sharidan bowman 12/6/25 sharidan bowman 12/6/25

damper creek conservation reserve, mount waverley

Mamma just LOVES a good playground/trail combo and Damper Creek Conservation Reserve has just that. A really fun playground, in an 11 hectare bushland reserve with walking tracks.

Mamma and her boys like to go for a little bike ride/wander along the walking track. We never get far as there is too much to explore including a sneaky water crossing that leads you over the creek and through to the playground.

There is some good sized hills for toddlers on bikes and scooters to head and up down without too much fear from Mamma. If you’re wandering through the reserve keep an eye out for some exciting wildlife including frogs, flying foxes, peregrine falcons, gang-gang cockatoos and sugar gliders.

The playground has 2 levels, to reach the top you can climb the stairs or go up the rope pull before heading back down the slide.

Up the top is a single structure with monkey bars, rope climbs, and a slide. Down below has a gorgeous blue tongue lizard (yes their tongue is blue) to climb along, swings, balance beams, and sea saws.

The playground is spread out amongst gorgeous bushland so there’s lots of other things for your little ones to explore and play with, including cute little table and chairs cut from trees just perfect for a picnic.

the nitty gritty

38 Park Road, Mount Waverley

shaded by trees - picnic tables - walking track - pram accessible - no toilets

Mamma's special mentions: Once you’ve worked up an appetite head to Kaiju Cantina for some epic pizzas!

for more parks and playgrounds inspiration click here

sharidan bowman 11/6/25 sharidan bowman 11/6/25

valley reserve, mount waverley

Attention nature lovers! Adventure awaits at Valley Reserve Play Space. Winner of the 2016 “Best New Major Playspace - Victoria” in the Parks and Leisure Australia awards, it’s hard to believe that this playground, immersed in its surrounding bushland, is a stones throw away from cafes and the local supermarket.

The play space is looked over by its feathered custodians - a wooden Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo, a stone Powerful Owl and a steel frame King Parrot.

The main play area is comprised of a series of wooden towers, rope bridges and climbing ropes… the ultimate obstacle course! On one side of the grounds, adrenaline junkies will find two flying foxes - one with a traditional disc seat and the other, an all abilities harnessed seat for any person wanting to feel the breeze through their hair.

On the other side, kids will find a space to “chill” with a sandpit and massive quartz block - the perfect surface for creating “sand cakes” that Mr Mamma spent the morning pretending to eat.

If the littlies need some down time to touch grass and enjoy the serenity of the surrounding bush, the Eastern Long-necked Turtle sensory play space is perfect for those seeking a little quiet time. Tucked away near the bbq and picnic area, this haven can be hard to find if you’re not looking for it.

It’s worth noting mammas, as the play space is part of a reserve, the gates to the carpark close at 5pm between April to October and 8pm from November to March so plan accordingly!