Top Playgrounds & Parks / Illawarra
Wollongong & Illawarra’s BEST playgrounds! What’s on in Wollongong, Parents Guide Illawarra and Play Illawarra have all agreed on our best local parks. Discover our playgrounds by the ocean, kids bike trails and local nature parks. We recommend three best playgrounds for all ages, best playgrounds for toddlers, a Shellharbour Playground you can’t miss. Plus our top three feature playgrounds.
Play and time in nature is the best for our kids (and us parents and carers!). We hope this list inspires you…
Best Illawarra Parks for All Ages
Cringila Playground and Community Park – Lackawanna St, Cringila
With accessible swings and slides, climbing nets and an epic BMX track, this playground is brilliant for the whole family! Take in the great scenery at one of the surrounding walking trails, have a splash in the water play or brave the exciting pump track. Kids of all ages are sure to love this one!
What we love about it:
- 12km of mountain bike trails
- Tracks catering to different ages and abilities
- 3.4km of gorgeous walking trails
- Amazing accessible slides and swings
- Challenging fun with the climbing nets and obstacle course
Find all the info about this playground visit here
McDonald Park Playground – Tongarra Rd, Albion Park Rail
Affectionately known as the Cow playground! For children small and big, this developing sport and play precinct really has something for everyone! With great seating, toilets and BBQ facilities, alongside the play and fitness opportunities, you’ll see why we love this playground so much!
What we love about it:
- Variety of graded play opportunities for all age ranges and abilities
- An exciting ninja warrior course
- Engaging fitness equipment
- A great learn to ride track
- A nature play trail to spark the imagination
- Netball courts and open green space for ball games
Find all the info about this playground visit here
Dimond Brothers Reserve Playground – Bong Bong Rd, West Dapto
Dimond Brothers Reserve Playground is a scenic playground for all ages! With gorgeous views of the escarpment, a skate park and fun play equipment, all together in one location, what’s not to love? Opposite this playground is Reid park, a fenced, off-leash dog-friendly park, so even your furry friends can get involved!
What we love about it:
- Skate park
- Water play elements
- Nest swing
- Climbing areas
- Fitness equipment
- Play equipment with slides
Find all the info about this playground visit here
Best Playgrounds for Toddlers
Lakeside Drive Reserve, Kanahooka Playground – Lakeside Dr, Kanahooka
Designed with the help of local school children, this playground is the perfect spot for young children! Featuring fun climbing structures, slides and a shared pathway, there’s so much to do!
What we love about it:
- Trampolines
- Flying fox
- BBQ area and shaded picnic tables
- Water play
- Gorgeous lake views
- Specific toddler play space including boat and ice cream truck
- Local shops nearby
Find all the info about this playground visit here
King George V Oval Playground – Cowper St, Port Kembla
This playground is much loved by younger ones, with colourful equipment, fun slides and so many climbing opportunities! Just a short distance from Port Kembla Beach and local sports grounds, play can be endless!
What we love about it:
- Multiple swings including a nest swing
- Accessible parking spaces
- 5 different types of slides on one play equipment
- Close to local sports grounds and across from the pool
- Softfall flooring and shade
Find out all the info about this playground visit here
Reid Park Playground – Allowrie St, Jamberoo
This modern playground ticks all the boxes in the everyone can play guidelines. This park is great for little ones, in a scenic spot covered in an abundance of natural shade from the gorgeous trees!
What we love about it:
- Baby and toddler swing
- Sensory play equipment including water play
- Gyro spinner and balance beam
- Cubby house
- Backs onto Kevin Walsh Oval, and within easy walking distance to Jamberoo village
Find all the info about this playground visit here
Got a toddler who is a runner!? Click here for more best gated playgrounds for toddlers in Wollongong & Illawarra.
Wollongong & Illawarra’s BEST Playgrounds
Hindmarsh Park Playground – Terralong St, Kiama
Hindmarsh Park Playground is in the perfect location, situated in the heart of Kiama’s main road, in just a short distance to the beautiful Black Beach. With so much great accessible play equipment and activities, it’s hard to list all of our favourites!
What we love about it:
- An inclusive trampoline
- An accessible carousel and see saw
- Musical play equipment and a sensory trail
- Rock and net climbing
- Unique polished concrete slides
- BBQ and bubblers, with toilets nearby
- Sand play with a sand digger, and an accessible sand digger
Find all the info about this playground visit here
Reddall Reserve Playground – Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
This playground is perfect for the whole family, offering a large grass area with plenty of picnic tables and shelters, BBQ’s and fitness equipment alongside the playground. With a super fun ninja exercise park, zip lines (with an inclusive seat) and a music play area, everyone is sure to have fun!
What we love about it:
- Unique 360° nest swing
- Fun fitness equipment- the whole family can get involved in movement
- Climbing features and a ninja exercise park, perfect for a challenge!
- Kiosk and public toilets within walking distance
- Natural sand play and next to the beach
Find all the info about this playground visit here
Stuart Park Playground – Cliff Rd, Wollongong
Stuart Park is Wollongong’s inclusive beachside playground and has been built with everyone in mind, offering equipment for all ages and abilities, and an abundance of fun features for the whole family! Inspired by and built for adults with a disability, this playground is an All Ages All Abilities Playground.
What we love about it:
- Flying foxes, climbing nets and a huge 8.6m Sky Tower
- Multiple playgrounds, including a sensory garden, wheelchair accessible trampoline and a human-size hamster wheel!
- A marked bike track
- Shady spots and picnic shelters
- Only a short walk to the beach and lagoon
- Inclusive play, with a liberty swing, nest swing, hammock and reclining swing!
Find all the info about this playground visit here
Read more of Illawarra & Wollongong best playgrounds from Parents Guide.
Indigenous Dharawal Country Inspired Playground
Yirran Muru Play Space – Cygnet Ave, Shellharbour City Centre
This very special playspace was co-designed by Shellharbour City Council and the local Aboriginal Community and is a map of the traditional travel routes taken in Dhawaral Country. The features of the playground replicate the seasonal movements of the Dhawaral people. This playground does not have traditional play equipment of swings and slides, but instead fosters connection and nature, with an awareness of local Dharawal culture.
What we love about it:
- Beautiful sandpit
- Huge climbing wall- requiring supervision at all times
- Gorgeous natural feel, with so many spaces to explore
- Designed to challenge children physically and mentally
- Fosters imagination, cultural understanding and community
Find all the info about this playground visit here
As we celebrate the power of play today, let’s commit to keeping it in our lives every day. Play strengthens families, builds community and helps children grow into curious, confident learners. Whether it’s swinging at your local playground, climbing something new, or laughing together under the sun, play matters.
Ready to explore? Download your free ‘Top 10 Illawarra Playgrounds’ list below and start making space for play, every single day. Top 10 Playgrounds-IllawarraDownload
Written by Emma Kidd on behalf of Play Illawarra an initiative of Healthy Cities Australia. Their goal is to support playful, active, accessible, and healthy activities for the community. This article has been shared in What’s in Wollongong so more of community get to play, everyday!
For more local Illawarra & Wollongong what’s on for kids and families inspiration, discover Best Things to do to with Kids Wollongong
After even more awesome, local playground inspo? Check out our ultimate articles and guides to the best playground for your child no matter their age or stage, over at our sister site, Parents Guide Illawarra here
What’s on for Kids School Holidays Wollongong & Illawarra
We’ve found the best Wollongong, Shellharbour and Illawarra School Holiday programs, events, activities & low-cost kids holiday FUN. The school holidays come round so quickly, but fun school holiday ideas await! Read on for our best What’s on for Kids School Holiday Guide.
If you are looking for even more kid-friendly, fun (and free) activities to do in the Illawarra, check out our Fun Places To Take Kids page on our sister site Parents Guide Illawarra HERE.
Finally, make the most of family life in our stunning Illawarra – Subscribe to the ultimate guide to family living weekly email by Parents Guide Illawarra – Say NO to bored kids and get inspired! Click and sign up for our Parents Newsletter here. Get all the local inspo!
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