Best Playgrounds on the Sunshine Coast

By: Amanda Lieber, ellaslist explorer

We sent an explorer to the Sunshine Coast for a fabulous family holiday getaway, and between fabulous cafes and the beloved Aussie World, they managed to find some awesome playgrounds that the whole family loved.

What really stood out for me was the number of playgrounds dotted around. It felt like every couple of hundred meters there was another play area for children to play in. A lot of them were Rotary Playgrounds (Go Rotary Groups!). All of them that we encountered were sand playgrounds (no astro turf).

Maroochydore Rotary Park, The Esplanade at Cotton Tree.

Here you will find two playgrounds next to each other:

Playground One: has monkey bars, a large climbing structure (for older children) spinning sticks, swings, seesaw and slide for younger children.
A Liberty Swing is available (wheelchair friendly swing) the key can be accessed via the Maroochydore Library at 42 Sixth Avenue, Cotton Tree (Monday-Saturday, 9.00am – 5.00pm).

Playground Two: Has a slide and climbing frame shaped like a wooden boat which children can climb in and out of. There are rocks for climbing and balancing on.

 

Eating: There are a large number of cafes opposite the parks, on the Esplanade. If you prefer a picnic you can use the electric BBQ’s and sit at the covered tables.

Facilities:

• Toilet: In the middle of the park is a unisex toilet block with a disabled toilet.


• Shade: The park is surrounded by large trees which create a fair bit of shade.


• The playgrounds are not fenced.


• On Sundays you can visit the Cotton Tree Markets on King Street from 7am-12 midday. There is a range of local arts, crafts and delicious food

Muller Park, David Low Way, Bli Bli

The unique indigenous-inspired playground was officially opened in May 2016, with a creative design inspired by the animals and materials used in traditional day-to-day life by the Kabi Kabi people.

It features:

Oyster path: Oysters were one of the main food sources for the Kabi Kabi people with a large number of oyster shells found in midden excavations;
Fish (kid) trap: Based on the traditional fishing trap, the fish (kid) trap resembles the bell shape of the traps traditionally woven from grasses and reeds;
Black swan rockers: Black swans and their eggs were hunted for food and the swan forms part of the dreamtime story of Mt Coolum;
Basket swing: Kabi Kabi women would gather fern roots, eggs and honey, and carry them in baskets woven together from leaves and grasses.

Blue Park, Bells Reach Adventure Playground, Stockland Bells Reach Estate

A fantastic play area for the whole family. The space is AMAZING! With equipment suited for a wide range of children. It is a sand floor park.

Younger Children: Toddler-friendly playground with baby-safe swing.
Loads of open spaces to run free and sand to sink the toes and fingers into, take a bucket and spade.

Older children: Incredible climbing surfaces, slides, swings and a spider rope climbing section.
A crow’s nest, for lots of creative pirate play ‘AARGH me hearty’

Eating: The Pod Café overlooks the park. If you prefer a picnic, there are 4 BBQ’s and shaded picnic benches. Take a picnic rug, there are loads of shady spots to relax under.

Facilities:

• Toilets close by


• Loads of street parking


• Water bubblers to fill up your water bottles.

Other Activities: There is a permanent ping pong table so take along your bats and balls, handball courts, hopscotch markings, a soccer field with posts, and plenty of paths for scooters and bikes.

Mooloolaba Spit Playground, Urunga Esplanade, Mooloolaba

The best part about this sand ground play area was that it is right opposite the restaurant where we ate lunch. It’s a large area with a boat shape structure for climbing and slide for the younger ones.
A spider web climbing frame for those a little more daring.
A play before and a play after lunch was in order, in hindsight we should have ordered takeaway so the young ones could play and play and play and play….you know what I mean.

Facilities: Free parking, BBQ’s, Picnic Tables and Sun Shelter.

Where We Ate: We ate at ‘The Deck on Parkyn’. We ordered at the counter and a few moment later a delicious plate of fish, beer battered chips and salad arrive at our table. They are licensed.

Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha

Whipbird Walk: It’s called the ‘children’s experiential garden’ and once you’ve been you will know why. Young or old you will discover your whimsical side in this interactive space.
You can explore the Whipbird eggs carved from granite, stepping stones, logs and ‘pods’, and live native plants entwined within the tracks.
It’s a fantastic space to play and learn.

Opening hours: The garden is open from 7.00 am to 5.00 pm (April to October) and 7.00 am to 6.00 pm (November to March)