Northern Beaches is packed with parks and reserves that are perfectly kid friendly and many of these parks are even equipped with fun playgrounds where children can play and burn some energy. At Search Frog, we searched the area and asked some local parents for advice about the best parks to visit when you want to keep kids entertained.
Here is a quick look at the best kids’ parks in Northern Beaches that other parents and children visit whenever they need a break.
1. Flying Fox Park in Winneremeray Bay
Winneremeray Bay Playground, also known as Flying Fox Park is a favourite hangout spot for young families in Mona Vale. The park offers a blend of playscapes, waterfront views, grassy areas, and bird life, making it an ideal place to spend a weekend afternoon.
Spacious
Since the park stretches all the way from the bay to Mona Street, it is quite spacious with lots of green grassy lawns, and a beautiful beachfront and it even includes the Flying Fox Cafe on the grounds.
Dog Friendly
You can bring your beloved furry friend along for a day trip. Pets are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash.
Picnic and Playground
The spacious lawn and fun playground are exactly what makes the park ideal for kids. The playground is fully equipped with modern equipment for infants to older kids. With a castle, zip line, swings, and lots of climbing space, younglings will certainly burn lots of energy. The park also includes shaded play areas, picnic tables and barbecue facilities.
Bike Track
A bike track stretches around the park. This bike track is ideal for biking, rollerblading or scootering around the park.
Waterfront View
The park reaches the bay, giving kids a clear view of all of the beautiful boats and bird life the area has to offer.
Cafe
Parents love spending time at the Flying Fox Cafe where they can grab a bite to eat while their little ones play.
2. Clontarf Reserve
Clontarf Reserve is a great park to consider if you want to spend the day on the beach. This park is based at Clontarf Beach and offers plenty for adults and children to do.
Close to the Beach
The reserve is based next to Clontarf Beach where you can enjoy fun walks on the beach or quick swimming sessions in the refreshing waters and tidal pools. It is also fun to marvel at the beautiful boats of the harbour.
Cafe and Restaurant
When families get hungry, they can enjoy fine foods from Bosk Kiosk & Restaurant. This beautiful cafe serves great food, overlooks the bay and is close to the playground.
Clontarf Reserve Playground
Kids always have a blast on the playground. This playground looks out over the tidal pool and offers plenty of shaded areas and benches where parents can sit and watch their little ones play. The playground includes equipment for younger and older kids.
Picnic & Barbecue Facilities
This reserve is an ideal spot for spending a full day since it is equipped with barbecue stoves, drinking water, parking lots, and bathrooms.
3. St Ives Showground
St Ives Showground is a spot to keep an eye on if you love to attend exciting events. All sorts of events are frequently held at these showgrounds. If you are lucky, you might be able to attend a horse show, drive-in movie night, auto brunches, or a farmers market. But the events are not the only reasons to visit. The area itself is ideal for spending a quiet day away from home.
Spacious Playground
The park is popular among families because it has a fun play area. This play park includes various rides but their most popular excursion is the Treetops Adventure course where families can scale the treetops and go rope climbing or enjoy some ziplining.
Besides the climbing scapes, the playground also includes lots of carved animals and other playground equipment like swings, slides, and tractors.
Radio-Control Car Track
Kids who love radio-controlled cars adore this park because it has a large car track. This track is fun to master and is suited for any driving level.
Dog Friendly
The park is pet friendly and even includes two soccer fields where dogs can go roaming off the leach.
Walking Trails
Nature lovers are quite fond of the park because there are plenty of walking trails. These trails are great for getting a little bit of exercise or for marvelling at beautiful natural scenery.
4. North Harbour Reserve
North Harbour Reserve is a park that is frequented by just about every parent living close to the North Harbour Marina and every family visiting the area. It doesn’t have the biggest play area but is ideal if you want to have a wholesome family outing.
Waterfront View
The reserve is connected to the North Harbour and provides a clear view of the North Harbour Marina and sailing club. Kids always have a lot of fun looking at the beautiful boats and yachts that can always be spotted gliding over the waters.
Playground
The park has a small playground where kids can enjoy swinging, sliding or climbing on jungle gyms. This playground is fenced in so pets cannot disturb children while they they are enjoying the equipment.
Cafe
Most parents who spend time at the reserve enjoy making a stop at Forty Beans. This store offers great coffee and good food. It is a great spot for families to dine at or to grab some takeaways before heading to the beach or park.
Green Spaces
The park has a lot of greenscapes where kids can run around freely. Comfy benches are strategically placed underneath some of the large trees and the area has lots of natural areas to go and explore.
Barbecue and Picnic Area
Families love to visit this reserve for a picnic or so they can have a barbecue. The barbecue spots are free for all too use and ideal for roasting some burger patties.
Pet Friendly
You can take your beloved family pet along for your family outing. The park is pet-friendly and allows off-leach walking.
5. Little Manly Point Park
Little Manly Point Park is a terrific area to choose if you want a kid’s outing that has everything from beautiful natural scapes, waterfront views, a beach, places to buy food, watery adventures, and a play park.
Playground
The playground offers a lot for little ones to do. With jungle gyms, slides, see-saws, and obstacles, little ones will burn heaps of energy. The play area also has quite a few seating benches shading so kids can have fun without scorching in the hot sun.
Barbecue and Picnic Areas
Little Manly Point Park has a lot of barbecue facilities and picnic tables so families can prepare food or sit comfortably while enjoying their meals.
Canoeing
Kids who enjoy watery adventures are often seen canoeing through the clear waters of the bay. There are always some canoes that can be rented and families can, of course, bring along their own canoes or kayaks.
Waterfront View and Beach
Children love spending time on the sandy Little Manly Beach located right next to the park. The beach also has a tidal pool, the Little Manly Cove Baths where the waters are always peaceful. And if it is too cold for a swim then you can always sit idly and watch the boats as they glide across the waters.
Walking Trails
The park has a lot of beautiful scenery and is perfect for taking a long walk. These outdoor areas are ideal for teaching kids more about nature.
Fishing
Kids who love fishing adore this park because there are lots of great fishing spots.
6. Lionel Watts Playscape in Frenchs Forest
Lionel Watts Reserve is the best playground to visit if you have active kids who enjoy doing lots of sporty activities. With play areas, sports fields, skate parks, riding paths, and all sorts of sports courts, this certainly is a great spot for active families.
Skate Park
The Belrose Skate Park is very popular among kids who love skateboarding or rollerblading. This skate park offers quite a few obstacles and is great for skaters of all ages or skill levels.
Sporting Facilities
The park has plenty of sporting facilities including a sports field, netball court, and other types of sports courts where little ones can compete or have fun developing their skills.
Playground
The playground is one of the biggest attractions since it is fully equipped with a huge variety of modern equipment. It even has a sensory area with equipment that produces all sorts of sounds. Kids can have fun climbing, sliding, running and exploring while parents prepare hearty meals in the public barbecue spaces.
Dog Park
The park also has a dedicated dog park where pets can socialize and stretch their legs. This dog park is often used as a showground where pet lovers can compete and show off the skills of their incredible breeds.
Food Trucks
The park doesn’t have a local cafe but food trucks are almost always parked close by so you can buy delicious fresh food.
Bike or Walking Track
This park is also great for biking or walking since it has plenty of paths where you can run, cycle or walk to stay fit.
7. Berry Reserve Playground in Narrabeen
Berry Reserve Playground is often called the Tramshed Playground because it is close to the renowned Tramshed Cafe. This playground is a favourite spot for kids who need to burn some energy while parents grab a bite to eat.
Playground
The playground is a huge hit among children visiting this park. It is very safe and offers a lot of things for little ones to do. They have trampolines, a climbing castle, a basketball court, and other equipment.
Waterfront View
The scenic views are what lure families to this park. The park and playground have a clear view over South Creek and families can enjoy bird watching or feed the ducks. It is also easy to access the lagoon so kids can go kayaking or paddleboarding.
Scenic Bike Rides or Hiking
Thanks to the scenic bike or walking trail, the park is ideal for staying fit and healthy.
Picnic and Barbecue
There are also public barbecue areas and picnic tables where families can prepare food or enjoy packed lunches.
Food and Drinks Close By
The Tramshed Cafe is a must when you are exploring this park because it has a real-life tram that kids can also have a look at when they visit. Pizza Ricardo is also located close by should you want to grab a bite to eat.
Conclusion
Northern Beaches has some pretty fantastic parks where kids can explore nature or have fun while developing their fine motor skills. We hope that you enjoyed our guide and that you will have a lot of fun when you visit these parks.
At Search Frog, we aim to connect people with all of the best local businesses and organisations. We would appreciate it if you could share this guide with other parents who might be looking for a good place to spend the day.
We also would love to hear which of these parks you ended up visiting. Let us know in the comments what you thought about these kid’s parks and what you or your kids loved the most about the park or playground.
