The City of Melbourne is renowned for its beautiful parks and gardens. As well, there are over 30 safe and attractive playgrounds to choose from, something for every age group and ability.
This is a guide to these playgrounds, ranging from the simple swing sets at a neighbourhood park, to playgrounds with complex combinations designed to challenge the most adventurous child.
City of Melbourne Maps provides further information regarding the playgrounds listed below, including photos and location.
1. Manningham Street Reserve Playground, Parkville
Let the kids play the traditional way, with timber equipment and grassed areas for other play opportunities. A favourite with all ages.
Playground features: Wooden tower, slide, swing, rockers, stepping posts, grassed areas.
Melway reference 29 C12.
2. Bellair Street Reserve Playground, Kensington
Drop into this handy fenced playground near Macaulay Road shopping centre.
Playground features: Spring rocker, swings, multi level platform structures, slide, picnic table.
Melway reference 2T K5.
3. Robertson Street Reserve Playground, Kensington
Melways reference 2A A4.
4. Parsons Street Reserve Playground, Kensington
Playground features: Multi level platform structures, rockers, swings, slide.
Melways reference 2T K2.
5. Holland Park Extreme Sports Precinct, Holland Park, Kensington
Playground features: BMX track, public toilet, seats, skate bowl ramps, grinding rails.
Melway reference 2T F7.
6. Carlton Gardens North Playground, Rathdowne Street, Carlton
Kids will play all day on this large play structure, based on the concept of a 19th century maze, with everything that opens and shuts, swings, hangs or stands!
Playground features: Cubby with slide, swings, track glide, sandpit, climbing frame, spring see saw, some shade, disabled access, public toilet, basketball court.
Melway reference 2B H11.
7. Canning and Palmerston streets Playground, Carlton
A small, friendly local playground for toddlers and young children - close to cosmopolitan Carlton.
Playground features: play panel and cubby house, some disabled access.
Melway reference 2B J6.
8. Mercantile Parade and Newman Street Playground, Kensington
A small playground in Kensington Banks.
Playground features: Slide, rocker, multi level play structure, sandpit.
Melway reference 42 H3.
9. Gardiner Reserve Playground, Haines Street, North Melbourne
A playground for all ages, with tunnels, bridges and ladders. They‘ll be challenged and have fun for hours.
Playground features: Multi-level play structure, slide, rockers, swings, public toilet, barbecue, picnic table, some shade.
Melway reference 2A F7.
10. Princes Park North Playground, Bowen Crescent, Carlton
Playground features: Rockers, swings, see saw.
Melway reference 29 G11.
11. Ievers Reserve Playground, Flemington Road, Parkville
An attractive grassy setting for parents to relax while children have fun on the fort, slide and other play features. Good for social climbers.
Playground features: Swings, rocker, fort, slide and climbing features, public toilet, lots of shade.
Melway reference 2A K6.
12. Fawkner Park Toddler Playspace, Toorak Road, South Yarra
Playground features: seats, shade, mound, sandpit, climbing boulders, scented plants, succulents, barbecues, picnic settings.
Melway reference 58 A3.
13. Grant Street Reserve Playground, Southbank
Playground features: Slide, sandpit, swing, cube climber, spinner, seats.
Melway reference 2F G10.
14. Flagstaff Gardens Playground, William Street, West Melbourne
City workers come here to relax, but juniors can monkey around on climbing bars or dig in the sandpit, or do the twist on the spiral slide. There‘s so much to do, why not make a day of it?
Playground features: Sandpit with diggers, spiral slide, swings, sandpit, balancing bridges, public toilet, barbecue, picnic table, shade.
Melway reference 2F A2.
15. Riverslide Skate Park, Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne
Playground features: grinding rails, steel and contrete ramps.
Melways reference 2F J10.
16. Princes Park South Playground, Princes Park Drive, Carlton
This large timber playground has plenty for all ages to do. Perfect for little princes and princesses!
Playground features: Tower platforms, sandpits, rockers, see saw, slide, 5-way swing, boardwalk, fitness track, exercise stations, public toilet, barbecue, picnic table, some shade.
Melway reference 2B D1.
17. Liddy Street Reserve Playground, Kensington
Playground features: Multi level play structure, climber, slide, swings, rockers.
Melways reference 2T H2.
18. Lincoln Square Playground, Swanston and Bouverie streets, Carlton
A small, but popular playground for juniors, close to Melbourne University and the Royal Women‘s hospital.
Playground features: Swings, spinners, double slide, public toilet, picnic table, lots of shade.
Melway reference 2B E9.
19. The Crescent Reserve Playground (Basketball Half Court), Kensington
Melways reference 2T E5.
20. Buncle Street Reserve Playground, North Melbourne Community Centre, North Melbourne
Playground features: Basket swing, multi level play structures/climbers, spinner, slide, barbecue, seats, rotunda, netball/basketball half courts, mini soccer pitch.
Melways reference 2A D4.
21. Docklands Park Playground, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
Playground features: Spinning poles, slide, carousel, toilets, barbecues, picnic settings, 5-way swing, sandpit.
Melways reference 2E G8.
22. Newquay Promenade Playground, Palmyra Way, Docklands
Playground features: Climber, play ‘boat’ structure.
Melways reference 2E F3.
23. Mercantile Parade and Tankard Street Playground, Kensington
A small playground in a grassy area of Kensington Banks. Perfect for the littlies on a hot day, with a large shade structure and stockyard style fencing.
Playground features: Swing, see saw, small tower, shade structure, stockyard style fencing.
Melway reference 2T F6.
24. Eades Reserve Playground, Chetwynd Street, West Melbourne
Keeping fit is playing too! This local playground features a range of play equipment, as well as a fitness track that‘s fun for parents and children.
Playground features: Fitness track, slide, rockers, climbing features, lots of shade, basketball half court, some disabled access.
Melway reference 2A K12.
25. Holland Park Playground, Altona Street, Kensington
Ahoy there mateys! A modern adventure playground with a pirate ship and basketball half court. There are good picnic and park facilities for the family.
Playground features: Pirate ship play structure, rocking swing, rocking table, see saw, spinner, public toilet, barbecue, picnic table, swings, track ride, basketball half court, lots of shade.
Melway reference 2T H7.
26. Parkville Gardens Playground, Bunjil Way, Parkville
Playground features: Multi level platforms, sandpit, swings, slides, spinning pole. Barbecue, picnic settings, shade.
Melways reference 29 B10.
27. Fitzroy Gardens Playground, Clarendon Street, East Melbourne
Slide down the dragon’s tail, swing on the giraffe’s ears, see how the dragon glows in the dark! Let their imagination run wild.
Playground features: Dragon slide, sandpit, giraffe swing, public toilet, lots of shade.
Melway reference 2G C2.
28. Fawkner Park North East Playground, Toorak Road, South Yarra
Playground features: Multi level platforms, parallel bars, balance beam, turnover bar
Melway reference 58 B3.
29. Artplay Playground, Birrarung Marr, Melbourne
A colourful and modern play space with plenty of creative and fun things to do. Why not visit Artplay and the Federation Bells as well.
Playground features: Rock and rope climbing features, slides, swinging hammocks, liberty swing for wheelchairs, quiet areas and active play areas, public toilet, picnic table, some shade, disabled access.
Melway reference 2F H6.
30. Kensington Hall Reserve Playground, Bellair Street, Kensington
Playground features: swings.
Melways reference 2T J2.
31. Powlett Reserve Playground, Albert and Grey streets, East Melbourne
A modern playground with excellent creative play opportunities, including tic-tac-toe, warped mirror, chalkboard, swings, squeeze bars and abacus. Rubber and asphalt paths provide great accessibility.
Playground features: Fort tower, sand pit, 4-way spring rocker, swings, tic-tac-toe, chalkboard, public toilet, picnic table, some shade, disabled access, basketball half court.
Melway reference 2G F2.
32. Hawke and Adderley streets Playground, West Melbourne
Toddlers can develop their coordination skills with a variety of play features at ground level, including squeeze bars, abacus and spinning wheel.
Playground features: Slide, tower, rocker, squeeze bars, abacus, spinning wheel, bluestone paths.
Melway reference 2A G12.
33. Fawkner Park Toddler Playspace, Pasley Street, South Yarra
Playground features: Multi level platforms/combination units, swings, slides, rockers, sandpit, spidernet climber, see saw, barbecues, seats, picnic settings, basketball court.
Melway reference 58 B3.
34. Bayswater Road Reserve Playground, Kensington
A fun playground, with equipment for all ages with rubber pathways designed especially for wheelchair access.
Playground features: Swings, rockers, slides, play units with mirror panel, abacus, shop front, clock and steering wheel, rubber pathways, barbecue, picnic table, shade, disabled access.
Melway reference 2T G4.
Park location map
Download City of Melbourne playground location map (.jpg, 719kb) 