Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park Playground. Photo: Healthy Cities Australia.
When you hear of a mum taking three kids to 20 playgrounds in one day, two questions spring to mind: Why? And, how? Also — seriously, why?
It was somewhere in that “nothing week” between Christmas and New Year’s Day when Warrawong woman Katie Barnes stumbled on Play Illawarra’s 20 Playground Challenge.
The challenge is designed to coax families outside to discover new play spaces in the region, usually over the length of the school holidays.
But when you’re deep in that holiday black hole, when the days become a haze, the date eludes you and the kids are a bit stir-crazy, a better question than Why? might be — Why not?
“We weren’t doing anything, and so we figured — let’s just do it,” Katie says.
The day was not without strategy. They picked their parks — a mix of old faithfuls and fresh discoveries — plotted out their route from Wollongong to Shellharbour and, armed with plenty of snacks and water, rolled out.
From around 10 am to about 5 pm, with an average of about 10 minutes at each park and even swimming lessons in between, they did it — with no regrets (at least, not from the young’uns).
“The kids somehow maintained their excitement for every stop,” Katie says.
“It was something we’d never done before, and it was actually really fun, visiting parks we hadn’t been to in ages or had never seen. You realise there are so many nice parks where we live, but you always go to the same ones.
“My kids are now six, 10 and 15, so it was also nice to visit such a mix of parks. There was something for everyone.”
The Play Illawarra 20 Playground Challenge, managed by Healthy Cities Australia, kicks off again these school holidays, with great prizes to be won.
Healthy Cities Australia Child Health Promotion team leader Michelle Barry says with 270-plus playgrounds and parks in the Illawarra, locals have no shortage of outdoor play spaces to explore when everything else is closed.
“That’s actually a lovely period for a playground day out,” she says. “It’s worth checking out playgrounds a little further out than you’d normally venture.”
One standout is Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park, an expansive, inclusive playground for all ages and abilities, packed with nature and sensory play opportunities, a flying fox, bridges, tunnels, a cubby house, sand and water play areas, climbing nets, slides, accessible play equipment, amenities and even an exercise zone for adults. There’s also a ‘learn to ride’ area adjacent to the playground, a skate park and pump track, netball courts and cricket nets.
Another highlight is the award-winning Cringila Playground and Community Park, which features 12 km of mountain bike trails, tracks catering to different ages and abilities, 3.4 km of gorgeous walking trails, accessible slides and swings and challenging climbing nets and an obstacle course.
But Michelle says many of the lesser-known jewels dotting the length of the region are a great cure for “I’m bored”.
“Jamberoo’s Reid Park Playground is a sweet, all-inclusive playground, and Kiama’s recently upgraded Hindmarsh Park is right in the middle of town, with lovely cafes and ice cream stores around it,” she says.
If shade is a priority in one of the hottest months of the year, hit up Port Kembla’s King George V Oval Playground. Shellharbour’s Little Park is also tipped to get shade sails by the end of the year.
If you’re looking to make a day of it, Michelle suggests considering a playground near a beach.
“Bardsley Park is a lovely one beside Shellharbour Beach, and there’s a cafe right there with yummy, relatively healthy ice cream, and a stunning public artwork of whale tails that kids always love,” she says.
“In the Northern suburbs you have Thirroul Beach Reserve Playground, Bulli Beach Reserve Playground, Nicholson Park in Woonona and Towradgi Beach Park Playground East, all a stone’s throw from beautiful patrolled beaches.”
Other free-to-visit outdoor spaces include Wollongong Botanic Garden, which has its own all-abilities play space, and Nan Tien Temple, which is open Tuesdays to Sundays, including public holidays.
If the weather is not on your side, free indoor options include Wollongong Art Gallery, which is open Tuesdays to Sundays outside of public holidays, or even your local mall.
“Dapto, Shellharbour and Figtree shopping centres all have great play spaces,” Michelle says. “And if all else fails, your local Bunnings should do the trick.”
