The best playgrounds in Melbourne

Whether you're organising an epic dodgeball match or bored with your local swingset, this super-playground surrounded by a huge grassy area under the Bolte Bridge has you covered. Expect loads of sand, diggers, swings and a water play area with pumps, fountains and mini waterfalls. The tunnel slides are a standout, second only to the giant wooden teepee that looks like an alien creature with slides for arms.

This sprawling Parkville playground has been named the best in Australia, and certainly lives up to its hype. Located on the green site of the former Children's Hospital, Royal Park Nature Play is packed with rocky terraces, slides, swings and climbing ropes, perfect for little monkeys. Bonus: there are beautiful trees, gullies and grasslands to explore, plus some pleasant city views.

Hidden away off Neptune Street, this huge playground is the stuff kids' dreams are made of. There's a flying fox, giant pirate ship, submarine and basketball court, plus trampolines, swings and a great loopy tunnel slide to top it off.

This is a fantastic opportunity to instil city kids with a love of plants and respect for the environment. They can get their hands dirty gardening, splash around in the water feature, play hide-and-seek in the bamboo forest or climb the tree tower.

Fitzroy Adventure Playground, known to locals as Cubbies, is a haven for inner city kids who don’t have access to a large backyard. In 2017, Cubbies installed a new playscape called Coal Flowers – an installation featuring five poles topped with flower-shaped pods made of steel and rubber sourced from coal mine conveyor belts. These 'flowers' are attached to 25 solar panels, which generate electricity for Cubbies and feed into the power grid.

Hays Paddock Park is lauded as one of Melbourne's original and most inclusive parks, thanks to its very accessible playground. Wide wooden ramps wind around the equipment, and there are braille and sign language instructions throughout the playground. Colourful shade tops cover swings, slides and see-saws, alongside a large rope-climbing frame and an interactive sandpit.

This parklet located on the NewQuay Promenade combines landscaping and public art with great success. Taking inspiration from Melbourne’s CBD and architectural monuments, the sculptures are solid concrete interpretations of Melbourne buildings. Kids can clamber and climb up the colourful sculptures and they also provide shade. 

You don't need to take out a mortgage to entertain the kids in Melbourne. There are plenty of free and inexpensive activities to delight the little ones.