Living in Canberra, we tend to be spoiled for choice when it comes to kids entertainment. Sure, we don't have amusement parks or constant visits from The Wiggles and High 5, but we have playgrounds. Both the free sort and the commercial sort.
Parks and Playgrounds in Canberra are very well serviced. Every suburb has multiple playgrounds, some have free BBQ's and some are better maintained than others. Actually, best to pack some disinfectant for the BBQ's in case you score a dodgy one.
Then there's the likes of Kids City/Rampage/Zone. A commercial playground and cafe in a warehouse. Brilliant! Low running costs make for cheap admission for parents which inevitably means high throughput. Mayhap a bit too much noise to be an 'escape'.
But for a cash strapped individual such as myself, I like the free playground and cafe variety. I also like a good free playground in general, so here is a list of spots I have found to my taste on the Northside.
Bunnings Belconnen
They have a nice little static playground with a coffee cart being operated by Dash coffee. It's indoors, heated, next to the nursery and outdoor displays and the biggest bonus is a fully enclosed fence with a pool gate. Trap the kids in there. Top marks!
The Mushroom
Belconnen Markets has a huge foam Mushroom acting as a roof for a great custom play area. It is fully astroturfed, has lots of play equipment and the innards of the mushroom itself form part of the playground. Good for playing monsters. Plus, it's at the markets, endless options for a high quality snack fest. It is kind of exposed to the howling winds though.
Cafe Injoy
Cafe Injoy is good in itself. Plus they have a pun name, how delightful! Now, upon the verge of the carpark, they have a fenced play... thingy. Well, it is a very small piece of playground equipment that only seems to have a small tube slide to its merit. Plus I don't think well of the gate lock, being within easy reach of wee hands. But it is Cafe Injoy. VERY outdoors though, no good for winter.
North Lyneham Shops
The playground next to North Lyneham Shops is an old wooden one. It is in need of replacement but still in fairly good repair. The bonus here is the great old equipment, the kind that is so big it is almost a deathtrap. Maximum kid thrills! The spiral slide is huge, the tyre swing uses a truck tyre and the roundabout is old, rusty steel with the force of a flywheel once you get it spinning. Plus BBQ's and lots of flat paths for the kiddies to ride their bikes on. Best pack your coats, it is totally exposed.
Yerrabi Pond
Yerrabi Pond in Gunghalin is a family community Mecca. There is a good sized playground for the little ones, gigantic flying foxes for all and sundry, skateboarding areas and the pond is nearby, just right for feeding the ducks. Some of the skate park is right next to the playground though. You need to keep a close eye on the kids lest they get cut in half by speeding emo's. There is a moderately sheltered BBQ area with public toilets to boot. Though, I usually avoid public toilets regardless of where they are and how modern.
What free playgrounds would you rate in Canberra, especially on the Southside?
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2 comments:
Don't rely on the public toilets at Yerrabi Ponds - I've calculated they only operate 50% of the time, and are only functional 10% of the time if there's a child in desperate need of a #2.
A vote here for the adventure playground in Kambah - well worth a detour if you're heading down that way.
Adventure playground in Kambah of all places. Whereabouts is that one?
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