January is often one of those months when you can start to scramble for things to entertain children on school holidays or friends or relatives visiting; especially activities that don’t hit your hip pocket.
One of the things the Illawarra is blessed with is an abundance of playgrounds that cater to not just all ages, but also varying abilities.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of nine playgrounds for you to explore in the Illawarra this summer covering each of the three local government areas.
Wollongong
The all abilities playground at Stuart Park. Photo: Jen White.
Stuart Park Playground, Wollongong
One of Wollongong’s most popular playgrounds, Stuart Park is only a short distance from Wollongong’s city centre and North Beach. It offers equipment for all ages, including an 8.6-m-high Sky Tower, with three giant tube slides, two flying foxes, swings, a cubbyhouse, and sound bells. A small bike track also means you can bring a bike, skateboard or scooter. Stuart Park also includes the All Ages All Abilities Playground. While this playground is for everyone, it was inspired by and built for adults with a disability and includes a trampoline big enough for a wheelchair, multiple swings to cater to different ages and needs covered by a large shade sail, Wollongong’s first human-sized mouse wheel and Paperbark Forest Maze that offers a sensory experience through natural elements.
Location: Cliff Rd, Wollongong
Facilities:
- Toilets nearby
- Barbecues around the foreshore
- Bubbler
- Picnic table
- Seating
- Cafe
Wollongong Botanic Garden playground. Photo: Kellie O’Brien.
Wollongong Botanic Garden Playground
This all abilities gated playground near the Murphy Avenue entrance to the Wollongong Botanic Garden is aimed at two- to 12-year-olds. It features a sandpit, slippery dip, climbing net, viewing platform, a gravel maze and a giant watering can kids can explore. It also includes an edible herb garden along the southern wall and looks out to the duck pond, which is always popular. Not to mention, you also have the ability to explore the gardens themselves.
Location: 40 Murphys Ave, Keiraville
Facilities:
- Accessible toilets nearby
- Picnic tables
- Barbecue
- Gardens
Cringila Hills Playground. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Cringila Hills Playground
Within the Cringila Hills Recreation Park, which Wollongong City Council is transforming into a community space for playing, walking and bike riding, is an inclusive playground designed for children of all abilities. Built in 2022, it features a giant book that tells the story of Gudgad the Greedy Frog, with a Braille version also available at the playground. Other features include a wheelchair accessible sway fun glider, nest swing, special needs swing, water play, climbing net, obstacle course and musical instruments. There is also a Braille map of the playground. The area has an asphalt pump track, mountain bike skills playground, mountain bike trails and walking trails.
Location: 21 Lackawanna St, Cringila
Facilities:
- Seating
- Shade
- Toilets
- Bubbler
Shellharbour
Red Lamp Park at Reddall Reserve in Lake Illawarra. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Red Lamp Park, Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra
It’s hard to miss this big red accessible playground, tailored for teens to toddlers and all abilities. Located on the foreshore of Lake Illawarra, the design was inspired by the local story of The Red Lamp. It features an 8-m-high cube multi-tower with rope bridge to turret podium, various slides from twisting tunnel slides to wide slides, a quad swing set, 25-m double flying fox with inclusive seat, musical sensory panels, inclusive carousel and inground trampolines. A short walk away along the same strip of Reddall Reserve is the now fully fenced Pirate Playground.
Location: 1 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
Facilities:
- Barbecue
- Bubbler
- Cycleway
- Picnic table
- Shower
- Sun protected areas
- Toilets nearby
Gun-man-gang, also known as Windang Island, is represented by a hand-carved timber whale at the Yirran Muru Aboriginal interpretive playspace. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Yirran Muru
The awards have kept coming for this Aboriginal interpretive playspace. Yirran Muru is located at the back of the civic centre in Shellharbour City and allows users to discover the cultural heritage of the region. It is an accessible, inclusive space that is itself a map of traditional travel routes, inviting users on a cultural journey, following in the footsteps of Aboriginal people across Dharawal country. Important Illawarra landmarks are represented by specific play elements within the playspace. It was co-designed with the Aboriginal community.
Location: Cygnet Ave, Shellharbour City
Facilities:
- Toilets are located on the ground floor of Shellharbour Civic Centre.
Little Park in Shellharbour Village. Photo: Shellharbour City Council.
Little Park, Shellharbour Village
Overlooking the harbour in Shellharbour Village, Little Park is a popular spot for grabbing some fish ‘n’ chips, having a paddle in the harbour and enjoying the play equipment. The playspace caters to different ages, with a highlight the remnant of a large fig tree, which has a rope bridge to traverse and ramp to walk to it in the centre. There’s also a flying fox, log steppingstones, inground trampoline, musical instruments and nature play areas.
Location: Wollongong St, Shellharbour Village
Facilities:
- Barbecue
- Bubbler
- Cycleway
- Picnic table
- Seating
- Sun protected areas
- Toilets within a close walking distance
Kiama
Hindmarsh Park was redeveloped last year. Photo: Kiama Municipal Council.
Hindmarsh Park Kiama
This newly renovated park in Kiama’s town centre, has long been a great spot for family picnics and playground fun for children. Last year, the park received a major upgrade which included towers with rope climbing, bridges, an inclusive trampoline, different types of swings, an embankment slide with transfer station, inclusive seesaw and accessible carousel. There is also new picnic furniture and shelters, a sensory trail, toddler play features and sand and water play. There was also an upgrade to the Orr Kelly Stage.
Location: Terralong St, Kiama
Facilities:
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Seating
- Bubbler
- Shaded areas
Coronation Park at Kiama. Photo: Kiama Municipal Council.
Coronation Park, Kiama
This park overlooks the patrolled Surf Beach Kiama, and is next to the location for the popular Kiama Farmers Market held every Wednesday. The park is among one of the parks that received maintenance late last year and features a play gym with slides, ramps, swings and climbing elements.
Location: Manning St, Kiama
Facilities:
- Accessible toilet
- Barbecue
- Picnic table
- Seating
- Shade sail
- Shower
Old School Park, also known as Gerringong Park, is in the centre of town. Photo: Healthy Cities Illawarra.
Old School Park (Gerringong Park)
Located in the Gerringong town centre, it offers a fully shaded playground and large grassy space. It underwent an upgrade which saw new equipment. This included an adventure/climbing station including a commando tube, an ‘O’ challenge ladder, a counter panel, slide and stairs and a two-bay swing set. A climbing structure includes a rock climbing and bouldering panel, tyre climber and zig-zag ladder.
Location: 108 Fern St, Gerringong
Facilities:
- Accessible toilet
- Picnic tables
- Shade areas
- Toilets
- Cafes across the street
Bonus park:
And a bonus park for you to explore a little outside the Illawarra is Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park in Berry. Previously known as Berry District Park, it was developed with an early childhood space, youth zone and exercise zone. There’s also a learn-to-ride track, pump track, illuminated skate park, netball courts and cricket nets.
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