If you saw a photo of this sprawling playground, you'd be forgiven for assuming it was actually an illustration from a fairytale book. But no, it's a real-life adventure wonderland that's opened in Melbourne's outer west, delighting families from near and far with a magical place for the young and young at heart to explore.
Hazelwood Park is a just-opened nature-inspired playground in Aintree, in the western suburbs. The massive park spans 8,000 square metres, and is located within Woodlea Estate. Among its many drawcards, it's been carefully designed to cater to all ages and abilities, making it a community space that's truly for everyone.
The expansive, colourful park features everything a kid could want from a playground, with slides, climbing nets, elevated towers, seesaws, swings and a shaded billabong-inspired waterplay area.
It has been designed to blend in with the surrounding nature, as the playground is nestled among river red gum trees and sprawling wetlands, and hundreds of indigenous plants and wildflowers have been planted to attract local wildlife.
The playground also incorporates sculptural elements inspired by native flora and fauna, like giant dragonflies and flowers. Plus, there are whimsical hidden features for kids to discover to inspire their imagination, like tiny magic fairy doors dotted around the park.
The playground is totally inclusive, so everyone from the littlest of kids to grandparents can play together. There are accessible points for wheelchair users and prams, as well as quiet retreat and sensory zones for neurodivergent folk, so it is genuinely a community space that everyone can enjoy.
Hazelwood Park essentially sounds like the playground of our inner child's dreams. Even better, it's just 40 minutes by car from Melbourne's CBD. To find out more, check out the website.
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