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Amazing Playgrounds in South East Queensland

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to play spaces for kids, but where are the most AMAZING playgrounds in South East Queensland? We think we know where some of them are but we bet we didn’t catch them all. Take a look and see what you’d add to our lilst (and what you’d take off!).

Where are the best playgrounds in South East Queensland?

When it comes to choosing playgrounds, we’ve all got our own set criteria. Some of us love (and all of us should love!) lots of shaded areas for safe play. Some like bark chips. Some like sand (who are those people?!). Some like a wide range of different types of apparatus while some of us like to keep things simple. Toilets. BBQ areas. Access to water (or far away from water!). Open spaces. Fenced in playgrounds. Parking. There are so many factors that go into finding that absolutely PERFECT playground.

As we’re all different and our kids have different needs and interests, we’re bound to have different opinions. With that in mind, here are Families Magazine’s pick for some of the most INCREDIBLE playgrounds in South East Queensland!

Frew Park Milton

Frew Park
  • Location – between Frew Street and Milton Road, Milton

Frew Park in Milton is a playground for all ages near the Milton Tennis Centre. It is not your ordinary playground. It’s special and if you haven’t checked it out yet, IT IS NOW TIME to add it to your bucket list! Whilst the parklands and playground is said to be designed for kids aged 10 – 15, you can see from our photos that there is something for all ages at this playground!

The PlayWorks and Guymer Baily Architects, combined architectural and play components to design a play space based on the former tennis court grandstand.

The Frew Park play space includes:

  • a large climbing wall
  • a large three metre wide, three metre high, slide
  • various angled surfaces for climbing
  • seating ledges for social interaction
  • climbing nets and cages, including a mesh cage eight metres off the ground
  • a large, curling, five metre high, slide

We wrote about Frew Park here.

Pioneer Park

  • Location: 6-12 Harley Street, Shailer Park

Facilities:

  • Barbecue x 2 (electric)
  • Basketball court
  • Bike track
  • Fitness equipment
  • Picnic area
  • Playground
  • Skate park
  • Tennis courts x 2
  • Toilets (including wheelchair toilets)
  • Huge lawn area for events, family picnics or just kicking the ball around.
  • Small waterway area with a bridge. It has a short loop track which can be fun for little ones to go bird hunting or for the bigger kids to ride their bikes or scooters.

Why do we love it?

Pioneer Park offers such a wide range of activities that the whole family will be satisfied with a trip here. Older kids can tear around the tracks on their scooters and bikes – they can even bring their skateboards. Littlies can run wild on the playground. There’s a basketball court and two tennis courts for the more athletically inclined and picnic areas for those of us who like to… well… sit and eat. There is plenty of parking available and there are TOILETS. Toilet training parents know the pain of a toilet-less playground ALL too well. This is an awesome spot and well worth the trip.

Biambi Yumba Park

playgrounds in south east queensland
  • Location: 30 Kenny Street, Fig Tree Pocket

Facilities:

  • Playground
  • Varied play equipment
  • Paths
  • Garden
  • Access to dam with birds and wildlife with platform over the water
  • On street parking

Oh, bless! We think this is arguably one of the best playgrounds in South East Queensland because of its natural beauty and picturesque scenery. It’s relatively simple, yes, but don’t let that fool you. The play equipment is engaging for a variety of ages. It can be challenging or it can be safe – the perfect way for children to take calculated risks. 

Access to a garden and wildlife will foster an appreciation of nature and plant the seeds of sustainability in young minds. This truly is a beautiful spot and it’s in such close proximity to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – a perfect combination!

Rocks Riverside Park

Rocks Riverside Park
  • Location: 531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks.

Facilities:

  • Three major areas: the river flat, the bushland ridge and the major green link
  • Community Garden
  • Free wi-fi
  • The Great Lawn (huuuuuuge open grassed green space)
  • Half size basketball court
  • Industrial inspired artefacts throughout the par
  • Junior playground (designed for toddlers to eight-year-olds)
  • Climbing net and fort as well as a flying fox for older kids
  • Lots of public artworks
  • Shared pathways
  • Water play area

This is definitely the place to be in the warmer months. The water play area ALONE makes this an ideal choice. It’s an absolutely gorgeous piece of land that’s brimming with potential when it comes to exciting, engaging and creative outdoor play. There are just so many opportunities for kids to have fun here that you won’t be able to help but join in as well!

We wrote about Rocks Riverside Park here.

Colmslie Beach Reserve

Colmslie Beach Reserve - playgrounds in south east queensland
  • Location: 152 Colmslie Road, Murrarie

Facilities:

  • Adventure playgrounds
  • Balancing equipment
  • Musical equipment
  • Sand pit
  • Beach access
  • Caves and sculpture
  • Flying fox
  • Climbing equipment
  • Toilets (accessible)
  • Fenced areas
  • Bike and scooter paths
  • Adventure trails

Okay, so. We LOVE Colmslie Beach Reserve.

It’s a great day out. There are SO many things for younger kids to do. There’s space to have a picnic. Stairs that go down to the beach (the water’s the Brisbane River though, so, many don’t jump in). It’s accessible, it’s fun, it’s innovative and we loved it.

We got a little push back when we talked about it on Facebook with people complaining about mozzies and insects. To that we kind of say… this is a playground in South East Queensland. There are going to be bugs. You have to take the bad with the good and we BELIEVE that there is a HEAP of good when it comes to this park. Reserve your judgement until you actually get there and see for yourself.

Yarrabilba Playground Buxton Ave

Yarrabilba Playground Buxton Ave - playgrounds in south east queensland
  • Location – Buxton Ave

Yarrabilba Playground Buxton Ave is the newest addition to the master planned community in Logan’s fastest growing family friendly suburb! It’s a free, outdoor fitness course complete with state-of-the-art digitally interactive equipment and a children’s playground featuring an 8.7m high custom Garden Tower with two humongous slides. The children’s playground consists of:

  • a bespoke 8.7m Corocord Garden Tower
  • rope tower
  • two slides
  • three in-ground trampolines
  • all-abilities swing featuring three types of swings
  • a large caterpillar made out of synthetic turf

Catering to all skills, ages and abilities this park will become a favourite for the Logan region.

We wrote about Yarrabilba here.

Lower Moora Park

  • Location – Shorncliffe

Facilities

  • barbecues
  • booking site
  • carpark
  • picnic shelters
  • picnic tables
  • playground
  • power
  • rotundas
  • taps
  • toilets

Lower Moora Park is well-loved for its waterside picnicking, the Shorncliffe Pier and nearby beach, and its amazing playground.

Which do you think is the best playground in South East Queensland?

We know we missed it. We want to add it. So tell us – which one is your favourite and why?

Photo of author

Janine Mergler

Janine Mergler is a veteran Queensland teacher, graduating from QUT with a BEd majoring in Social Sciences. After many years in the classroom, Janine moved on to academia. She has proudly trained new generations of teachers in her role as a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education. She has also worked in the Queensland Government as an education specialist, developing education resources and delivering community awareness programs to help families conserve water. Currently she is the owner and editor of Families Magazine, a publication specifically targeted at parents who value a quality education for children.  Janine leads a team of professionals who write about family lifestyle, early childhood, schools and education information and family-friendly events.

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