Our Top 10 Auckland Playgrounds

January 15, 2016

Here at Global Baby, we are all about spending quality time with our families, and whilst we've had a few weeks off over Christmas we have been around Auckland scoping out some of the fantastic parks and play spaces on offer to us.

In no particular order, here are our top 10 play areas in Auckland.

Let us tell you why….

1. Waterview Reserve
Herdman Street, Waterview

Photo by OurAuckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Auckland's newest, most colourful park. The result of a community working together and designed by children the Waterview Reserve officially opened in December. A mixture of water-play, slides, swings, roundabouts complete with a sports courts there's plenty to keep the kids busy. An abundance of trees have been planted too, when mature they'll provide shade and respite from the elements.

2. St Helier's Bay Playground
Cliff Road, St Heliers

Fully fenced, it leads to a quiet part of the beach and is opposite great cafes, sandwich shops and restaurants serving some amazing food and drinks, and gelato to die for!! You really can spend the whole day there. With plenty of slides, swings, and climbing things and soft matting underfoot, this playground is suitable for toddlers upwards.

*Our favourite café in St Heliers is La Forchette, great coffee with a Hershey's kiss, served by genuine French people.

3. Tui Glen Reserve
2 Claude Brookes Dr, Henderson

Photo: Playgroundprofessionals.com

It's going to be a while before our little toddlers get to play at this park, to be honest we want to play on it!! This park offers a flying fox, 3 high pyramid tepees with a walkway for the brave in between. Must remember this for in about 5 years!!!

4. Sherwood Reserve
82 Glencoe Road, Browns Bay

It's not fenced, and there is a pathway to a pond so maybe not suitable for your runaway toddlers. For the older kids though, they're going to love the amount of space. There are plenty of shaded tables for you to enjoy your picnic too!

5. Butterfly Creek
10 Tom Pearce Dr, Auckland Airport

Another great day out suitable for kids of all ages, currently they have a prehistoric themed attraction featuring more than 40 dinosaurs. With an abundance of animals, a train ride and a huge playground you will not run out of things to do! The kids will Thank you for this trip!! If you're not keen on the entrance fee, the free playground next to the cafe is pretty cool.

6. Ambury farm
43 Ambury Road, Mangere Bridge

Set in the scenic Ambury regional park there is so much space. Get your gum boots on and get out there. There's no farm quite like it, you can get amongst the animals. Pet them, feed them and to be honest, if you're like me you can run away from them too…..it's a farm, not the perfume counter at Smith and Caugheys! There's a bike track, foreshore walk and a walk suitable for pushchairs. With picnic areas and BBQ's you could spend the whole day here.

7. Mitre 10 Mega
72 Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington

Another indoor option for those rainy days, and you may think a little odd. But if you find yourself needing a pack of nails, or a new lawnmower head over to Mitre 10 on Lunn Ave, a warm environment offering a small but quality play area with a slide, the bonus being it's next door to Columbus coffee.

8. Lake Town Green Playground
Jutland Road, Hauraki, North Shore

Photo: playgrounds.co.nz

Such a great playground for toddlers and crawlers. It's fully fenced with soft surfaces and has a sandpit, in-ground trampolines, a huge stone xylophone and a slide set on an artificial hillside. There is plenty of grass too so you have somewhere to sit and relax and let the little ones explore.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HisUd48BQKk

Potters Park
Cnr Balmoral & Dominion Road, Balmoral

Fully fenced, with a water play area that is just perfect for this time of year! Lots of fun for toddlers and big kids alike, with slides, plenty of swings, and even basketball courts. Take your sunblock though, there isn't much shade.

Macleans Park Flying Fox
Macleans Road, Howick

Photo: Nzilla.co.nz
For the older kids with too much energy, drop them off here for an hour or be the one to give them a push! The flying fox at Mcleans, Bucklands Beach/ Howick is superb!

Where are your favourite playgrounds? Let us know in the comments, we're always looking for new places to go!

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