sandpit, diggers and more!!
Get on your horse - you will want to race to this park!
Mamma ADORES this stunning reserve, nestled away amongst suburban streets - you may not even realise it exists!
It is a huge reserve with a duck/fish/eel filled lake in the middle. Two little bridges take you across it, with two separate play grounds on either side.
The reserve is set on the site of the old Mentone Racecourse, and carries a horse theme throughout.
There are ride-on rocking horses, horse-jumps, a wooden maze and horses painted on the play equipment.
The play equipment is amazing; a zip-liner, basketball court, soccer/AFL goals, merry-go-round, nest swing, maze, slides, climbing net, swings, viewing platform with binoculars, sandpit, diggers, - it goes on..
Plus there are BBQ facilities and picnic tables under shade, making it a perfect place for a picnic.
This is truly beautiful reserve, and an action-packed park, will become your new favourite!
the nitty gritty
toilet facilities - BBQ - picnic tables- bench seats - some shaded area - lake with ducks - basketball court - soccer/AFL goals- maze - zip liner -free parking - open spaces for picnics
Mamma’s special mention: After a play head to Happy as Larry down the road a bit!
booran reserve, glen huntly
Pack up the kiddos and sunscreen, because Booran Reserve in Glen Huntly is where it's at! This award-winning park, part of Glen Eira Council, is an absolute gem especially in the warmer Melbourne months.
Pack up the kiddos and sunscreen, because Booran Reserve in Glen Huntly is where it's at! This award-winning park, part of Glen Eira Council, is an absolute gem especially in the warmer Melbourne months.
The star attraction is the water play area, hugely popular for people of all ages. With a surface splash pad and playful water jets shooting up every couple of minutes, it's the perfect cool-down spot on summer days.
For those not interested in a splash, there is a separate dry playground area with flying foxes, trampolines, tunnels, a two-tiered sandpit complete with a water pump (I know, right?), and even an oversized hamster wheel! The giant bird's nest swing and a 5-way swing are just the cherries on top.
Older kiddos will be busy at the basketball and netball rings, and a jaw-dropping 10-metre-high double dome - with a slide to swoosh down.
the nitty gritty
Booran Rerserve
1051 Glen Huntly Rd,
Glen Huntly
Toilets with change tables – separate dry playground – shade sails – BBQ facilities – picnic shelters – tables and seatings – dogs on leash – street parking – pram accessible
Water play feature operates during the following times:
October to March, 9am to 7.30pm
April to September, 9am to 5pm
Mamma's special mentions:
Make a day of it and head to the gorgeous Major Mitchell cafe
allambee park, sandringham
If your children love trucks, then they are going to DIG this park!
If your children love trucks, then they are going to DIG this park!
This Mamma loves an upgraded park, especially one as quiet and cute as this one! They have recently updated the swings and play structure here and it now features multiple slides and climbing areas with roofing to help protect from the elements… but the biggest appeal of this park will always be the sand pit full of trucks and diggers left there by the local community for all visitors to enjoy!
There are picnic benches and a water bubbler plus lots of wide open space to kick a footy or enjoy a picnic.
Mamma has a feeling her children are going to be begging to come back here often!
the nitty gritty
Cnr Neptune St and Sandringham Rd, Sandringham
Picnic tables - open grass area - no toilet - shade from large trees - sandpit - water-play - free parking
Mamma's special mention
Why not make your play a little tastier and grab a takeaway milkshake and burger from Burger Bae on the way?
maritime cove community park, port melbourne
Mamma LOVES this fabulous marine-themed community park, with soft sand, heaps to climb slide and play on!
This fabulous marine-themed community park opened early 2017 -and you know how Mamma likes a good THEMED park....
Situated in the most picturesque place beside Port Melbourne's glistening bay and with views of the Webb Dock, the city, and plenty of boat watching - kids will adore it too.
It's well suited for all ages as there are boundless things to play with, most being old marine equipment.
For the older kids, there are rope bridges and rope climbing equipment, old bright-yellow steel buoys to rock-climb, old channel markers that make excellent climbing towers, and a wooden tower with a huge spiraling silver slide as the only way down.
For the younger ones there are see-saw boats, metal shovels and tunnels for sand play, smaller wobbly bridges, a musical area with a bell they can ring, and two water play areas - perfect for the warmer weather.
Not to mention the whole park is covered in soft sand!
On either end of the park there are replica shipping containers with bench seats, which offer a shaded area to rest.
If you don't get enough exercise chasing the kids around, there is also an exercise area complete with work-out equipment (active wear VERY optional! ha). This is one unique park that you will want to visit again!
Mamma's special mention: make sure you remember to slip, slop, slap in the summer - as there isn't much shade. Bring a change of clothes in the warmer weather, as the kids wont be able to resist the water play areas!
the nitty gritty
Located at Sandridge Beach, Perce White Reserve,
Limited free parking - not much shade
megasaurus park, cranbourne
Hold on to your hats boys and girls...there are DINOSAURS all over this park.
Hold on to your hats boys and girls...there are DINOSAURS all over this park. The Megasaurus Playground in Cranbourne East's Livingston Estate is one of a kind. 100 percent unique and one for the imagination. The standout feature has to be the brontosaurus with the flying fox that runs down it's belly, followed closely to the stegosaurus plates that appear to be rising from the ground. These are dotted with climbing holds and make a perfect track to race through and make a great big roar. Add to this the pterodactyl swing that doubles as a toddler hiding spot and the massive 20m long climbing frame that certainly hasn't been seen before. Great for the confident climbers to negotiate, they will quickly find things to rattle and shake, and finally slide down the astroturf covered tail at the end. The novelty factor continues with a nest complete with cracking dino eggs and signs cautioning all visitors of the prehistoric giants.
Mamma's special mention: If it is Dinosaurs that your kids are into check our Dinosaur World in Somerville and at Garden World, Braeside.
the nitty gritty
bbqs - street parking - drinking fountain - no shade - picnic tables and shelter - flying fox
Newington Drive,
Cranbourne East
Enter the Estate from Berwick-Cranbourne Road at Eliburn Drive
tatterson 'big bug' park, keysborough
Talk about magic. As soon as you step through the magnifying glass you shrink and the bugs become GIANT.
Talk about magic. As soon as you step through the magnifying glass you and the family will shrink and the bugs become GIANT. Be sure to be on the lookout for spiders, ants, a beehive and a lady bird or two!
The Tatterson Park Playspace is great for the imagination and it is huge. Completely covered in shade sails it is great all year round, though can get a little boggy in the wetter months. Apart from bugs there are multiple play structures, a range of slides, plenty of things to climb and crawl through and a flying fox too! Add six swings, a great big sand and water play area, sheltered seating and public toilets with plenty of playing fields and a basketball court alongside, it makes this playground a Mamma's big hit!
Mamma's special mentions: If you need to refuel somewhere nearby, head over to Garden World and check out the dinosaurs while you are at it!
the nitty gritty
shade sails - public toilets - BBQs - picnic seating - football fields nearby - walking tracks - sand
bicentennial park, chelsea
Gigantic slides, smurf village, musical huts, skate park - could this be the BEST park in the South?
Gigantic slides, smurf village, skate park - what more can you want?
Oh, ok then, throw in a musical hut, sand pit, train, swings of all shapes and sizes, exercise equipment, monkey bars, BBQ facilities, dog park and a huge oval - and you have arguably the BEST park in the South!
If you haven't been before, it is truly worth the visit, your kids will be little balls of energy and bounce around all of the fabulous equipment.
There are shaded picnic areas making it the perfect party/picnic park. And if you are lucky, frequent visitor - Mr Whippy will be on hand to offer some refreshments!
Mamma's special mention: if you find that the kids still want to play, head over to the Skate Park or if the weather takes a turn, why not head to The Silly Seahorse playcentre, just around the corner?
the nitty gritty
BBQ facilities -
shaded picnic tables - public toilets/change room -
*fenced (but hugely spread out) -
- all abilities equipment
black rock foreshore playground
What could be more perfect than a pirate-themed park overlooking one of the most beautiful bays in Victoria? Not much!
What could be more perfect than a pirate-themed park overlooking one of the most beautiful bays in Victoria? Not much!
This playground has all the ingredients necessary to ensure your child has a perfect play. There are your usuals; swings, slides, see-saws - plus an amazingly high (terrifyingly for this mamma) climbing pyramid.
The other climbing structure is a pirate fun ship. With slides as the descent and nets to climb up, a wooden steering wheel, and plenty of exploring space underneath for the toddlers.
Right in the heart of the beautiful black rock village, this park is definitely one to see!
Mamma's special mentions
Why not enjoy all that Black Rock has to offer and check out Hahndorf's Fine Chocolate Shop as well?
the nitty gritty
FACILITIES
Toilets
BBQ & Picnic Tables
Some shaded area
Car park (metered)
Mostly fenced in
