Cash-free fun to wear the kids out!
When you need to entertain the kids and are on a low income and tight budget – hit the park! It doesn’t get much simpler – or cheaper – than heading to one of these fab local parks around Wollongong and the Illawarra for hours of fun!
Here’s 10 top kids parks around Wollongong
- A big hit with the kids
150 kids helped design Stuart Park in Wollongong, and they weren’t disappointed with the results!
- Featuring a huge 8.6 metre tower with three twisting tunnel slides, kids love racing one another to the bottom.
- There’s also two flying foxes, spinners, a bike track and swings.
- Perfect for little ones
For toddler time entertainment, head to King George V Reserve in Port Kembla.
- With slides, climbing frames and a spider web all at just the right size for younger children, there’s also options for the big kids too.
- They’ll enjoy the basketball court, bike paths and the large grassy areas.
- This shaded playground has loads of seating and toilets too.
- Colourful and compact fun
Tucked away on Payne Street in Mangerton you’ll find cute little Brownlee Park.
- With equipment including colourful cubby houses, climbing frames, slides and swings, kids of all ages will find something to play on here.
- There’s also a see-saw and kangaroo rocker, spider web climbing net and grassy open space to enjoy.
- Something for everyone
There’s something for everyone at Towradgi Park.
- Right by the ocean and surrounded by open grassy areas and bike paths, both big and little kids are catered to in this award-winning playground.
- The maritime themed playground features climbing ropes, a huge group swing and a six metre long rocket slide.
- Picture-perfect play by the sea
- After a swim at the beach, the kids will love having a play at Thirroul Beach Reserve.
- With soft fall flooring, there’s a scooter track and flying fox plus dish swing and climbing structures.
- And it’s next to the fabulous salt water pool Olympic pool – with free entry!
- Get back to nature
For a relaxing, tranquil spot that will still entertain the kids – head to Wollongong Botanic Garden.
- Here the fenced and shaded playground has a botanical theme and features a giant watering can cubby house.
- The kids will love climbing the large spider web frame and enjoy the spinners, slide, sandpit and the maze.
- Open from 7am to 5pm daily, entry is free, there’s plenty of parking, and even a free shuttle bus from town.
- Head to the Basin
Kids will enjoy the fun in the popular Belmore Basin playground.
- With a see-saw rocker, tandem slide and monkey bars, there’s loads of climbing structures and soft fall flooring for little ones.
- The kids will love keeping an eye out for all the pelicans who frequent this fishing spot.
- Harbourside playtime
Kiama kids will love playing at Hindmarsh Park on the harbour front.
- With large nearby trees for shade, it features a climbing frame with a bridge, wave and tunnel slides and a fireman’s pole.
- There’s also swings, a bike path and grassy open space.
- Set right in the middle of the popular main street, it’s close to shopping and cafes.
- For all abilities
The Pelican Park playground at Reddall Reserve on Lake Illawarra in Shellharbour is for kids of all abilities.
- This dynamic playground has lots of bridges and balancing equipment and has been designed with wheelchair access in mind.
- Great for kids of all ages.
- Designed by kids, for kids!
The Brooks Reach playground in Dapto was designed by kids, ensuring it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
- Planning for the park in this new estate area was done in consultation with a group of 150 kids aged from 5 to 10 years old.
- It includes secret and shady places for cubby building, and thrill seeking spinning, sliding and swinging, as well as an adventure pathway.