Kadidjiny Park, affectionately known as the “Dr Seuss Playground”, is a wonderfully quirky community park in the heart of Melville. Spread over almost four hectares and bounded by Curtis and Kitchener Roads, this colourful reserve combines imaginative play spaces, shady picnic spots and community facilities, making it a great all‑round destination for families.
The park sits on the former Melville Primary School site, and its name, “Kadidjiny”, is a Noongar word meaning “learning”, which is a lovely nod to its history and its role as a gathering place for local families and school groups. The City of Melville redeveloped the site into a $9.5 million landmark park that opened in 2010, complete with Playground, amphitheatre and extensive green space, all of which you can see detailed on the City of Melville website.
This isn’t your typical Playground with one big climbing frame plonked in the middle. Instead, the play area is built around undulating grass and soft‑fall mounds that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook – or even “Teletubby land”! Children love racing up and down the hills, rolling, sliding, and leaping from mound to mound. Bright red and white striped poles pop up throughout the space, giving the park its Dr Seuss nickname and making the whole area feel like a page from one of his books brought to life.
A big drawcard for many kids is the pair of slides built into the rocky hillside. There’s a tall, enclosed blue tube slide that’s a thrill for confident climbers, and a lower, open yellow bumpy slide that’s ideal for toddlers and preschoolers.
One can be accessed via stone steps, while the other has a fun “secret” path winding through the garden, so children can choose their own little adventure to the top. Nearby you’ll find a swing set with both a standard and a toddler swing, as well as a sand play table for little ones who love to dig and pour.
For children who like to swing together, there’s also a large tripod birds nest swing, which was very popular with older kids during our visit. It’s perfect for cooperative play – siblings and friends can pile in and push each other, or lie back and relax while they sway.
Not far from here is a musical sensory zone, where kids can bang away on metal drums and other percussion pieces. It’s noisy, creative fun that encourages experimentation and suits a wide range of ages and abilities.
At the centre of the Playground is a large soft‑fall hump crowned by a whimsical cubby house that looks like something a Who from Whoville might live in.
Scattered around this area are rubbery soft‑fall bumps, which make a brilliant “floor is lava” course. Children can set themselves challenges – no touching the blue bits, only jumping on green, or seeing how many bumps they can cross without falling off.
Sand play is well covered at Kadidjiny Park. One sandpit features a boat‑shaped rocker and a friendly turtle to climb on, perfect for imaginative “at sea” adventures.
Close by is a large spinner big enough for several children to sit around the outside and spin together.
Another sand area has a digger and a smaller one‑ or two‑person spinner, so kids who like to construct, scoop and spin will easily find something to suit them.
For little climbers, there’s a rope web that offers a good challenge without being too intimidating, and it’s a great outlet for children who dream of being Spiderman.
The park works beautifully for families planning a longer stay, thanks to its generous picnic and barbecue facilities. There are multiple picnic tables and at least two barbecues in a large paved area, plus plenty of bins and a drinking fountain for topping up water bottles. The Playground core is shaded by large sails, while mature trees around the reserve provide dappled shade across the lawns and paths. You’ll still want hats and sunscreen, but there’s enough cover to make this a comfortable spot on warmer days.
One of the biggest bonuses for families with younger children is that the main Playground is fully fenced and gated. This gives caregivers real peace of mind, as there’s no easy escape route to the surrounding roads. Within the fence, surfaces are mostly soft‑fall, sand or grass, making it friendly for toddlers finding their feet and for kids who might trip or tumble in their enthusiastic play.
Beyond the fenced play area, Kadidjiny Park opens out into wide lawns and paths that are ideal for scooters, bikes and prams. This makes Kadidjiny particularly well suited to bigger gatherings, school groups and community events – it’s easy to spread out rugs, set up games, or sit and watch kids zoom past on wheels.
A short wander away from the main play space, you’ll also find a quieter wetland area and more natural plantings, adding a little bushland feel and extra spots for nature exploration. It’s a nice change of pace if children need a breather from the busy Playground, and it gives families a chance to talk about local plants and wildlife while they stroll.
Kadidjiny Park is very much a community hub, not just a Playground. The adjacent Kadidjiny Park Hall and community centre run a variety of programs for families and seniors, and the park’s amphitheatre and open lawns are frequently used for local events. This makes it a great spot to consider for school wind‑ups, community concerts, or big family get‑togethers that still want a relaxed, outdoor setting.
Practicalities are well covered. Parking is available along Curtis Road and Kitchener Road, including at the Kadidjiny Park Hall. Toilets, including facilities attached to the community centre, are a short stroll from the Playground fence line, which is very handy with young children. .
Whether you’re dropping in for a quick play or settling in for a full morning with a picnic, Kadidjiny Park lives up to its reputation as one of Melville’s most distinctive Playgrounds. The combination of imaginative “Dr Seuss” styling, nature‑inspired play, community facilities and big open spaces means there’s genuinely something here for everyone.
Kadidjiny Park, Melville
Address: 70–72 Kitchener Road, Melville WA 6156 (bounded by Curtis and Kitchener Roads)
Official website: Kadidjiny Park – City of Melville
Location
Member Reviews
Place Categories: All Abilities, Fenced, Nature, Fitness Equipment, Playgrounds, With Shade, With Toilets, and Best for Toddlers
