YES! We’ve got a brilliant new playground on the Central Coast – and this one gets SO much right.
Guys, we’re excited about this one, and we know you will be too. Not simply because this playground is big and shiny and new, but because the equipment is interesting and engaging and DIFFERENT. This is the kind of equipment that encourages your kids to stay and explore and play for AGES.
And because it ticks so many of the boxes we want to see in playgrounds, it's the kind of place that parents want to stay and explore and play at for ages too.
It’s fully fenced. There’s shade. There’s water play. There are BBQs inside the fenced area. There are sheltered picnic tables, water refill stations and loads of seating. There’s equipment for toddlers, primary kids and tweens. And there are some fantastic accessible play elements too.
Yep: tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. This park gets a high five and “thank you for making our lives a little easier” note from us parents.
Once the toilets arrive, this place is going to be a sure-fire winner for parties – and we reckon it’ll see more than its fair share of “Happy Birthday” renditions, mud cakes and 20 kids running around on a sugar high.
But, let's get back to that equipment... because that's where the fun really is.
This is NOT your cookie-cutter playground – there’s some seriously fun equipment here
We all get a little bored with cookie-cutter playgrounds, don't we? There's not much worse than visiting a brand-new park only to feel like you've played on it six times before.
Well, that's not going to happen here.
Take the giant possum. She's adorable! But she's not just a cute sculptural piece plonked in the middle of the playground for decoration. She's made for climbing. Kids can scramble up and over her using the bouldering holds – which is pretty perfect given that possums love scrambling too.
Then there’s the tall tower slide – a great challenge for kids. The long enclosed slide can only be reached by climbing your way up the rope net. No easy staircase to the top here, kids. If you want that slide, you’ve got to earn it!
And then there are the giant double hamster wheels.
These were hilarious. Multiple kids were piling in, running like mad, laughing, giggling and inevitably losing their footing and toppling over before jumping straight back in for another go.
Accessible play equipment – including a wheelchair flying fox!
Another massive win is the flying fox.
There's a traditional flying fox alongside a wheelchair-accessible flying fox, and we haven't seen one of these at another Central Coast playground.
And here's what we really loved: it wasn't viewed as the piece of “accessible equipment” off to the side. Everyone wanted a go. So much so that we couldn't get a snap of it.
Kids of different ages and abilities were absolutely loving it because – again – it's different. And isn't that exactly what great inclusive play should look like? Equipment that allows more kids to join in, while also being exciting enough that everyone wants to play on it.
You'll find that thinking elsewhere too, with an accessible carousel, rocker, double swing set with a standard seat, toddler seat and an all-ability harness. Plus connected concrete pathways, rubber softfall and low-level sensory play.
Toddlers will LOVE the water play
We absolutely love the inclusion of the water play area.
Because while there are some very welcome shade sails over the main play area, you can bet your bottom dollar this place is going to get stinking hot in summer.
When we visited, the toddlers were ALL IN on the water play.
There are pumps, channels and a big water table where kids can pump, pour, splash and generally get themselves thoroughly wet. It was packed with little ones – and we can see this being one of the playground's biggest drawcards through the warmer months.
Parent tip: bring spare clothes. Possibly a towel.
There’s genuinely something for all ages here
This is another reason Lake Munmorah Recreation Precinct gets a big thumbs up from us.
So often a playground claims to cater for “all ages” when what it really means is there's a toddler slide and a slightly taller slide. This one actually does.
Little kids have water play, toddler swings, sensory panels, lower-level activities and an easy-to-access slide. Primary-aged kids can tackle the big multi-level play structure, bridges, climbing walls, swings and slides. And older kids and tweens get equipment that actually asks something of them – the rope climbing tower and high slide, flying fox and more challenging climbing elements.
There are balance logs too, plus a bird's-nest group swing and plenty of opportunities to climb, swing, scramble, spin and generally burn through some energy.
If you've got siblings with a decent age gap, this is a particularly good playground.
Playing in Puddles' Verdict
This is the kind of new playground we get excited about.
It's big, yes. But big doesn't automatically mean good. What makes Lake Munmorah work is that there's variety, challenge and some genuinely interesting equipment here.
The possum is cute and playable. The hamster wheels had kids in hysterics. The wheelchair flying fox was being enjoyed by kids of all ages and abilities. The water play was crawling with delighted toddlers.
And – Hallelujah! – the practical stuff has been thought about too: fencing, shade, BBQs, sheltered tables, seating and proper paths.
This one ticks the boxes for kids AND parents. It’s fun, it’s different and it’s absolutely worthy of a drive. Lake Munmorah, you’ve got a winner.
Lake Munmorah Recreation Precinct Playground, Doyalson North
Ages: A park that genuinely caters for toddlers through to tweens.
Fenced: Yes – the playground is fully fenced.
Shade: Large shade sails cover much of the main junior play area and swings. The flying fox and some of the larger climbing equipment are unshaded.
Groundcover: Rubber softfall, mulch and concrete pathways.
Accessible equipment: Wheelchair-accessible flying fox; accessible carousel and rocker; low-level sensory/activity play.
Facilities: Sheltered picnic tables, BBQs, seating, water refill station, bins.
Toilets: Not yet. Public toilets are planned as part of the next stage of the precinct.
Coming soon: A district-level skatepark, pump track and public toilets are planned as the precinct continues to be developed, with the overall project expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Parking: Dedicated car park with 86 spaces, including six accessible parking spaces.
Location: Tall Timbers Road, Doyalson North. Enter opposite Chisholm Avenue.
Parent Tip: Pack spare clothes if your little one loves water play.
Header image ©Playing in Puddles.
Looking for more playgrounds? Check out our Central Coast Playground Map, with 100+ local playgrounds reviewed by Playing in Puddles to help you find your next favourite.
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
