Plenty of playground pleasure
If you’ve got tāmariki in tow this holiday season it’s an absolute must to know where the best playgrounds are.
We’ve got you covered! With several superb playgrounds across the Western Bay, your tāmariki can swing, slide and climb until their heart’s content.
Our District’s playgrounds are designed for kids aged four to 12, however there’s equipment at most of our playgrounds to suit toddlers, so you can take your big and little kids to the same place to burn their holiday energy.
Here are a few of our top playground picks:
Waihī Beach - Island View Reserve playground
Beach lovers will relish the chance to ditch the boogie board for an hour or two to hang out at the Island View playground.
Located off Seaforth Road, this recently established playground has been a crowd pleaser for whānau ever since it opened.
The playground design was inspired by its seaside location, with nautical structures such as a wooden boat, natural materials and plantings, a sandy bottom and shade cloths. It’s also got great access for people with disabilities, with accessible picnic tables and a new public toilet.
Ōmokoroa destination playground
This playground will really give your kids a thrill. Designed to give your tāmariki something to remember, it was rebuilt just two years ago following an award-winning engagement process.
The destination playground is located on the Ōmokoroa foreshore and is a magnet for locals and visitors alike. Featuring a huge tower and slide, swings, trampolines, tunnels, climbing structures and a mouse wheel, your kids can bounce, fly, spin and clamber for hours.
Plus, the playground has great shade for those scorching summer’s days, with a mix of shade cloths and established trees. And for Mum and Dad there’s plenty of seating to enjoy your coffee from the local café… in peace?!
Katikati
Forget avocado on toast, we’ve got an avocado-themed turf at the Katikati playground, which is located in the heart of town across from the Arts Junction and Western Bay Museum.
The playground pays homage to Katikati’s claim of being the avocado capital of New Zealand, with an avocado motif on the artificial turf surrounding the trampoline.
There are plenty of fun play options for your tāmariki, with an in-ground trampoline, climbing frames, a basket swing and percussion instruments.
The playground’s got good access for people with disabilities, plus, anyone fancying a work-out can use the use the exercise equipment in nearby Diggleman Park.
Te Puke – Jubilee Park Destination Playground
If your kids want to take their outdoor play to new heights look no further than Te Puke’s popular playground in Jubilee Park.
One of its key features is a six-metre-high rope climbing tower that resembles a kiwifruit vine, which is a magnet for kids who love to clamber. Plus, there are two flying saucer basket swings, slides, a seesaw, fitness cube and merry-go-round. There’s also a skatepark and basketball half court nearby for the older kids to enjoy and test out their skills.
The playground is located behind New World, so you can even pick up some kai en route. It’s also light on shade, so be sure to wear a hat and slip, slop, slap!
Maketu – Park Road Reserve
Why have a sand pit when you could make a whole sand playground?
That’s the premise behind the playground in Park Road Reserve on the estuary foreshore in Maketu.
The sand play playground – with a safety surface entirely made of sand – gives an added dimension for your tāmariki as they can play on the equipment, or create castles in the sand.
Your kids can explore on the child-sized diggers, pirate’s climbing rope tower, slides, swings, basket swing flying saucer and surfboard.
Paengaroa
The bee-themed playground in Paengaroa Domain will have you and your tamariki buzzing with excitement.
With its beehive-like shape and branding, it’s a hive of activity. It features a two-storey play tower, fire person’s pole, slide, swings, a climbing frame and a grass bank that’s ideal for rolly-pollys.
The playground has a mound around the outside of it, which gives it a lovely enclosed feeling, and may just help prevent adventurous toddlers from roaming!
Pukehina – Midway and Maramarua Park
Are flying foxes and pirate ships still a thing? Why yes my hearty, they are!
Midway Park, with a stunning beachfront playground, has a ‘new-ish’ pirate ship that’ll give your kids hours of fun on their ocean adventures.
There’s also a slide, roundabout, flying saucer basket swing, plus some picnic tables and a grassy area.
