Brisbane's parks offer kids of all ages adventure, games, challenges and unbridled fun. Well maintained and plentiful, they encourage imagination and activity for little people while providing green oases of calm for parents and carers. Many feature shady trees and some of the best incorporate water, sand, sound and other fun stuff.
Brisbane’s ten best kids’ parks
Here’s our pick (in no particular order) of the best ten parks to take the kids:
Kalinga Park
Location: end of Park Avenue, Clayfield
This park is brilliant! There’s a huge sandpit, a series of Aussie tree houses, a climbing wall and fun with sounds. On weekends and after school it is buzzing with children climbing, sliding and having lots of fun.
The large flat area beside the playground is perfect for parents to sit down and set up a picnic, plus there are leaf shaped tables, a few shelters and free electric barbeque facilities.
Kalinga Park also has a kid-size practice bikeway, a creek complete with ducks and a nearby dog off-leash area. If you live nearby, ride your bikes along the bike path that stretches from Toombul shopping centre to Grange and beyond.
Kalinga Park is a Brisbane City Council active and healthy park, with free activities.
See also: Other parks in Clayfield.
Hamilton Recreation Reserve
Location: Hercules Street, Hamilton
Located just off Kingsford Smith Drive, this park includes a massive climbing net, sandpits, and bike paths with signage for young riders.
There are good barbeques and tables, plus modern toilets. It’s very easy to spend a couple of hours.
Children of school age will be challenged by the playground with monkey bars, climbing walls and balancing toys.
The Portside complex, with cafes and shops, is just across the road.
See also: Other parks in Hamilton.
Colmslie Beach Reserve, Murarrie
Location: Colmslie Road, Murarrie, adjoining the river.
This is a sprawling park that should keep everyone happy. There’s a sand pit, plenty of swings, slides and other climbing equipment. It’s called the ’Octopus Garden’ with an undersea theme.
Kids who love planes will enjoy seeing (and hearing) the low flying aircraft taking off from the airport. The children’s winding bike path is a bumpy challenge and the riverside tables and barbeques are pleasant.
See also: Other parks in Murarrie.
Orleigh Park, West End
Location: Hill End Terrace, West End
A giant frog is the centre of this park - slide down his tongue! There are lovely gardens and bumpy paths for the kids to explore. It's a good park for younger children but close to the edge of the river, which can be a worry for some parents. The toilets nearby are not always well cleaned or maintained.
It’s fun to arrive by CityCat. Just hop off at the West End stop.
There are no shops within close walking distance, so best to bring snacks for the kids or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy by the river's edge.
Orleigh Park is a Brisbane City Council active and healthy park.
See also: Other parks in West End.
Nicholas from Tarragindi says: "This is a terrific park for younger kids. My four-year old loves coming to Orleigh Park because there are always heaps of other kids around for him to play with."
New Farm Park
Location: Brunswick Street, New Farm
New Farm Park is always a popular choice for kids and parents alike. Huge fig trees make great hide and seek spots plus there are fantastic wobbly bridges, climbing things and challenging equipment for older children. There’s a smaller playground for toddlers too. It’s hard to get the kids down once they are there!
Weekends (especially when the farmers markets are on) and holidays are always busy at New Farm Park. During the week it is more peaceful and much easier to nab a parking space close to the playground.
There is plenty of shade under the big trees. It is lovely to take a picnic and sit on the grass in the larger part of the park. You can catch the ferry to New Farm Park too.
Perhaps surprisingly for New Farm, a shop for snacks isn’t within easy walking distance (for little legs) of the park. Best to pack your own. There is the Watt cafe at Brisbane Powerhouse but it doesn't really cater especially to children.
New Farm Park is a Brisbane City Council active and healthy park.
See also: Other parks in New Farm.
Wynnum Wading Pool and playground, Wynnum
Location: Esplanade, Wynnum, at the end of Edith Street.
This fantastic water-based playground is THE place to play in Wynnum. There are a couple of large play areas to choose from, including a great climbing net and five rubber whales which spout water.
It gets very crowded on weekends, a sign of its popularity. The wading pool is next door, there’s the jetty to walk along plus ice creams and fish and chips available nearby. Make it a full, family day out and don’t forget your togs.
See also: Other parks in Wynnum.
Caroline from Wynnum says: "Whenever my grandkids visit they love going to the ’whale park’. They never get bored. I’m happy that it’s safe but always fun for them."
Scarborough Beach Park, Scarborough
Location: Landsborough Avenue, Scarborough
Enjoy the old-fashioned but hard-to-find fun of climbing trees. This park has huge old cottontrees for kids to safely climb on and around. There’s a train playground too and it’s close to the water.
Redcliffe has a variety of other parks that make wonderful destinations, including Apex Park on the foreshore at Woody Point. It has a large playground under shade and there are plenty of take away food options plus the local pub has a large play area for the kids.
Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Miles Rocks
Location: Counihan Road, Seventeen Miles Rocks
This is one of Brisbane’s best parks. It is amazing! If you don’t live nearby, it’s worth taking a drive.
The playgrounds are good, with enough to keep all ages happy. Older children can explore the bike paths and climbing nets and flying fox. Younger kids will like the sandpit, full of toys. Everyone can take a look at the community garden.
There aren’t a lot of large shady trees but there are some covered BBQ areas away from the main playground.
No shops are within walking distance so go prepared with drinks and snacks.
See also: Other parks in Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Anzac Park, Toowong
Location: Dean Street, Mt-Coot-tha Road, Western Freeway and Wool Street, Toowong
This park has a homestead and Aussie outback theme. It’s also home to Brisbane’s longest flying fox. It is a popular park with fitness enthusiasts with runners and walkers, both casual and organised making use of its facilities. There is an unfenced pond though so be careful with toddlers.
Anzac Park is a Brisbane City Council active and healthy park.
See also: Other parks in Toowong.
Woolcock Park, Red Hill
Location: Hawthorn Terrace, Mossvale Street and Waterworks Road, Red Hill
This popular, recently revamped park, is paradise for younger children. Sculptural leaves dot the grounds and you can have fun with solar-powered musical sounds, hammock swing and good slide. It can get busy but it is a shady, spacious oasis.
Woolcock Park is a Brisbane City Council active and healthy park.
See also: Other parks in Red Hill.
Other great parks worth a visit
South Bank
Its riverside location and fabulous array of attractions and activities make South Bank a top spot for family fun and relaxation. There are two children's playgrounds - one at the southern end of the Parklands and another at the northern end of Streets Beach. Both playgrounds feature great play equipment such as slides and climbing frames, but when the heat is on, nothing beats a swim in the rock stream or the Aquativity wading pool. There are also plenty of grassed wide open spaces where kids can race around or enjoy a game of cricket, tiggy or jump rope.
Other great parks include:
- Sherwood Forest Park, Sherwood
- Grinstead Park, Alderley
- Svoboda Park, Kuraby
- Decker Park, Brighton
- Les Atkinson Park, Sunnybank
- Check out these parks with skate bowls and ramps.
- Gregory Park, Paddington
- Kidspace playground in 7th Brigade Park, Chermside
Don’t forget that Brisbane City Council organises mostly free activities in over 50 parks across Brisbane. Check out the active and healthy events happening at a park near you.
Parks in other shires
- Parks in the Redland shire
- Parks in Moreton Bay Regional Council
- Parks in Logan
- Gold Coast city parks
Liberty Swings
These swings allow children in wheelchairs to experience the fun of being on a swing and playing in a playground. There are only a few in Brisbane at the moment, including:
- Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks
- Roma Street Parkland
- Kedron Wavell Services Club
The Variety Club raises funds to install the swings and can provide the access keys.
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Very useful info. Links to street and/or park maps would be a great addition to this site. I am using the site to find a good place to meet up with a group of friends with children and some of the parks are quite large. The maps would be good to identify the best spot to meet.
Also a link to the shady parks site talked about on the video would be handy too!
Thanks