Ivey Watson Playground, Kings Park

Tucked inside Kings Park’s Poolgarla Family Area, Ivey Watson Playground is purpose‑built for little ones, with play equipment designed specifically for children aged six and under Poolgarla Family Area – Kings Park. The Playground is set within a large fenced precinct, but there are a couple of open entry points and access via the café, so it’s very much a “shoes on, eyes open” kind of outing if you have speedy toddlers or mini escape artists.

Access is via Kings Park Road, opposite Outram Street, with plenty of parking in the Poolgarla Family Area carpark and along Kulunga Grove. Pram‑friendly paths and ramps connect the different play zones, and the whole area is surrounded by big shady trees and lawn, making it a very easy spot to spend a few hours with your parents’ group or visiting family.

As you come in from Kings Park Road, the first thing you see is the big upper‑level climbing frame. This zone is best for confident preschoolers and kindy kids, with slides, monkey bars and balancing logs over a woodchip base and under shade sails.

Nearby are the musical instruments, a bank of swings, the maze, and the much‑loved aeroplane and fire engine. The fire truck’s bell is a constant soundtrack, and both vehicles are brilliant for imaginative play.

A set of enclosed tube slides built into the slope links the upper Playground to the lower level, with an additional pair of tube slides opposite. 

At the bottom you’ll find a huge sand‑based play area with a pirate ship and castle. The castle offers shady slides and wobbly bridges, while the pirate ship sits in full sun, so it’s best enjoyed earlier in the day or in cooler weather. Around these structures are balancing logs and stepping stones, perfect for little feet practising coordination.

Hidden just off this lower zone is a pair of toddler swings on soft‑fall under shade sails, giving younger children a quieter corner away from the bustle.

There are also lovely grassed pockets, shaded picnic tables and benches scattered throughout, so you can spread out a picnic rug or sit with a coffee while still being close to the action. Giant “storybook” installations dotted around the Playground tell tales featuring the local animal characters, and you can spot sculptures of those same creatures just outside the main entrance, which makes a fun little “treasure hunt” on the way in or out.

On the café side of the Playground is a large undercover pavilion that can be hired for birthday parties and family gatherings. This space opens onto the play area and seats around 80 people, with access to toilets, including a parents’ room and an accessible toilet. It’s well set up for hosting events without ever really leaving the Playground.

For babies and younger toddlers, there are several dedicated spaces. Next to the pavilion is a cosy toddler zone with sensory play panels, a scramble net, a small slide and a low bridge, all close to bright picnic tables so you can sit and supervise comfortably. 

A little further around is a larger toddler play area on soft‑fall, with a small climbing frame, slide, cubby house and a baby swing. There’s also a patch of grass, a bit of sand, and a few ride‑on “bench cars” and low obstacles, giving new walkers lots of safe, small‑scale challenges.

Within the fenced precinct you’ll find Koorak Cafe, which opens directly onto the Playground. Koorak is a licensed family‑friendly café offering breakfast, lunch, light meals, snacks and takeaway options, handy if you want to grab a coffee or kids’ lunch box without leaving the play area. There are child‑sized toilets inside the fenced area and additional adult toilets around the back of the café.

If you prefer to BYO food, there’s no shortage of picnic space. Inside the fence you’ll find shaded tables, benches and grassy spots, plus several drinking fountains. Just outside the Playground is Hale Oval, a large open field with free electric barbecues, gazebos that can be booked for functions, and plenty of shady trees. There’s also a large rope “spider net” climber here, which is ideal if you have an older sibling looking for more of a challenge while the younger kids stay in the Ivey Watson area.

Between the age‑appropriate equipment, the combination of sand, soft‑fall and grass, and the on‑site café and toilets, Ivey Watson Playground remains one of Perth’s classic under‑6s Playgrounds. While it doesn’t have the towering mega‑slides and high‑rope courses of newer adventure parks, its thoughtful design for little bodies, generous shade and beautiful Kings Park setting mean it continues to be a favourite meeting spot for Perth families.

Ivey Watson Playground, Kings Park

Address: Ivey Watson Playground, Poolgarla Family Area, 37 Kings Park Road, Kings Park WA 6005, Australia
Opening hours: Playground open 24 hours; Kings Park entry is free and open daily 
Official website: Poolgarla Family Area – Kings Park (includes Ivey Watson Playground)

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