The Buggbuddys guide to non-sand based playgrounds in Perth! The ultimate guide to the best playgrounds and parks with no sand in Perth! Kids love burning off energy at parks and playgrounds, and Perth’s got some of the best in the world. Best of all, playgrounds are FREE!
What is great about non-sand playgrounds?
Not all kids love sand, just as not all parents and carers may not love it either. Sometimes it’s a sensory preference. Sometimes it’s that you don’t want your toddler constantly trying to eat the sand. And sometimes it’s just that you don’t want to feel like you’re cleaning half a sandpit out of your car or your kids shoes. 😛
In addition, we’ve added details of where playgrounds are close to local coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. Therefore you can grab a bite to eat before or after your play, or grab a takeaway coffee on the way. Don’t forget your reusable coffee mug! 😉
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FEATUREDPia’s Place at Whiteman Park is one of Perth’s most loved all-abilities nature play spaces. Set among mature trees at Mussel Pool East and opposite the dog park, this huge, fully fenced Playground has been designed so that children of all ages and abilities can play side-by-side. It’s also now recognised as Whiteman Park’s biggest Playground and a key family attraction within the park’s four play areas. The first thing kids notice is the striking red-and-white lighthouse rising above the trees. Created in memory of baby Pia Maeve Rudd, who tragically died from SIDS, the lighthouse is a beautiful symbol Read more…
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Located in Mandogalup’s new residential area, Apsley Park combines recreational facilities with open spaces. The park’s centrepiece is its pump track, where children can practice their bike and scooter skills on a circuit of curves and dips. For older kids, the skate park is a highlight, offering the perfect place to show off tricks and master new moves. Those who enjoy a challenge will find the tennis wall irresistible, whether they’re practising volleys or competing with friends to see who can keep the ball in play the longest. The grassed kickabout area is ideal for a friendly game of Read more…
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Tucked within Mirvac’s Iluma Private Estate in Bennett Springs, Luminous Park is a bright, modern community Playground that’s packed with things to do for a wide range of ages. Surrounded by mature trees and generous lawn areas, it feels like a sprawling neighbourhood hub where kids can easily spend hours exploring different zones of play without everything being crammed together. It’s worth noting up front that there are no toilets on site, so plan ahead before you arrive or pair your visit with a stop at nearby venues that do have facilities. The standout feature is the impressive blue climbing Read more…
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Shirley Strickland Reserve in Ardross is a fantastic family-friendly spot that combines a nature-inspired Playground with a large, dog-friendly sporting reserve. The space brings together a Sport and Community Pavilion, fitness equipment and a shared walking and cycling path around the ovals, making it a great destination for active kids and parents alike. The hero of the Playground is the huge multilevel wooden climbing structure, topped with a bright lime green slide that kids spot as soon as they arrive. Confident climbers can head up via various ladders and climbing elements, then race each other across the bridge before zooming Read more…
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Located just off Great Eastern Highway in Ascot, Adachi Park is a lovely little spot for families needing a play break or a peaceful stroll by the Swan River. Many will recognise it from the quirky little brick house visible from the highway, but there’s much more here than meets the eye, including upgraded play equipment, riverside paths and shady picnic spots. The Playground itself is compact but well designed, with a focus on climbing and active play. The main structure features two slides and lots of rope elements that encourage kids to scramble, balance and climb. The larger slide Read more…
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Heading to Collie to checkout the AMAZING Wellington Dam wall mural? Well, you may also find yourself in the town itself, looking for a bite to eat, or place for the kids to play. Collie’s Central Park and Water Play Space is a fab spot for children to roam and explore the many mini blue hills and bumps. The playground features both soft fall and nature play areas – packing a lot into a relatively small area. There are spinners, rope bridges, a nest swing, and more, with much of the equipment found under shade sails. And there’s also this Read more…
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Honeycomb Park in Brabham is a buzzing community Playground that lives up to its name. Tucked within Peet’s Brabham Estate, not far from the Swan Valley and just around the corner from the much-loved Jungle Park, this 1.4 hectare green space is packed with play opportunities for kids of all ages, plus plenty to keep parents comfortable too. The first thing you notice is the huge yellow and black honeycomb tower rising out of the park. The bespoke honeycomb play structure is designed for confident climbers, roughly 4 years and up, with ladders and platforms leading kids up through Read more…
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Dunnell Park is a great little neighbourhood Playground that really ticks the boxes for younger kids and families looking for a shaded, low‑mess place to play. Tucked within a residential area, it feels safe, contained and very family-friendly, making it a handy option for a quick play after school or a relaxed weekend visit. One of the standout features is the excellent shade. Large shade sails cover the main play structure, helping to keep equipment cool and protecting little ones from the harsh sun. The entire Playground sits on soft-fall rubber rather than sand, which is a big plus if Read more…
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Nestled in the heart of Illyarrie Estate in Sinagra, Lillypilly Park is a refreshing blend of nature play, adventure, and peaceful vibes. You’ll find it conveniently located right next to the Sales and Information Centre (yes, you can park there!), making your visit super easy. Spread out over a sloping block, the park is cleverly tiered: the top level is where the main playground action happens, the middle tier has benches perfect for a mum catch-up or solo book session, and the lower section is still being finished, with native planting and bushland vibes. Now, let’s talk about that slide! Read more…
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Tucked away in the heart of Gosnells, amongst 22 hectares of wetlands at Mary Carroll Park, you’ll find an amazing all-abilities playground. This gem of a playground blends nature and learning, offering kids a fun and educational space to connect with the outdoors. Street parking and a small car park are available along Eudoria Street in Gosnells. The playground is fully fenced (a must if you have an escape artist like I do) with 2 entry/exit gates at either end. Toilets are located next to the carpark just outside of the fence, a good idea to make sure everyone goes Read more…
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Leafy Somerly Park in the northern suburb of Clarkson features a bright playground suitable for kids of all ages, including traditional play equipment mixed with some sensory play. On arriving and walking down the path and under a tall gazebo to the playground, the first things to grab Miss 4’s attention was the musical play equipment. A board with different shapes to drum on and chiming pipes of different heights and pitch stand at one end along with two spring rockers and a spinning toy. From here, she began exploring the main play structure, starting with the rubber swinging platforms. Read more…
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Enchantment Park in Indi Yanchep promises a truly enchanting experience for adventurous families. From the moment you arrive at the main arched entrance, it feels like stepping into a storybook world. Scan the first QR code, and you’re immediately transported into the Enchantment Park universe, complete with an interactive park book – perfect for families who love reading as much as exploring. The park is cleverly divided into themed zones, each offering unique experiences. In the Magic Meadow, little ones can run, jump, and play alongside Goran the gentle dragon. Fairy Cove is perfect for mini detectives, with hidden Read more…
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Calling all parkour lovers of all ages, this park is for you! The Scramble, located at Omodeo Vista, Hammond Park, features a variety of parkour-style climbing equipment for your ultimate parkour challenge! Parkour is a kind of activity or sport that requires you to move quickly through an environment from Point A to B by running, jumping, climbing, and rolling. This parkour obstacle course consists of multiple climbing blocks, stairs, balance beams, and pull-up bars of various heights. Missy 9 and Missy 6 could quite easily get up on them and try out different manoeuvres, like walking on the beams Read more…
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Dyoondalup Point Walter Playground, set along the stunning Swan River foreshore and next to Walter’s River Café, has been transformed with a beautiful new play space that celebrates Noongar culture and the natural landscape. The centrepiece of the Playground is a striking tower structure, designed in collaboration with Noongar artist Sharyn Egan. It reflects stories of Djunda, a tall female spirit with long flowing white hair, and honours Dyoondalup (Point Walter) as a “place of white sand.” The result is a thoughtfully designed, culturally rich Playground that offers much more than just a run-of-the-mill play experience. This is a very Read more…
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Did you know that the May Drive Parklands located in Kings Park and Botanic Garden was the very first environmental playground and community area of its kind in Australia? Previously known as the Synergy Parklands, this fun spot with golf course green-worthy lawns, is still a BIG hit with families in Perth. The park is fondly known as “The Dinosaur Playground”, since it’s home to many climbable dinosaur sculptures. May Drive Parklands features a 75m-long elevated walkway, a two-tiered island fort, life sized replicas of dinosaurs and extinct Australian Fauna (like the giant croc!), a timber boardwalk and an interactive Read more…
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Sometimes small parks deliver a big play and this is the case at Copley Reserve Belmont. We recently stumbled across this small park which is located near the shops on Kooyong Rd Belmont. Copley Reserve Belmont is very much part of the community as the park has a small community garden at the edge and the pathways lead through housing to further grassed areas and benches. The park features a nature playground that has been set up using a lovely fig tree as natural shade. Most of the playground is woodchip style base except for the sand area with two Read more…
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Set right in the middle of the new, vibrant dining and entertainment precinct at Westfield Whitford City is a beautifully unique play area for children. Overlooked by many of the restaurants and sheltered underneath shade sails, the play area is unlike any I’ve ever seen before. Forgoing traditional play equipment, which tends to be age specific, the mix of wooden stepping stones, ceramic arches and decorative metal poles appeared to appeal to children of all ages. Throughout the evening I saw all age groups from toddlers to preteens climbing and jumping and running, all thoroughly engaged and having plenty of Read more…
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Joseph Banks Gardens in Banksia Grove is a huge, nature-inspired park that offers something for every little adventurer. Whether you’re here for a morning play or making a full day of it with a stop at nearby Pitstop Playground, this spot is definitely worth your time—especially if your kids love space to run, ride, and climb. This park is spread over gentle hills and dips, with bike paths weaving throughout, so don’t forget the bikes or scooters! There are benches placed all around for resting or watching the kids, and shaded picnic tables for snack time. A water fountain is Read more…
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Avondale Park in Mindarie is one of those quietly excellent Playgrounds that’s been doing its job well for years. It may not be the flashiest or most high-tech play space, but if you value shade, space, and practical family-friendly design, this park definitely deserves a spot on your list. Located in a coastal suburb, Avondale Park is easy to combine with a bigger day out. You can start with a play at the park, then head to the nearby beach, or finish off with a coffee or meal at Sistas Mindarie at the Mindarie Marina, just a few minutes’ drive Read more…
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Tucked within Ariella Estate in Brabham, Ariella Adventure Park is a fantastic destination for kids who love to climb, explore and play outdoors. The star of the park is the bright dragonfly-themed play structure, which instantly grabs little ones’ attention as you arrive. The dragonfly’s body is made up of two large rope climbing frames joined by a bridge, leading to a tall enclosed slide that offers a good, speedy ride down. Confident climbers will love making their way right up to the top, traversing across the ropes and then racing each other down the slide again and again. Around Read more…
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Noah’s Playground in South Guildford is a standout neighbourhood park set within the leafy Rosehill Waters estate, just a few minutes from historic Guildford and the Swan Valley. Inspired by the story of Noah’s Ark, it blends imaginative animal-themed details with big, adventurous structures, making it especially appealing for school-aged kids while still offering plenty for confident toddlers and preschoolers. Planes regularly flying overhead add an extra bit of excitement for little plane spotters, and the estate’s peaceful, green setting gives the whole visit a relaxed, “weekend away” feel even though you’re only about 15 minutes from the CBD. The Read more…
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Located in the heart of the new community at Mandogalup, Florence Estate Park is A playground that beautifully incorporates wooden beams for its play equipment. This spacious playground is nested beside rows of mature trees, providing scenic greenery, and playing in the park feels like you’re right next to nature. My girls headed straight to the main play area, where the big slide is. The tall climbing structure features various climbing wall panels for kids to use. Missy 6 had no trouble climbing onto all of them, but younger toddlers might find the tallest one daunting. The flooring of this Read more…
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Tucked in among the high-rise apartments of Burswood, Promenade Park is a compact but well-equipped neighbourhood Playground that’s ideal for younger children. It offers a good mix of physical play, sensory experiences and quieter activities, all against a lovely backdrop of city and stadium views. The main Playground area is built on soft fall, making it a safer space for little ones to explore. There are two main structures. The smaller one is perfect for toddlers, featuring a noughts-and-crosses game, a rainmaker, a music maker and a small tunnel to crawl through. The larger structure caters to more confident climbers, Read more…
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William Henry Oval Caversham is situated nearby to Caversham Community Centre, and close to Suffolk Street before Colorino Avenue. The oval itself hosts a lot of community sports and also has two playgrounds that are worth a visit. The first play area is suitable for older children, ages 3 and up, depending on your child’s climbing ability. The play area is sand-based, featuring a variety of equipment for the children to use. There are rock climbing walls, slides, assorted monkey bars, fireman pole, ladders, spider web climbing frame and balancing poles. The second playground is connected to the community centre. Read more…
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Carlindie Park is a fairly new park snuggled in between Glenburg Drive and Carlindie Parkway, Golden Bay. There are plenty of open spaces and nature for your little ones to discover. It is the perfect after school hangout for kids! There are two undercover seating areas with one containing a free use BBQ. Artistically designed play features include: Swing Seesaw Balancing boards For the sports fan there are AFL goals to practice your kicking and a half basketball court. For those who love to ride their bike or scooter, there is plenty of paving all around the park to have Read more…
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The Malabar Park BMX & Community Facility in Bibra Lake is home to the Cockburn BMX Club. This $8.9m redevelopment project is set to welcome national-level BMX events for all local and interstate riders with its new Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) accredited track! Whether you have a BMX enthusiast or beginners looking for a new place to try some BMX racing and training, Malabar Park BMX & Community Facility is the exciting place for the whole family to have a ball in community riding while enjoying the other fantastic facilities like the pump track, playground, clubhouse and BBQ facilities. Riders Read more…
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Harbour View Park in Hillarys is a lovely local Playground that’s especially suited to toddlers and young children, with the bonus of exercise facilities for adults and free community tennis courts alongside. Tucked within the quiet suburban streets, it’s an easy park to visit for a quick play, a longer hang-out with friends, or a scooter ride around the surrounding paths. The main play area is boat-themed, which is always a winner with little ones who love to pretend they’re the captain at sea. The compact climbing frame includes small ladders that are easy for younger children to manage, a Read more…
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Meadow Springs Quarry Adventure Park is one of those parks that looks fairly “normal” from the street… until you start walking. What begins as a leafy, family-friendly reserve quickly reveals its real personality: an adventure Playground built into the levels of an old quarry, with play spaces that tumble down the slope and keep confident climbers busy for ages. Up top, the park feels like a classic picnic-and-play setup, with wide lawns, plenty of trees, and a Playground that suits younger kids well. This is where you’ll find the more traditional equipment and a separate toddler-friendly play space mentioned, making Read more…
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Perth is now home to an epic new seven‑kilometre “Long Park” that runs beneath the elevated Metronet Armadale train line from Carlisle Station through to Beckenham. What was once an underused corridor has been transformed into 14 vibrant community spaces, linking four new Playgrounds, a nature play area, youth plazas, skate and scooter zones, fitness equipment, courts, dog parks, BBQ spots and picnic areas, all connected by walking and cycling paths and Perth’s longest public art trail. It’s a brilliant spot for families to explore in stages or tackle in one big adventure, and it feels like something new to Read more…
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Tucked into the Saw Avenue Picnic Area on the Subiaco side of Kings Park, Variety Place Playground is a brilliant all-ages nature Playground where kids can climb, balance, crawl and explore for hours. The space has been redeveloped with the support of Variety WA and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, with a strong focus on nature play and inclusive design so that children of all abilities can play side by side. Set amongst mature trees and open lawns, it’s a fantastic spot to let the kids burn off energy before enjoying a relaxed family picnic. The Playground is packed Read more…
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Tucked within the Piara Waters development, Explorer Park is a bright, compact and very active little Playground that’s ideal for families who love to be outdoors and on the move. Located at the opposite end of the reserve from the popular Madox Playground and Pump Track, this park works perfectly as part of a longer play outing, or as a handy local spot to burn off energy after school. The Playground itself may be small, but it’s cleverly designed and packed with things to climb, jump and bounce on. One of the standout features is the wavy climbing wall, which Read more…
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Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Bassendean, Palmerston Square Playground is a charming neighbourhood park that’s been transformed with beautiful wooden play equipment and loads of natural charm. Surrounded by a lovely green outlook and shaded by a mix of new plantings and established trees, it’s the kind of local Playground that invites you to linger while the kids explore. The main play area is set on wood chips and has been thoughtfully designed with different zones for active and imaginative play. Kids can test their balance on low balancing logs, a wobbly balancing log and a timber balancing Read more…
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Anchors away! Windjammer Park in the coastal suburb of Jindalee, around 45 minutes north of Perth, is a fantastic family playground that captures a true coastal vibe. As part of the City of Wanneroo’s 19/20 Asset Renewal Program, the park was given a major refresh — and the result is a vibrant, ocean-inspired play space that perfectly fits its seaside location. The playground features high-quality equipment from Tip Tip Tap, designed with a nautical twist that instantly sparks kids’ imaginations. The standout piece is a large pirate ship play structure, complete with climbing walls, slides, and a fire pole — Read more…
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Avon Park in York, also known locally as Pioneer Avon Park, has been extensively redeveloped and is now one of the Avon Valley’s standout family Playground destinations. Set along the banks of the Avon River on Lowe Street, it combines a big, grassy riverside park with a brilliant nature play space, skate park and plenty of facilities, making it an ideal stop on a York day trip or overnighter. The nature-based Playground uses lots of timber, stone and natural elements, and there’s a good amount of shade from both trees and shelters. Families will find multiple sheltered picnic tables, free Read more…
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Grado Park is one of those local parks that doesn’t try to be flashy, but once you’ve experienced it, you’ll keep coming back. Nestled on the corner of Piazza Link and Grado Way, this hilltop park offers a peaceful, nature-rich space that’s ideal for families with older kids, sunset chasers, and anyone needing a breather from the daily grind. The park is built around a natural rise, and while it’s not a steep mountain, you’ll definitely feel the gentle uphill walk, whether you choose the ramps or stone stairs, it adds a little adventure to the visit. Natural mulch, mature Read more…
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Located just around Harrisdale Nature Reserve, Harrisdale Green Sensory Park is the all-new interactive sensory park for children of all abilities at the new Harrisdale Green Estate. When we first drove past, this cute playground caught our attention with its vibrant colours. The scale of this playground is smallish and more suited for younger toddlers. Older kids might find that there is limited play equipment for them here, but don’t worry, there is another bigger playground located at Green Link Park, which is just a few minutes walk away. The highlight of this playground has to be the sensory play Read more…
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Did you know that there’s a nature play area in the Perth foothills suburb of Bushmead. While it’s much smaller than the estate’s “Giant Park”, the simple Ridge Hill Green Nature Playground can provide plenty of entertainment for children that love to be in the great outdoors and love to climb. The beautifully made timber play structure features a double slide – perfect for kids to race siblings or friends. Image: Bushmead Estate Very small children may have trouble reaching this, as there’s a flat net to climb to get to it, as well as big logs to climb. On Read more…
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Just off Ocean Reef Road, there’s a fantastic playground found at Edgewater Park in Edgewater! There’s many fun elements to this playground including a traditional play structure and a little nature play too. And good news if you’ve just cleaned your car… there’s no sand! Found next to the Edgewater Shopping Centre, there’s plenty of parking and facilities here. The IGA makes it handy to grab a drink or snack to enjoy in the park. The dual metal slide is perfect for racing a friend! It’s quite fast, surrounded by soft fall, making it easy to scramble up the slope Read more…
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Len Packham Park in Coolbellup is home to a fantastic nature adventure Playground, set amongst towering mature trees that provide welcome shade for much of the day. Tucked in behind Coolbellup Public Library and right alongside the Coolbellup Skate Park, it’s an easy spot to make a full morning or afternoon of play, especially for families with mixed ages and interests. The hero of the Playground is the impressive timber treehouse structure. Kids can climb a rope ladder up to a mid-level platform, then scramble through a rope tunnel to reach the top “house” before zooming back down via a Read more…
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On the eastern side of Hyde Park, near the corner of Glendower Street and William Street, you’ll find the upgraded Hyde Park East Playground – a compact but exciting play space built around a ninja-style rope course. This modern setup is designed to test strength, balance, climbing and jumping skills, and is suitable for a wide age range – from confident toddlers right through to older kids and even adults who want to join in. The main feature of the Playground is the intricate rope course set over soft-fall rubber flooring, providing extra safety and comfort underfoot. The structure includes Read more…
