the old cheese factory, berwick
The Old Cheese Factory is a beautiful community space. Brilliant playground on a stunning homestead!
The Old Cheese Factory is a beautiful community space. Firstly for the cheese and farm themed playground, complete with windmill, tractor, farm animals and shops. The brie, cheddar and blue vein stepping blocks have to be the most creative Mamma has ever seen. Great for your preschoolers!
And the stunning grounds of the homestead itself! You have to go a-wandering past all the old buildings, find the little bridge over the pond, check out the old well, and have a picnic amongst the beautiful shady trees OR even host a party in one of the rooms.
This is the perfect spot to spend a few hours with the family.
the nitty gritty
BBQs - public toilets - picnic shelter - partially fenced - some shade sails
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Mamma's special mentions:
If you are after some fresh and local produce - every 2nd Saturday is the local Berwick Farmers Market RIGHT HERE!
beach park, sandringham
With the golden sandy beach below you, bay views all the way out to the city surrounding you, lush trees to shelter under and this newly updated awesome play equipment - everyone wins!
This is such a great little playground - in a perfect spot!
With the golden sandy beach below you, bay views all the way out to the city surrounding you, lush trees to shelter under and this newly updated awesome play equipment - everyone wins!
There’s a lot that’s great about this playground, but there are two specifically amazing stand outs; one is the awesome water play area in the shaded sandpit! With an octopus in the middle and lots of little lanes for the water pump to push water down and form little puddles - be sure to bring a change of clothes - or swimsuit as there is definitely heaps of fun to be had!
The other is so unique that this Mamma hasn’t come across it before! A rope swing carousel - or a dancing snake swing! There are four singular rope loops that the kids can sit - or lay on and then be spun around on! Very popular with the little ones!
As well as also having the usual; slides, swings, a lookout castle, a boat, and two sandpits. Lots of fun to be had here!
Mamma’s special mention: Keep the fun going and head to Sandy Mini Golf!
ross reserve playground, noble park
If you are looking for the ultimate playground - you’ve come to the right place! Fully fenced - Waterplay - Massive slides AND toilets!
WOW! This spacious, all abilities playground ticks EVERY box!
If you are looking for the ultimate playground - you’ve come to the right place! If you could dream up your fantasy playground, chances are that THIS playground will have it all!
Something challenging for the older kids? Yep. We’re talking a super-high open wire tunnel connecting one HUGE twirly slide to another structure with two smaller slides. Leading up to the slide is an intricate rope ladder staircase - definitely for the brave!
The older kids will also love the hamster wheel - trying to keep upright proves a challenge - especially when you have someone spinning it from the outside - loads of fun. There’s a square swing set with 5 swings - including one with a harness.
Surrounding the slide structure- which also encompasses a rock climbing wall, rope ladder, climbing poles, cubby and nest swings; is a cement path - perfection for bikes and scooters! This path weaves throughout the playground.
On the other side of the path - opposite the slides is a dual zip liner - one with a disc seat and the other with a harness. Four mini in-ground trampolines, a climbing/balancing section with multiple wooden logs, a hammock and a rolling slide.
How about things to keep the toddlers happy? TICK! There’s a separate section for them as well. This is great - it is mostly under shade sails and consists of a huge sandpit - with a bridge over a dry rock bed, and musical instruments. In the sand pit there is a digger, bucket and chain sand play equipment AND a water tap which empties down little paths to create a small stream of MUDDY PLAY! Heaven for those little hands!
Opposite the sand play is a carousel that has room for standing, a small seat and room for a wheelchair. Swing sets - including a nest swing, Liberty swing and an awesome expression swing!
There’s also two undercover picnic areas and BBQ facilities. AND yes, there ARE toilets, and YES it is FULLY FENCED!
So pretty much playground paradise here folks!
Mamma’s special mention: Keep the fun going and head to Crazy Climb!
the nitty gritty
fully fenced - street parking - toilets - water tap - BBQ - Undercover picnic tables
john monash reserve, skye
This great little local playground has just had a makeover!
This great little local playground has just had a makeover!
It’s fresh and fun and has just enough play equipment to keep the kids happy. Most of the playground is protected by large shade sails, which is great as the playground isn’t really offered any shade from the nearby trees.
The equipment consists of a large wooden climbing structure with a small rock climbing wall, lookout with a telescope, rope bridge, two slides and a tunnel. There’s also a set of 4 swings as well as a nest swing, stepping stones and a spinner.
There’s an undercover picnic area with tables and a BBQ, also heaps of grassy space to set up a picnic, kick a footy, or even a game of cricket!
Mamma’s special mention: Stop by The Chocolate Grove to pick up some yummy treats for your picnic snack!
the nitty gritty
street parking - no toilets - water tap - BBQ - Undercover picnic tables
valley reserve, mount waverley
This is one for the adventurous kind! Welcome to Valley Reserve - winner of the 2016 best new major playspace in Victoria in the Parks and Leisure Australia awards. A quiet and *almost* hidden treasure in Mount Waverley.
This is one for the adventurous kind! Welcome to Valley Reserve - winner of the 2016 best new major playspace in Victoria in the Parks and Leisure Australia awards. A quiet and *almost* hidden treasure in Mount Waverley. This AMAZING space is huge and has a little bit of everything, although best suited for older kids. At 18 months it was too much, but now at nearly 4 years, Bubs is getting more and more from this playground. The timber poles dominate the main space (the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo zone for those playing along at home) and each crows nest type structure is linked by ropes - basically like the ropes course from your grade 5 camp memories. Up the top, the big kids will zoom along the flying foxes and back near the carpark, the little ones will love exploring and climbing all over the King Parrot.
Mamma's favourites have to be the two sandpit and nature play zones which is great for the toddlers. The sandpits feature massive quartz blocks with crevasses to collect the water and a noughts and crosses board! PERFECT for sand play! The nature zone to the left is difficult to see but don't miss it. The Eastern Long-necked Turtle sits here and is designed to be a quiet refuge separate from the main play space. No wonder Mamma almost walked past.
Mamma's special mention: If you need a coffee before or after your playdate with the birds, Mamma can't go past South Society along Blackburn Road.
the nitty gritty
public toilets - bbqs - shelters - shaded - walking tracks - nature reserve - carpark - nature play - sand - water play has been shut off
napier park, glen waverley
Go visit the giant gecko at Napier Park with your little ones today!
It is so refreshing when a playground gets an upgrade and Napier Park has certainly got a great one! This is a perfect mix for the little ones with the additional inclusion of fitness equipment for the bigger ones. The castle structure is an easy to climb, there is plenty of equipment explore as well as a brilliant mix of natural elements. Mamma spots long logs to balance along, a dry river bed, stepping tree stumps and even a set of table and chairs, perfect for a tea party. The park is home to a giant gecko and he will carefully watch over the kiddos as they jump from element to element. You can pack the bikes too with trails nearby and some nicely paved tracks around the playground itself. In the wetter months the spinning sea-saw can get a little boggy but you must give it a go. Lots of fun!
Mamma's special mention: The park is part of the baseball complex off High Street Road, but the park is more accessible from Torwood Avenue.
the nitty gritty
bench seating - fitness equipment - birds nest swing - walking trails nearby - baseball fields next door - drinking fountian - limited shade - no public toilets
samada street reserve, notting hill
It is almost like Mamma is starting to sniff out all of these brilliant little and HIDDEN playspaces, packed with such great goodies. Samada Street Reserve in Notting Hill has a fantastic little playground with ALL of Mamma's favourites.
It is almost like Mamma is starting to sniff out all of these brilliant little and HIDDEN playspaces, packed with such great goodies. Samada Street Reserve in Notting Hill has a fantastic little playground with ALL of Mamma's favourites.
The main structure is a solid wooden fort, with plenty of options for climbing, sliding and traversing around and complete with its own cafe. There is soft-spongy-slash-mesh flooring, making it great for crawlers and less tanbark to consume. The spinning sea-saw rocker is a hit and a bit of a surprise the first time you give it a go. There's the birds nest swing and a stack of fitness equipment making the space great for the entire family.
But at the end of the day, Mamma's favourite feature - undeniably too - is the expression swing. When you have little ones under the age of one, who are not moving a whole heap or teetering around on their toes just yet, getting them up into a swing is the BEST, especially when you can join in too. Their faces are irresistible and the joy is infectious. Plus it stops them eating tan bark for at least 5 minutes!
Mamma’s special mentions: Mamma's go-to cafe and gift shop combo when in Notting Hill is Inchmeal Cafe. Another hidden treasure in the neighbourhood is just at the end of the road!
the nitty gritty
expression swing - drink fountain - picnic benches - some shade - street parking - fitness equipment - grass nearby - no toilets
central reserve playground, glen waverley
Watch out for the lions - they’ll get cha! Well, if you use them as a tunnel that is. Welcome to Central Reserve Playground
Watch out for the lions - they’ll get cha! Well, if you use them as a tunnel that is. Welcome to Central Reserve Playground. This is your classic part wooden, part plastic, part ropes and part platform playground that has seen a lot of love over its years. It is a great one for crawlers with plenty of ramps to navigate plus lots of interesting things like the brilliant music feature. This one even comes with music.
The playground is part of a larger recreational reserve with ovals, bowls clubs, aths track and skatepark near by. You will see many locals running and walking laps in the green spaces near by. There is a decent fence blocking the access to Springvale Road, although it isn’t a fully enclosed playspace. Mamma couldn’t spot the public toilets nearby (although the National Public Toilet Map tells me they are here) but it is a great solid playground for fun.
Mamma’s special mentions: Time for a dip? The Monash Aquatic & Recreation Centre is just around the corner. This is a great option for extra physical activity and be sure to give the wave pool a whirl!
the nitty gritty
public toilets - picnic grounds - bbqs - football grounds - skate park - mostly fenced - shade over the climbing ropes -
wellesley road reserve, glen waverley
This might just be Mamma’s favourite style of playground. A SENSORY playground. This renewed playspace has been beautifully designed to engage all sorts of play, via the senses.
This might just be Mamma’s favourite style of playground. A SENSORY playground. This renewed playspace has been beautifully designed to engage all sorts of play, via sound, sight, touch and smell (once the plats grow a little more!).
To begin with, it is visually beautiful. There are all sorts of textures and pathways that help guide the play and plenty of ‘treasure’ built into the paths. We love the tea party table (complete with checker board), the spinning wheel at the end of the rainbow, the shiny bluebird and the carnival mirrors. But the real hit are the tyre bouncers. Theses noisey thingos are super fun. We can hear a rubber ducky, an accordion and a train!
There is heaps to love about this playzone, especially when the previous playground elements have also been kept. The simple play structure with a slide, fireman’s pole, monkey bars, swings and rockers, is the perfect active compliment to this space. Oh AND the playground is fenced! It’s a winner all round!
Mamma's special mention: Many playgrounds have some sensory elements but for another dedicated sensory playground, head to Box Hill South to Victoria Rose Playground.
the nitty gritty
water fountain - no toilets - fully fenced and gated - good shade - picnic table and benches
ellis park, mulgrave
Located within the Waverley Park estate, you will be feeling all nostalgic if you used to watch the football here, back in the day. There are plenty of nods to the past with the social club bench, signs for the gates and a reasonably priced parking fee etched into the playground design.
Footy fans - here is a playground for you. Located within the Waverley Park estate, you will be feeling all nostalgic if you used to watch the football here, back in the day. There are plenty of nods to the past with the social club bench, signs for the gates and a reasonably priced parking fee etched into the playground design. Although the colours don’t match any club in particular, Mamma enjoys the walk down memory lane after spending an entire childhood on the wooden benches at Waverley. The kids love everything about this well designed playzone too. There are things to slide, climb, swing and balance on, plus a noisy bridge to stomp over. This is a neighbourhood playground, so you wont find any toilets and parking is limited, but you will have a hard time tearing the little tikes away.
Mamma's special mention: The Hawks might not play their home games at Waverley anymore, but they do (normally - in pre covid times) train here and there is a cafe here too!
the nitty gritty
walking trails nearby - no toilets - limited shade - picnic table - some street parking