When we think of playgrounds for toddlers we think of one key thing – FENCES. Anything else is pretty much a bonus! We also look for tot-accessible play equipment, toilets, soft-fall surfaces and, even better, a nice shaded space. These things are not always possible to find (why don’t ALL playgrounds have fences ALL the way around?!), but the parks we’ve included on this list are sure to give you – and your kids – a day of fun. You’ll find these parks scattered across the Central Coast – from Patonga to Gorokan.
Without further ado, here, in no particular order, are 12 fabulous toddler parks on the Central Coast.
PS. You’ll find a map of all of these parks at the end of this feature. We recommend you bookmark this page, so you can refer to it whenever you’re wondering, “Where should we go today?”
1. PATONGA CAMPING GROUND PLAYGROUND, BRISBANE WATER NATIONAL PARK
This is one of those fabulous parks that has been a bit of a local secret. During school holidays it’s busy with bare-foot campers, but mid-week during term time you’re likely to get the place all to yourself. Yes, it’s located within the camp ground, but it’s part of Brisbane Waters National Park and everyone is welcome to use this beautiful space (we rang the camp ground to triple check this point).
This space has BBQ facilities, sheltered tables, a large grassed area perfect for both picnicking and cricket, toilets, and – wait for it – coffee! The camp-ground reception doubles as a kiosk, and they have an espresso machine and Piazza D’Oro Sustainable Original beans. Everyone cheer! They also sell ice-creams, lollies and other special-treat items, and if you forget lunch they’ll put a pie or sausage roll in the oven for you. Just make sure you order ahead of the “I’m hungry” whinges, as they don’t have them heated in advance, so it’s a good 20 minutes before they’re ready (yes, it’s a wait, but it means you don’t get a crisp dried-out pie, so that’s a positive in our books).
The park isn’t fenced, but it’s a good distance to the road, and within the camp ground everyone is supposed to drive very slowly. The park is partly shade-clothed and the climbing frame is shaded by the trees in the morning. Young tots will love the wooden pirate ship, swings, slippery dips (there are three!), bridge and sand.
Patonga Camping Ground Playground
What we love: Everything – toilets, BBQs, playground and coffee – are all within 50m of each other.
What we wish we could change: The shade cloths could be extended to cover more of the play equipment.
Camp-ground Kiosk Hours: Every day 8am-4pm. The coffee machine is switched off at 3.30pm.
Location: The end of Bay Street, Patonga.
2. THE ROTARY PARK AND PARKLIFE COFFEE KIOSK, TERRIGAL
Terrigal’s Rotary Park playground is a firm Playing in Puddles favourite, as it ticks so many things on our wish list. It has BBQ facilities, sheltered picnic tables and play equipment, easy parking, and it has Parklife – a cafe located INSIDE the fenced play area.
The fenced off play area is huge and includes a large grassed area as well as the playgrounds. The beautiful wooden ship begs pirates of all ages to walk its plank, play peek a boo from its port hole and to man the wheel across the seas.
The play equipment includes flying fox, round-about, toddler play set, swings, an expression swing, group swing and a large play structure complete with bouldering wall, slippery dip and rope climbs.
The Parklife Coffee cafe sells single origin coffee and a heap of great breakfast and lunch options.
In 2020 this park got a fabulous upgrade: shade cloths were installed over the play equipment and additional softfall groundcover was laid.
The Rotary Park and Parklife Coffee Kiosk, Terrigal
What we love: You don’t even have to leave the fenced play area to order your coffee!
What we wish we could change: Not much; this park is pretty ace.
Parklife Pop-up Coffee Kiosk Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-3pm.
Location: 11 Terrigal Drive, Terrigal.
Click here to read our full review of the Rotary Park and Parklife Coffee.
3. THE PENINSULA RECREATION PRECINCT, UMINA
This park has everything! It has a fenced and shaded playground for toddlers. It has multiple playgrounds. It has a bike and scooter track plus a dirt-bike track, pump track and skate park. It has barbecues, sheltered picnic tables, and toilet facilities. It has a kiosk! And it’s opposite the beach, so you can tie your park play in with a swim. As we said, it has everything!
The toddler area is one giant sandpit. The rope net and sandstone blocks will attract littlies keen to perfect their balancing skills, while the cubby house and pirate ship invite hours of imaginative play. There’s also a swing set, a rocking whale, and a slippery dip – and it’s all under the cover of multiple shade cloths and trees.
Jasmine Greens Kiosk is conveniently located just outside the fenced toddler area, so you can still watch over your kids while you order a coffee. You’ll find a menu with a lean to the healthy, such as vegan bean nachos and activated umeboshi rice balls, but there’s also baklava, gelato and, of course, coffee. We love the slinky apples for kids.
The Peninsula Recreation Precinct, Umina
What we love: The multiple play spaces mean toddlers don’t have to compete with older kids for time on the equipment.
What we wish we could change: Hmmm, this place pretty well has it all.
Food: Jasmine Greens Kiosk is open daily from 7am-4pm (closed on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.).
Location: The corner of Sydney Avenue and The Esplanade in Umina.
Click here to read our full review of the Peninsula Recreation Precinct at Umina
4. THE LIBERTY PLAYGROUND AT SALTWATER CREEK RESERVE, LONG JETTY
If you’re looking for a shaded and fully fenced park aimed at toddlers this one is a real winner. The ground is soft-fall and sand, so they won’t be getting covered in dirt. They will, of course, get covered in sand, but that’s kind of the idea of this place. Tots are encouraged to tip sand onto spinning wheels, to fling it onto a conveyor belt and to dig, dig, dig. We recommend you bring some spades and buckets to avoid constant reprimands to “share”.
The space is also equipped with toddler swings, a slippery dip, a set of drums to bash and a Liberty Swing for children in wheelchairs.
BBQ facilities and picnic tables are close by, so it can get a little busy with weekend kids' parties.
The Liberty Playground at Saltwater Creek Reserve, Long Jetty
What we love: It’s super easy to supervise your kids here.
What we wish we could change: Don’t forget your snack packs. You won’t find any food or coffee shops near here.
Location: Cnr Central Coast Highway and Tuggerah Parade, Long Jetty.
Click here to read our full review of Liberty Park at Long Jetty.
5. BATEAU BAY COMMUNITY HALL PLAYGROUND
Tree-covered parks are few and far between, so we were very excited to find this fully fenced toddler park nestled beneath gums in Bateau Bay. Shade cloths are wonderful, but nothing beats the shade of a canopy of trees.
The equipment here is very much aimed at tiny tots. Kids even as young as four will tire of it pretty quickly, and that’s exactly why it makes our list. There are so few playgrounds that cater solely to kids 3 and under. This is a space you can bring little ones knowing they shouldn’t get trampled by older, bolder and far more energetic big kids.
Bateau Bay Community Hall Playground
What we love: It’s a park purely for tiny tots.
What we wish we could change: Council, please unlock the toilets and make them available for everyone.
Location: Corner of Rushby St & Bateau Bay Rd, Bateau Bay.
Click here to read our full review of the Community Hall Playground in Bateau Bay.
6. BUSHLANDS RESERVE PLAYGROUND AND BIKE TRACK, SPRINGFIELD
This is one of those parks that defies ALL the rules. It doesn’t have anything from our wish list. It doesn’t have toilets or shade, fencing, or food. It’s neither shiny and new nor natural and imaginative. It’s just a hell of a lot of fun and our kids LOVE it. Why? For one very simple reason: it has the LONGEST slippery dip on the Central Coast.
Hold onto your pants, cause this slide gives you a rip-roaring ride. Many children have been launched off its end, only to land with a thud, giggle and then race to the top to do it again. And again. And again.
The toddler bike track here is also a bit of a winner. It’s a simple figure 8 with a few small obstacles, so it’s perfect for kids who are learning.
Bushlands Reserve Playground, Springfield
What we love: Watching the sheer joy our kids get as they zoom down the slide.
What we wish we could change: Ummm, where do we start? Some shade would be lovely. A toilet block would be fab. This park is great in terms of equipment: they just forgot about everything else.
Location: 7 Bushlands Ave, Springfield (corner of Bushlands Avenue and Springfield Road).
Click here to read our full review of Springfield’s Bushlands Reserve.
7. VERA’S WATER GARDEN AND THE ENTRANCE FORESHORE
The Entrance foreshore is far more than a park: it’s more like a mini carnival for kids. We can happily spend an entire day here flitting from one free play space to the next.
Vera’s Water Garden is the real drawcard and we wish, wish, wish there were more public water fountains and pools such as this on the Central Coast. The colourful statues and spurting fountains make it the perfect toddler pool and it’s always packed with giggling cherubs on hot summer days.
Once the kids have cooled off they’ll be eager to hit up the playground. There are two play areas along the waterfront. One is located between the water fountain and permanent carnival area (the one with the historic carousel) and includes a couple of climbing frames, round-a-bout, and – what your toddler will really love – four in-ground mini trampolines.
The second play area is located on the other side of Memorial Park – next to The Entrance Visitor Centre. This playground isn’t one we’d recommend on its own as it’s pretty basic, but when tied in with the other activities, it adds to the day’s adventure. It is fenced and shaded, so that’s a bonus.
And to round out the day, head to Pelican Plaza for Pelican Time. It takes place every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as on public holidays (with the exception of Christmas), and every day during the school holidays, at 3:30pm
Vera’s Water Garden and The Entrance Foreshore Playgrounds
What we love: Vera’s Water Garden is summer fun at its best.
What we wish we could change: A cafe right alongside the playground would make this place hard to beat.
Location: The Entrance foreshore.
8. WALLARAH POINT PEACE PARK, GOROKAN
Your kids’ eyes will pop out of their little heads as they approach the brightly coloured play equipment at Wallarah Point Peace Park in Gorokan! Not only does it include super fast double slides, but a whole array of other fun obstacles and structures.
The park is loaded with play equipment suitable for our littlest people, including a ramp and bridge, find-the-pairs and tic-tac-toe games, a rock climbing wall, and a net swing. Park designers have also considered that the large double slide may be a little daunting for young ones, so they’ve included a mini slide better suited to tiny tots.
The playground is fully fenced so parents of escape artists can breathe a sigh of relief, plus there’s plenty of shade provided by shade cloths and nearby trees which will provide some relief in the warmer months.
Wallarah Point Peace Park
What we love: The bright colours AND that it’s fully fenced – wahoo!
What we wish we could change: There’s not much if we’re honest – this one is a dead-set favourite!
Location: 1 The Corso, Gorokan.
9. THE WAIRAKEI ROAD PLAYGROUND AT WAMBERAL
This park is surrounded by mature gums, which makes it an excellent option in summer when most other playgrounds are baking in the heat. Most of it is fenced, so it’s tops if you have a child who likes to do a runner.
The equipment is suitable for toddlers, so parents can take up a spot on the grass or at one of the surrounding picnic tables knowing that the kids can happily amuse themselves. This is a popular spot for mothers' groups mid-week and kids' birthday parties come the weekend.
Wairakei Road Playground at Wamberal
What we love: It has natural shade and grass, which makes it lovely for supervising carers.
What we wish we could change: There are no food or coffee options within cooee of here, so come pre-caffeinated and bring snacks.
Location: 25 Wairakei Rd, Wamberal.
10. ILLOURA RESERVE PLAYGROUND, DAVISTOWN
Ahoy, little pirates! There's a fabulous pirate ship waiting to be conquered at Illoura Reserve Playground in Davistown, and plenty of fun for the littlest crew members too!
This fully fenced waterfront playground is a winner for toddlers, with bucket swings, a parent-and-child swing (so you can swing together!), a small slide, interactive play panels and some very cute crocodile and dolphin sculptures to clamber over. And all ages will love exploring the pirate ship.
And when the kids have had their fill of playground fun, there's a shallow tidal swimming enclosure just metres away for a splash and paddle. Pack the swimmers and make a morning of it!
There are toilets, covered picnic tables, BBQs and grassy spots for a picnic. Just be aware that much of the playground is in full sun, so hats and sunscreen are a must.
Pirate Ship Park Davistown
What we love: A pirate ship by the sea, sea, sea. What's not to love. Oh, and the tidal pools and ducks.
What we wish we could change: In summer this place absolutely bakes. Shade sails pretty please.
Location: Illoura Reserve, Davistown Road, Davistown.
Read our full Illoura Reserve Playground revie here.
11. CANTON BEACH COMMUNITY PARK AND PLAYGROUND
With accompanying water views and a bike path close by, this wonderful little sensory park at Canton Beach is just perfect for little people with big imaginations!
The park equipment is tactile and inviting with lots of musical instruments for little ones who are keen to explore their artistic talents! There’s also a variety of swings including an accessible swing, rope bridges and a double slide that’s super easy for little climbers to access.
Canton Beach Community Park and Playground
What we love: The playground is fully fenced and there’s so many gorgeous sensory discoveries to be made here.
What we wish we could change: A little more shade would be an added bonus.
Location: Cnr Belbowrie Street and Beach Parade, Canton Beach.
12. SUN VALLEY PARK, GREEN POINT
This super-sized regional play space really brings the 'Wow!' factor! It's perfect for kids of all ages, and there's plenty for toddlers to explore and delight in. The park is divided into sections, with play equipment, basketball courts, a flying fox, sandpit, picnic tables and sensory play space all linked by a winding path.
Littlies will be kept busy trying out all the equipment - there are two sets of swings that include two bucket swings for tiny tots, a regular swing, and a wheelchair swing. There’s also a stand-alone inclusive group swing for kids to pile together for a push!
There’s a climbing structure with four suspended spider-web nets that little ones can clamber up to via a mini rope ladder. The nets are then connected to each other by ropes and bridges, which encourage young children to wobble across from one net to the next and to practice their balancing skills.
The winding pathway meanders its way through the various sections of the park, which provides a fabulous way for kids to explore their surroundings or to ride bikes and scooters. They’ll even come across an obstacle course of timber logs and beams in the fun nature play space where they can practice their balance as they hop from one piece of play equipment to the next.
And there's plenty of room for a picnic when they need a break from all that exploring, with covered tables, BBQ facilities and multiple seating areas available, There's even a large picnic table that is quite low to the ground and perfect for a group of kids with little legs!
Sun Valley Park at Green Point
What we love: We could seriously spend all day here – there's just soooo much fun to be had! And it's all fenced – woohoo!
What we wish we could change: A change table would be fantastic.
Location: Sun Valley Road, Green Point (opposite Coles).
Click here to read our full review of Sun Valley Park.
We have more than 100 Central Coast park reviews on Playing in Puddles! Check them all out here.
Written By: ALISON MCCANN
Contributor
Alison is a busy local mum who enjoys exploring the Coast’s spectacular natural spaces. You’ll often find her out on a bush trail with her husband and three kids. With a background in media production, communication and marketing, she loves sharing stories about the wonderful region we get to call home. Follow her on Instagram @CentralCoastNatureKids.
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.
