Denham Foreshore Playground Shark Bay

ust 30 minutes’ drive from Monkey Mia, the seaside town of Denham in the Shire of Shark Bay is home to a brilliant foreshore Playground that makes an ideal stop on a family road trip or a daily destination if you’re staying locally. Many families base themselves at nearby caravan parks such as Denham Seaside Caravan Park and either walk or cycle along the waterfront path to the Playground, turning it into a fun outing in itself.

Denham is a compact, relaxed town with a handful of cafés, a bakery, petrol station and small shops lining the main street. The size of the pirate‑ and nautical‑themed adventure Playground comes as a real surprise in such a small place. It stretches across a generous area, packed with different play zones and equipment to suit a wide range of ages, all set against the backdrop of Shark Bay’s turquoise water.

The whole foreshore precinct is designed for families to linger. A shared path runs along the waterfront, perfect for scooters, bikes and prams. There’s a swimming platform with diving boards just offshore, giving confident swimmers somewhere fun to paddle out to and jump off. Onshore, you’ll find plenty of sandy beach for towels and sandcastles, plus well‑kept grassed areas with barbecues, picnic spots and fish‑cleaning facilities, ideal if you’ve spent the day out on the water. Two jetties, a nearby boat ramp and ample parking make this a natural hub for boating and fishing as well as play.

You can’t miss the Playground itself – it’s huge and full of character. It’s fenced along the roadside for peace of mind with passing traffic, but open to the foreshore side, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on little ones who like to bolt towards the water. The surface is sand, which is great for digging and soft landings but does mean toddlers can disappear from sight quickly among the structures. Shade sails, mature trees and roofed elements on many of the play areas help take the edge off the Shark Bay sun, though hats and sunscreen are still essential.

One section of the Playground focuses on classic and sensory play, with wooden balancing beams, musical instruments, traditional swings and a large pirate‑ship‑style climbing structure that invites lots of imaginative games.

In the middle of the space stands a striking brick lighthouse turret. Inside, a set of very steep, winding steps leads up to the entry of a long enclosed tube slide – a thrilling, dark tunnel ride that’s a real favourite with older kids and more adventurous younger ones.

At the opposite end you’ll find a sprawling sand‑play and construction zone built from timber, complete with pulleys, buckets, chutes and channels. Kids can spend ages here hauling, tipping and directing sand, creating their own little building sites or imaginary ports. It’s a fantastic spot for cooperative play and for slightly bigger kids to help younger siblings.

Running along the edge of the Playground is a low wall that doubles as informal seating, perfectly placed for supervising adults. You can grab a drink or snack from one of Denham’s nearby cafés or bakery and sit here while the kids run back and forth between the equipment and the beach. The coffee options in town are simple and very country‑WA, but the real star is the view – sweeping blue water, boats bobbing in the bay and sunsets that practically demand you take a hundred photos to send to family and friends.

Whether you stop for a quick leg‑stretch and play on a long drive or build it into your daily Shark Bay routine, Denham Foreshore Playground is a standout family spot. With its huge variety of play equipment, beautiful outlook and easy access to swimming, fishing and picnicking, it’s a place where the kids can burn off energy while the adults soak up one of Western Australia’s most stunning coastal settings.