BBQ

Pencil Park, Armstrong Creek

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Located:

The Pencil Park playground is located in Armstrong Creek, which is a suburb of Geelong. It’s located on Armstrong Boulevard, near the corner of Native Avenue. We’ve driven past it a few times on the way down to the Surf Coast, but haven’t had the time to stop previously. I made a day of it, to travel to this playground and a few others in the estate, and if you are local to this playground and the others, how lucky you are! Aptly named, the playground is lined by giant pencils making this quite a colourful playground to look at. 

 

Equipment:

  • covered seating, BBQ area
  • sand play, with rocking boat
  • numerous speaking tubes
  • 2 wooden playground structures, joined by spider climbing net
    • 2 slides
    • fireman pole
    • clock
    • naughts and crosses
  • surfboard spring rocker
  • digger
  • numerous balance beams

Jack liked:

climbing into and driving the boat. He was also focused balancing on the surfboard rocker. He liked climbing along the nets, and the metal balance areas. Overall this was a cute little playground that offered imaginative play and great climbing options. 

Loyola Road, Werribee

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Located:

We ventured into a new area to check out the neighbourhood park, located on Loyola Road in Werribee. There’s a playground, dotted amongst a large reserve with a circular track and outdoor gym equipment stations. 

 

Equipment:

  • Large reserve, with gym equipment stations dotted around the area
  • 1 helicopter shaped play area with rope climbing, rock climbing, steps, mini slide and tunnel
  • 1 large rope climbing structure
  • 1 larger structure, with larger slide, fireman pole, and flying fox
  • 2 swings and a nest swing
  • spinner, spring rocker
  • basketball court, with soccer goals
  • skating edges, mini mounds
  • BBQ with covered seating

Jack liked:

The helicopter play area as he repeatedly headed back to climb and play. He walked along the edges of the garden beds and he tried out the swings and the spring rockers. Jack was too short for the extended flying fox but I managed to lift him up so that he could have a go. 

Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, Castlemaine

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Located:

I’ve been told by many people that if you are ever in the area, it is worth swinging past the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens for a play at the playground. It’s a great little precinct and definitely worth dropping by.  There’s a huge covered seating area, toilets, and multiple play areas spread over a large area with gorgeous paths throughout the beautiful gardens. We brought along Jack’s scooter and rode down to the lake to have a look at the ducks. After a play at the playground we headed around to The Mill Castlemaine where hubby was impressed with The Taproom, while Jack and I loved an icecream from Icecream Social – the chocolate was delicious!  

 

Equipment:

  • play hut
  • train and carriages
  • see saw
  • bridge
  • 2 wooden structures, one with smaller slide.
    • speaking pipes
    • wobbly bridge
    • stairs
    • fireman pole
    • climbing nets
  • 2 sets of swings
  • nature inspired spring rockers
  • sand play
  • nature inspired branch play
  • balance walk
  • monkey bars, flying fox 

Jack liked:

Playing on the train! He ordered both of us to sit in the carriages. Another great part to this playground (for those that are train lovers) is that the vline trains run past quite regularly. Jack loved waving at the trains. The ducks were extremely friendly, and even though the path to the lake was gravel, Jack had minimal trouble scooting along the path. There was plenty to do for kids of all ages at the playground. Plenty of space to kick a football, or in our case, play a quick game of cricket too! And a quick drive up the road to The Mill, made Mum and Dad very happy! It’s a great area! 

Pioneer Drive, Woodlea

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Located:

The newest park within Woodlea Estate, this one is located at the corner of Pioneer Drive & Callistemon Vista. Featuring the same colour scheme as all the other parks, and with enough features to keep the kids happy for a run around. Complete with undercover BBQ area, basketball area and grassed space, this would be great for a BBQ and play.  Although this playground has the expression swing, most of the equipment are for kids that can confidently climb. There is not a lot of infant/toddler friendly play at this playground. 

 

Equipment:

  • Expression swing
  • 1 infant harness swing, 4 swings
  • natural rock gardens to climb
  • large enclosed slide, accessible by curved climbing structure
  • 1 nest swing
  • climbing course consisting of wooden stumps and multiple ropes 
  • wooden playground structures, linked with several bridges and another slide
  • 1 spinning platform

Jack liked:

Although somewhat uncomfortable for us, we put Jack in the expression swing, which he thought was a bit of fun. He liked exploring and climbing the playground. He took some time being convinced that he could actually climb the ladder to get up to the top of the large slide. 

 

Greenway Bank, Waterhaven Estate, Point Cook

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Located:

 

Having stumbled upon this playground, while checking newly listed houses on realestate.com.au, I thought I’d venture here the morning of Mothers Day. The playground was quiet, except for one other Dad and daughter, and all the people walking their dogs along the waterways. I’m not sure how long the playground has been there, but you can see that there has been recent landscaping with the additions of new plants. I quite liked the cute little playground separated from the ‘bigger’ kids playground options. The cubby house is very colourful, and has quirky little bits for the kids to move and spin. This area also has a little slide, which made my 2 1/2 year old look like a giant! This would be a great area for the newly walking and exploring toddlers. 
The bigger kids area has a funky geometric climbing shape, with netting. There are also multiple swing types, and rotating poles. There is also a small section that contains a slightly larger slide and some climbing features. The park is complemented by beautiful views of the waterways, and has covered seating and BBQ’s. 

Equipment:

  • Toddler area
    • cubby house
    • small slide
    • car spring rocker
    • hammock swing
  • 2 swings (no toddler seat)
  • 1 nest swing
  • 1 large geometric climbing structure
  • Starsurfer
  • supernova
  • 2 spinning poles
  • Larger slide and play structure
    • climbing net
    • rockwall to climb up to slide
    • fireman pole
    • see saw
  • large grassed area

Jack liked:

Jack ran straight for the junior area, yelling at me to hurry up – this is always a good sign. He went straight for the little slide, and slid his motorbike down first. He then ventured to the cubby, before moving onto the car rocker. Jack was less than impressed that I had a go on the starsurfer, and the spinning poles, as he demanded that I get down. We moved onto the larger play area where he easily climbed the rockwall to go down the slide. He then got extremely tired and demanded to go home, which cut short our play here – the joys of taking a toddler out!  It’s a great area for those with smaller kids, and I could easily see this being a favourite place for those looking for a birthday BBQ venue during those first few years. 

Riverside Park, Aberfeldie

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Located:

If your kids love the idea of running around a Pirate Ship, then this playground area, located on the banks of the Maribyrnong River, has to be a must visit! Plenty of off-street parking, toilets and BBQ facilities make this play area suitable for an extended stay. The kids can steer the ship, walk the plank, ring the bell and check out the pirates treasure!

What I didn’t realise, was that there are an additional few areas of playground facilities, right next to the Pirate Ship, but unfortunately, time has not been friendly to these areas. I did spot council signs detailing the proposed changes to Riverside Park, and I look forward to coming back and visiting when all the works have been completed – it looks like one awesome playground design!

Equipment:

Pirate Ship Playground

  • Wooden ship, set in sand
  • easy access ramp to get to ship
  • rope ladder
  • timber plank
  • 2 person slide
  • ramp with ladder to pull yourself up
  • tunnel
  • steering wheel
  • 2 bells
  • looking pole

Timber playground, suited for bigger kids

  • run down timber
  • chain ladders
  • slide
  • fireman pole
  • flying fox
  • broken see saw swing

Furthest playground from the ship – suited for toddlers

  • 2 swings, one with toddler harness
  • slide
  • moving bridge
  • steering wheel
  • see saw
  • shop front underneath

Jack liked:

When we parked and got out of the car, Jack immediately noticed all the bird life,and ran straight for them, with his little hands out behind his back. He liked the wooden sculptures of the pelicans  and frogs as well. We went to the pirate ship part, after that. He noticed the monkey above the slide first,and then as we climbed up the ramp, I showed him the bells that he could ring. Unfortunately he was a few centimetres short to ring them himself, so I picked him up to help. He liked investigating the shapes on the side of the ship – the shark, the treasure box and the anchor. He liked the toddler playground, further along, as well. He had a go on the swing, used the steering wheel, and mashed his face against the coloured perspex panel. I look forward to seeing what the redevelopment brings to the areas that have obviously been loved and used for many years.

Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park, Williamstown

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Located:

This playground is located on Battery Road, in Williamstown, which is opposite the footy oval at Cyril Curtain Reserve. On a clear day you can watch the container ships go in and out of port. The playground floor is made of soft fall which is great for those that aren’t quite stable on their feet and it stops the little ones constantly eating tanbark or sand. There are picnic benches, BBQ facilities and even toilets up further. On the day we played, I also took Jack’s balance bike with us, and we headed around the corner and onto the playground near the beach and botanic gardens. Great way to spend the morning.

Equipment:

  • 2 swings, one with toddler seat
  • 2 slides, 1 dual slide
  • rubber compound dolphins
  • pretend binoculars
  • ramp/ stairs/ chain ladder/ fixed wall, rope pull up
  • tic tac toe/ steering wheel/ clock
  • tunnel
  • balance disc walk
  • fireman pole
  • monkey bars
  • fixed bridge/ moving bridge
  • weaving in and out bridge walk
  • spring rockers

Jack liked:

When we first arrived, he headed straight for the fixed binoculars – he had no idea what to do with them, but he had a go. He also sat on the dolphin on the way through to the playground. We’ve played here before when visiting the Mamma Knows West market on at the function centre, at the footy ground, but I didn’t have my camera on me. Jack was more that happy to have another play here, as there is plenty to do. For the first time, he tried doing the bridge walk, where you need to weave around the metal posts, and he managed this quite well. We were here with a handful of other kids (school holidays) so I think he saw someone else and copied. After finishing having a play here, we grabbed the balance bike from the car, and headed along the bike path. We managed a ride all the way to the Botanic Gardens, and only 1/3 of the way back to the car, before Jack just got too tired.