Any play opportunity is a good one! And outdoor playgrounds provide structures that incite imaginative, active and collaborative play.

With the summer school holidays coming up, and recent opening of Armidale’s newest playground in Curtis Park, we thought it would be an opportune time to have a look at the playgrounds in our region. We think there are some pretty special play areas around, all with their quirks and challenges. So next time you’re travelling in northern NSW with your kids (or not!), we encourage you to hop out of the car, stretch your legs and go play!

Armidale

Curtis Park Playground

Location: Cnr Dumaresq and Faulkner Streets.

Public Amenities: Yes. Public toilets and picnic tables are close by.

Fencing: Currently fenced on three sides but will be fully enclosed in 2021.

Features:  Armidale’s newest playground, opened in October 2020, features a Moduplay Skytower and Skyrider Flying Fox, Seesaw rocker, Geo Climbers, Spin point all-access carousel, sensory equipment including flower drums and voice tubes, trampolines, bushwood balance trail and Tropicana bungalow as well as climbing ropes and swings, including a nest swing.  The older playground areas in Curtis Park have been retained and are a short distance away from the new one. The two older areas are separated by a creek which makes for a pleasant walk across a small bridge.  There are slides, swings and spinnas, as well as a fenced Liberty swing in the older section.

New playground, Curtis Park

Original playground, Curtis Park

Armidale Bicentennial Arboretum

Location: Cnr Kentucky & Galloway Streets opposite Armidale Secondary College.

Public Amenities: Yes. Public toilets, covered picnic tables and BBQs. Caravan dump site nearby.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features: Fully covered playground with swings, slides, track ride, monkey bars, climbing and balance structures. This playground has water refill station and is in the arboretum that has lovely short walking tracks, small lake with aquatic gardens, waterfall and footbridge and stepping stones. There is a grotto to explore on the hill above the playground.

MacDonald Park

Location: Barney St (Waterfall Way) between Taylor and Douglas Streets.

Public Amenities: Yes. Public toilets close by, undercover BBQ and picnic tables.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features: Swings, slides, rope net pyramid, climbing apparatus and spinnas. There is an old metal spider climbing frame up the slope slightly away from the main playground, which is worth an explore! There is also a large 1930s wool wagon on display for visitors.

Lambert Park Playground

Location: Butler St (opposite Armidale Hospital)

Public Amenities: Yes. Public toilets nearby.

Fencing: This playground is fenced on the road side of the play equipment.

Features: Rotating rope climber, web swing, slide and climbing structure and see-saw rocker.  Good seating, which is not covered, but there are some large and beautiful shade trees. The playground is also adjacent to Lambert Park, used as a cricket oval during summer, but a great wide, open space for kids to run and play ball sports.

Lynches Road Netball Courts

Location: Corner of Lynches Rd & Kellys Plains Rd at the netball courts.

Public Amenities: No public toilets. When netball is on the netball club has amenities open for players. However, there are no public toilets available near this playground.

Fencing: This playground is fully fenced.

Features: Web swing, honeycomb climber, monkey bars, sandstone stepping stones, small slide, whirly gigs, and it is completely fenced. One of the best things about the Lynches Rd playground is that you can bring bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller blades, netballs, and anything else you’d like to play on big open spaces as well as having the fully fenced playground. It is also close to Lynches Rd Spar too – always a winner for a weekend lunch.

Bruce Browning Park

Location: Nearest to Rockvale Road, but enter from Taylor Street (behind Ben Venue Public School).

Public Amenities: No public toilets. When cricket is on in summer the toilets are open during match time. There are undercover barbecues and picnic tables.

Fencing:  This playground is not fenced.

Features: Modular play system including slide, climbing, monkey bars, balance bridge, small tower and steps. It is adjacent to Bruce Browning Oval, which has great wide, open spaces for kids to run and for ball sports. A good north Armidale option.

Cookes Road Park

Location: Cookes Rd, nearest to Kirkwood Street corner

Public Amenities: No public toilets. There are lovely covered picnic tables.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced. However, a low log barrier and garden is on the road side of the playground.

Features: A relatively new park built near to the Cookes Hill housing development. A small but spacious playground with swings, pyramid rope climber, rope/net swing, small slide, climbing structure and stepping logs.  Also has a half-court basketball court.

Glen Innes

Melling Park

Location: Corner of Coronation Avenue and Bourke St, west Glen Innes.

Public Amenities: Yes. Public toilets nearby, and BBQs.

Fencing: This playground is fully fenced.

Features: Upgraded play equipment in 2019, this playground has climbing equipment, a slide, balance ropes and lots more.  It shares a fence with Glen Innes West infants School and is covered with shade sails.  This playground also has exercise equipment and connects to King Edward Park and through to Grey Street via new walking/cycling paths.

King Edward Park

Location: Between East and West Avenues.

Public Amenities: There is a public toilet on the northern side of the park near Taylor Street, accessible by wheelchair.

Fencing: Fully fenced playground within larger parklands.

Features: Tunnel slide, climbing structures, track ride and a Liberty swing. Located in a beautiful parkland setting, this park is connected to the main CBD to the east and Melling Park to the west via new walking/cycling paths as part of a wellness trail initiative in Glen Innes.

Standing Stones, Centennial Parklands

Location: Watson Drive, off the Gwydir Highway.

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, BBQs and picnic tables.

Fencing: Fully fenced playground.

Features: Basic modular play system with slide, balance bridge, track ride and climbing equipment. This playground is close to the Standing Stones which are great for the kids to run around, as well as learn about the movement of the sun and moon, and the creation of shadows.

Guyra

Rotary Park

Location: New England Highway on the southern side of Guyra.

Public Amenities: Yes. Public toilets, water and barbecues in close proximity.

Fencing: Yes. This playground is fully fenced.

Features: Flying fox, swings, web swing, balance bridge, see-saw rocker, spinner stands, a huge climbing frame and lots more. This playground is a great place to stop on a road trip, or even as a dedicated Guyra day trip. In January the playground is buzzing during the Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival!

Inverell

Victoria Park

Location: Corner Vivian & Evans Streets

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, covered picnic tables and BBQs

Fencing: Fully fenced playground.

Features: Liberty swing, slides, climbing structures.  Lots of shade and connects to the Inverell Cycleway path.

Campbell Park

Location: Captain Cook Drive

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, picnic tables and fitness equipment.

Fencing: Fully fenced playground.

Features: Climbing equipment, slide, see-saw rocker and swing.

Tamworth

Tamworth Regional Playground

Location: Kable Avenue

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, picnic table, BBQs, drink/water refill station and fitness equipment.  Food and drinks can also be purchased from the café.

Fencing:  This playground is not fenced.

Features:  A large and diverse playground in the country music capital.  The “Skywalk” is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere.  Featuring three giant slides and four towers, children weave their way up to the Skywalk through the “Octa Net”, a web-style net which is another awesome feature. Playground features a flying fox, junior playzone with an arch swing, sand play, carousel, mammoth swing, miniature playtown/cubby house, bike track, fitness circuit, rhythm wall, touchwood totems, 3D climbing adventure, slides and a splash park.

Tamworth Adventure Playground

Location: Located inside the Marsupial Park, Endeavour Drive (free entry to both)

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, picnic tables, BBQs.

Fencing:  This playground is fully fenced.

Features:  Visit the native animals and birds then let the kids play on the community-built adventure playground which has distinct areas for under-5s and another for over 5s. Complete with flying fox, climbing apparatus, tunnel slides, net swing, track ride, balance beams, reading corner and lots of little secret surprises.

Anzac Park

Location:  Bordered by Brisbane, Upper and Fitzroy Streets, East Tamworth

Public Amenities: BBQ facilities and public toilets also nearby.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features:  Upgraded in 2020, the playground at Anzac Park in Tamworth, includes slides, Liberty swing, flying fox, trampoline, see-saw and climbing structure.

Bryan Martin Park

Location:  Duri Road, Hillvue

Public Amenities: BBQs, lots of picnic tables, and public toilets, short gravel paths for bikes.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features:   On the outskirts of Tamworth, this park has a tunnel slide, suspension bridge and good climbing equipment.

Tamworth Region

Attunga, Barraba, Bendemeer, Kootingal, Manilla, Moonbi, Nundle. Check the website here for information on playgrounds in the Tamworth area.

https://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/explore/parks-and-playgrounds

Tenterfield

Jubilee Park

Location:  92 Manners Street

Public Amenities: There are BBQ facilities, covered picnic tables, gravel paths, disabled access toilets, cycleway, rotunda with concrete steps, fitness track and exercise equipment.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features:   Fully covered playground with modular play equipment including slides, climbing frame, balance bridge, swings, double rocker, tunnel slide and track ride.

Rotary Park

Location:  407 Rouse Street

Public Amenities: Some covered tables, disabled access toilets

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features:   Small playground with climbing structure, slide, monkey bars, swings and see-saw rocker.

Uralla

Alma Park

Location:  Cnr Queen & Hill Streets.

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, electric BBQs, picnic tables and seating available.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features:   The playground in Alma Park was upgraded in 2019 and now features a long (and high) tunnel slide, double flying fox, swings, rope climbing structure, Liberty Swing and a net swing.

Walcha

McHattan Park

Location:  Fitzroy Street

Public Amenities: Yes. There are public toilets, picnic tables and seating available.

Fencing: This playground is not fenced.

Features:   Covered in shade sail, this playground features a modular play system including slide, climbing equipment, track ride, swings, rotating rope climber,  balance posts, and a toddler 4-seat spinner. lots of grass and lovely shade trees.