Don Bosco St Marys

My most exciting most recent find has definitely been Don Bosco at St Marys. I was aware of how great it is for parties, but for some reason I only recently became aware of their free open sessions. You can check for times on their website here. Just make sure you check the times and ages, most of their sessions are aimed at kids over 10 years of age which I think is great, our teenagers do not have enough safe free activities to access.

I frequently take my kids to the under 10s sessions though, and as well as being indoors the bathrooms are super clean, and they are happy for you to bring in your own food. There is a canteen there but you really need gold coins to access it, there is also bubbler with water. They have trampolines, pool tables, foosball, pingpong tables and soccer, basketball and volleyball facilities. There are usually some balls floating around, and the pool tables/ping pong etc. all have the paddles and balls and cues that they need to be played. There is seating all up the southern side of the building for parents to sit while kids play.

They have a free session for under 10s every Saturday morning from 10am until 11:30am, honestly this is my new go to for play dates with school friends. There are different (more) times for school holidays, and different times for over 10s. The first week of school term, the week of Christmas/New Years, and the first three weeks of Term 1 they are closed. Don’t try and park next to Don Bosco in their parking lot though, it is tiny, it is hard (and dangerous) to try and get back out onto Mamre Road, and you have to walk around the entire building to enter. Go to the next driveway which is the entry to the Council halls and park there.

 

HomeCo. Glenmore Park Town Centre

I finally made the effort to find the play area inside of HomeCo. at Glenmore Park. It is air conditioned, next to the toilets, and because the food court has very few places left (other than the Coffee Club which has it’s own seating) there are plenty of places for observing adults to sit and chat. It is across from the Coles and right next to a lovely place where I bought delicious gozleme.

This is for younger children, but enough to amuse my Miss 5 and probably my Miss 7 (though she wasn’t with us). Because it is tucked in such an odd space, or odd while the food court isn’t really being used, I cannot imagine it getting crowded.

 

The Valley Junction Cafe, Caddens

If you are looking for some food, or an indoor play area, then The Valley Junction Cafe is one possibility. They have a play area that is inside the cafe, so you can see the kids while trying to relax. It is definitely aimed at younger children, but my seven year old is harassing me to take her there so I guess it depends on your child. The food here is delicious. You will have access to toilets.

Where is it?

It is located within the Caddens Corner shopping complex, which is at 68 O’Connell Street in Kingswood, NSW.

 

Allsopp Paterson Oval Park, Cambridge Park

Today we visited the park at Allsopp Paterson Oval, which you access off of College Street in Cambridge Park. This is an oldie but a goodie, plenty of options for different children at different stages, sunshade and plenty of space to run around. It appears that council has just put a new footpath around it too, so I have indicated to hubby that we will be returning with the kids bikes.

There is a slide, monkey bars, swings, a small rock climbing wall, pretend cafe, cargo net (made of chains), and rubber soft fall. There are actually a few different types of monkey bars here, and a funny orange circular thing (shown in the picture) that the kids hang onto and it then spins. If you have a bit of a true ninja child then this might be a good park for you.

The bins are often full and overflowing, and there are often magpies picking at the bins. I haven’t had one swoop the kids (yet) but if you or your kids are anxious about magpies, then this is not the park for you.

There is also a great coffee place within walking distance, called Full Dose at the Cambridge Park shops. They close at 1pm or 2pm though, depending on the day, so get in early.

There is allegedly a set of public toilets near here, but I haven’t checked them out myself, I think they are part of the hall on this same block.

 

O'Donaghues, Emu Plain

As the weather was suspect today I decided to try an indoor park. When we arrived shortly after 11:30am on a Saturday the play area was already teaming with kids if all ages and the bistro was in full swing. The play area is undercover but on a Saturday if you want a table near it you need to book.

As the play area is enclosed I don't necessarily know what is in there but there is definitely a slide. The kids that I had there with me were ages 5 through 8, but there were some younger children and some older children in there too. There were also paid arcade style machines inside the play area, just a heads up in case that is an issue for your kids.

The bistro could have been more polite when I was trying to find egg free options due to an allergy, but the food was delicious and I felt reasonably priced. My mother is a vegetarian and there were lots of options for her, which is unusual. The menu also listed vegan, gluten free and dairy free options.

 

Church Street Reserve, Windsor

We quite accidentally ended up at this park yesterday, it was a great park with clean toilets, undercover seating and plenty of parking. When I started this project I wondered if there was such a thing as a park with no slide, it turns out there is. The climbing frame is also quite different, but that can be good, gives kids something new.

There is a set of swings, a climbing frame, a pretend cafe, covered seating (though it is a fair way away from the equipment) and a merry-go-round.

I took a photo (below) of the metal animal on the flying fox because honestly, my first thought was, who would put a bat on kids equipment? It wasn’t until I got home that I realised oh, it is a flying fox.

I was frustrating that the seat for the flying fox is literally as high as my head, below is a photo of me (six foot tall) standing next to the seat. I tried walking the seat to both ends and it doesn't get shorter. I don't know if this is intentional to stop older kids getting in, but it definitely required me lifting my child quite high (I am not sure a short parent could do it) and it requires the child having muscle strength and balance to sit upright in it while I try and manipulate the buckles, while it is trying to glide away from me. I know the gliding is always a problem, but when the seats are at a normal height I can use my body or leg to block it while I am buckling the child. This doesn’t seem like a seat that could be used by people with differing abilities.

Apart from that it was a great park, we will be back. This park is located at Church Street, it is in South Windsor.

 

Bunnings playground, Homemaker Centre, Jamisontown

This is hands down my absolute favourite, and often my children ask for it too. It is indoors, the staff are lovely, you can sit in the outdoor furniture section if you have no intention of spending any money, it is indoors, it has bathrooms, and on weekend in the mornings sometimes there is craft. The cafe has really cheap food and good coffee. Obviously there is a big slide and lots of climbing opportunities, there is a pretend cafe, an abacus and some of those play things on a wall that are good for toddlers.

Lions Park, Emu Plains

Lions Park is located on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Park Street, Emu Plains. It is behind the community centre, and it has toilets and quite a bit of undercover seating for parents. The parking on Park Street is a bit tight, I imagine on the weekends you would need to park in a side street.

I only have two basic photos but the website for Moduplay actually has detailed photos, you can have a look at those here.

This park has swings, a slide, and plenty of climbing options that don’t fit the usual box. There is a balancing beam, a small rock climbing wall, and a fence all of the way around. The fence doesn’t have a gate, but the opening is where the seats for the adults are. This is also next to a cricket or footy oval with a concrete pathway wrapping around it, that is great for a walk or a bigger bike ride (not toddlers it is a bit long).