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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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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Banks Reserve in Mount Lawley is a beautiful riverside park on Joel Terrace, right on the banks of the Swan River. The large, leafy reserve is built around magnificent mature trees, which provide plenty of natural shade and give the area a relaxed, bushy feel. It’s a popular spot for families looking for a Playground, open space and access to the river, all just minutes from the city. The standout feature of the Playground is the impressive treehouse. Built around one of the huge existing trees, it offers loads of climbing opportunities and a sense of adventure for confident kids. Read more…
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Jubilee Reserve, Eden Hill Jubilee Reserve is a multi-use reserve with a great playground located in Eden Hill. With play equipment suitable for toddlers to tweens, this shaded, sand-free playground is sure to be a hit. On arrival, Miss 4.5 bolted straight for the climbing ropes. A large arched climbing structure with rope ladders, a climbing wall and rubbery platforms with a huge winner with my Miss and a 7 year old girl. A metal ladder also runs up the side of this structure, connecting it to a second climbing structure. This second structure features swinging ropes, a rope web, and Read more…
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Tucked away in Trinity Estate, Alkimos, Fontana Park is a compact yet exciting neighbourhood Playground that’s perfect for a quick play or a relaxed picnic stop. It has a modern coastal feel and rewards families who seek it out with a mix of fun equipment and lovely views from the higher level of the park. The standout feature is the big log swing, which is wide enough for multiple kids to share and tends to be the first thing they run to. Nearby, a rock climbing wall leads adventurous kids up to an impressive slide. The slide is fast and Read more…
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The Village at Wellard Playground is a leafy, community-focused play space that genuinely offers something for all ages. Set within The Village at Wellard and bordered by a skate park and BMX track, it’s the kind of spot where active kids can easily spend a couple of hours climbing, jumping, riding and exploring, while parents relax under the shade of the mature trees. The standout feature is the large rope climbing frame that forms the heart of the Playground. Kids can clamber up through the ropes, choosing to come down via the slide at the middle level or keep climbing Read more…
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John Oldham Park is one of those Perth spots that surprises you every time you visit. Hidden between the freeway and the Swan River off Mounts Bay Road, it feels a world away from the city traffic just metres above. Once you’ve pulled into the small paid car park and wandered over the footbridge, you’re suddenly surrounded by tall trees, birdsong and water views – it’s a real little bush escape on the edge of the CBD. The main Playground sits right by the bridge and is ideal for a relaxed play while you set up a picnic. The equipment Read more…
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JH Abrahams Reserve in Crawley is a beautiful, riverside Playground and picnic spot that’s ideal for families looking to spend a few relaxed hours outdoors. Overlooking the Swan River and close to Matilda Bay, it combines a shaded play area, big grassy spaces and great facilities, making it an easy option for a play, ride and picnic. Shaded with sail shades and tall mature trees, this playground is on a woodchip play area. Children of all ages can enjoy climbing on the main wooden climbing structure. With different climbing elements on it, even the little ones can find it easy Read more…
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Seldon Street Playground is located in a small park on Eton Street, North Perth. The street is fairly quiet, with plenty of roadside parking available. The playground area is fenced with two Maglock gates, and the equipment is surrounded by rubbery softfall. Shade sails cover most of the playground, with shady trees outside the fence helping to increase the shaded area. The main play structure features a tall twisty slide, ladders and a bridge to climb, as well as a rope web and two different sized climbing walls. At one end is a fireman pole, monkey bars and a flying Read more…
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Maylands Waterland is WA’s premier outdoor water playground, beautifully situated on the Maylands Peninsula overlooking the Swan River. This FREE family-friendly facility operates seasonally from September until April, with water features running daily from 9am to 5pm. The park features a water feature stream flowing into a variable depth splash pool, nature playgrounds, and extensive grassed areas perfect for picnics. Facilities include free accessible BBQs, picnic shelters, toilet and shower amenities, and a dedicated party space with kitchenette available for hire. While the water features are seasonal, the parklands, playground, BBQs, toilets, and picnic areas remain open year-round during daylight 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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Maniana Park is a huge destination Playground in Queens Park, perfect for hours of family fun. You’ll find it on the corner of Whitlock and Gibbs Streets, tucked behind the Sam Kerr Soccer Stadium. Playground highlights A large main play structure with three slides, varied climbing challenges, multi-level platforms, and a bridge connecting zones. Underneath, kids will love the cute role-play café. A great mix of nature play, water play, swings, monkey bars and climbing equipment—something for all ages. A dedicated toddler zone with a small slide and crawl tunnel. Nature play elements including a teepee, balancing and climbing rocks, 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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The Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space is an amazing park purpose-built for all ages and abilities. Carefully built around and under existing trees, covering 10,000sqm with wheelchair access throughout, a sensory garden, flying fox, climbing obstacles, slides, swings, picnic areas, water play, toilet facilities and fully fenced… it certainly ticks all the boxes!!! The main wooden structure has ramp and stair access, decks, two slides, and a balancing beam. Underneath there is a cubby house with a shop window and fun coloured glass blocks. There is a nature play area that backs onto the wooden structure, it is step 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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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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Claughton Reserve in Bayswater is a gorgeous riverside park tucked away at the bottom of Katanning Street, right on the banks of the Swan River. This reserve combines a fun nature play space, a whimsical fairy trail and wide open green spaces, making it a lovely destination for families with kids of all ages. The Playground at Claughton Reserve has been designed to feel adventurous while still being accessible for younger children. Built largely from logs and ropes with a woodchip base, it offers plenty of climbing, balancing and imaginative play without the worry of sand-filled shoes on the way 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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Coventry Village in Morley is home to a bright, modern outdoor Playground that’s perfect for kids who love to climb, balance and burn off energy while you grab a coffee or tackle the grocery shop. Set just outside Coventry Village Shopping Centre and close to the cafes and restaurants at the front of the complex, it’s an easy add‑on to a family meal or quick shopping trip. The Playground is fully fenced with a solid metal barrier and a mag‑lock gate, providing peace of mind with the nearby car park and road. Inside, the ground is covered in rubber softfall, Read more…
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The $ 6.7 million Youth Entertainment Space (YES) at Sutherlands Park in Huntingdale, and it has quickly become one of the top hotspots for local teens to hang out! This state-of-the-art facility that’s fully sheltered (the first of its kind in Perth Metro area!) is designed closely with local young people to ensure the space is inclusive and inviting, and is the perfect one-stop recreational hub for everyone in the community to enjoy all year round! What we love: Vibrant urban play area with hangout zone that features social swings and platform seatings. Challenging climbing walls and a huge roll-runner 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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Manning Park in Spearwood is the perfect spot to take the kids out for a picnic and play in the park. The reserve is huge with four car parks in total and plenty of wide open grassed areas. The playground itself is quite amazing, plenty for all ages, stages and abilities. There are shade sails over each section and plenty of trees to pull up under too. The day we went it was 40 degrees but the shade and grass definitely brought the temp down. The only negative I would have is the placement of the drinking fountain which was Read more…
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Rockingham has a fantastic reason for families to get outdoors and play: the Churchill Playground is a SEAsational destination for kids and parents alike. Designed to take little explorers on an adventure that flows from the forest to the sea, this much-loved space offers a mix of fun that keeps children entertained and grown-ups happy all year round. From the moment you step into the playground, it’s clear how much thought has gone into the design. Kids can rock, climb, slide, and spin to their hearts’ content, with equipment that sparks imagination and encourages plenty of active play. The forest-and-sea 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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Karragarup Play Space in Australind is a brilliant family stop-off on the drive down south, and a destination in its own right if you’re holidaying in the Harvey Region. Located on the Ridley Place Foreshore, the Playground overlooks the calm waters of the Leschenault Estuary and has a distinctly coastal Australian feel, celebrating its setting and local Noongar culture. “Karragarup” comes from the local Wardandi Noongar language and means “place of the crabs”, a nod to the bay’s famed blue swimmer crab population, and that theme runs strongly throughout the play space. The hero of the Playground is the enormous Read more…
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Tucked into Iluma Estate in Bennett Springs, Dazzle Park is a bright, modern community hub that really lives up to its name. The colourful Playground is wrapped in a living hedge maze, so even the walk in feels like a little adventure. As the hedges have grown, the maze has become an attraction in itself, adding a fun “find your way in and out” element to every visit. The standout feature in the centre of the maze is the impressive climbing structure. Confident climbers will love scrambling up the large climbing wall to reach the high, bright yellow slide. 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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Perched high above the Indian Ocean at the western end of Reflection Boulevard, Eden Beach Lookout and Play Space in Jindalee is made for older kids who love to move. This modern coastal park combines parkour-style equipment, scooter and skate ramps, and a half basketball court with sweeping ocean views, making it a brilliant spot for active families to hang out, especially later in the day when the sun begins to set. The heart of the space is the concrete scooter and skate area. Here you’ll find low and medium ramps and banks that are perfect for scooters, skateboards and Read more…
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Perry Lakes Rope Playground is located on Perry Lakes Drive, near the corner of Meager Drive. The playground is fully fenced and gated, and I feel it would be more suited to children aged three years and older who have more strength to climb and balance. Perry Lakes Rope playground is made up of many ladders, rubber platforms and balancing ropes. My miss 3 particularly loved the rope suspension bridge. She had several climbs across this one. It was great for building on her balancing skills. She also liked the rubber hammock section attached to a series of rope nets, Read more…
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We all know shopping with kids isn’t easy, but the kids will be begging to go to Mandurah Forum’s beach-inspired playground! The state-of-the-art playground is part of the $350 million redevelopment, completed in March 2018 the two fully enclosed play areas are the perfect place to take a break while the kids burn off some energy. The main feature is an 8-metre high climbing structure in the shape of a cray pot with internal climbing nets and two twisting tunnel slides, it is great for adventurous kids who are confident climbers. Dotted on the softfall are different sea creatures to Read more…
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Alkimos Beach Fitness Park is a brilliant spot for active families, bringing together a coastal workout hub and a compact Playground so adults and kids can enjoy the space at the same time. Set on a grassy rise in Alkimos, it’s designed as a community fitness circuit with the bonus of ocean views from the top. The park centres around a dedicated freeletics area, where adults and older kids can work through bodyweight exercises. There’s also a purpose-built parkour section with low walls and bars that invite climbing, jumping and balancing – a big hit with confident school-aged kids who Read more…
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Mariala Vista Park is located in Jindowie, Yanchep. So many of the new parks that have been built recently have a problem with serious lack of shade, where the developer has planted trees but they won’t provide any shade until they mature in years to come. Mariala Vista Park is distinctly different. The park has been developed in an area packed full of mature beautiful tall trees that provide a large amount of shade over the whole play area. Mariala Vista Park caters for both older and younger children. There is a large enclosed twisting slide that looks like great Read more…
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Whitfords Nodes Ninja Warrior Course is a brilliant spot for active kids, teens and adults who love a challenge. Set within the Whitfords Nodes Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hillarys, this coastal park combines a serious ninja-style obstacle course with running tracks, outdoor gym equipment, Playgrounds and beach access, making it easy to turn a quick play into a full family day out. The ninja course itself feels like stepping onto the set of an obstacle TV show. You’ll spot familiar elements like the quintuple steps right at the starting line, followed by obstacles such as the spin cycle, cargo Read more…
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Mills Park in Beckenham has long been a favourite with Perth families, and the newer all-abilities Playground has made it an even better spot for kids of all ages and needs. Tucked beside the BBQs and grassed picnic areas and only a short stroll from the main nature play space and skate plaza, this fenced Playground is a great “base camp” for families who want a safer, more contained area without missing out on all the action. The all-abilities Playground is fully fenced and double gated, which is especially reassuring for families with toddlers, runners or children who need a Read more…
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South Beach Playground in South Fremantle is a brilliant spot for little pirates to run wild, with the bonus of being right on one of Perth’s most family‑friendly beaches. Set on the foreshore of South Beach Reserve, the Playground combines a fun, boat‑themed play space with a huge grassed area, barbecues and easy access to the sand and cafe, making it an easy full‑morning or full‑day outing for families. The main drawcard is the large pirate‑style boat structure. Kids can clamber up to the “deck”, scale ladders and platforms, and take on the role of captain as they climb the Read more…
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Calista Bike Skills Track Playground is a brilliant spot for scooter and bike-mad kids, purpose-built to help little riders learn road rules in a fun, low-stress way. Opened in 2023 and set amongst shady trees at Calista Oval, the track sits right next to Kwinana Adventure Playground and The Edge Skate Park, making this area a fantastic all-day destination for families. The bike skills track is laid out like a mini road network with smooth flat paths. Kids can follow roundabouts, negotiate speed bumps, stop at traffic lights and stop signs, and practise giving way at pedestrian crossings. There are Read more…
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If you’ve explored your fair share of shopping centre playgrounds, you’ll know they can often feel a little repetitive. Ocean Keys Shopping Centre in Clarkson has taken a completely different approach — creating a space that is intentional, inclusive and genuinely engaging for children and their caregivers. This isn’t just somewhere to pass the time. It’s a place where children can move, explore, regulate and connect — and where parents and caregivers can actually enjoy the experience too. Inspired by WA’s Coastline The design is one of the first things that stands out. Inspired by the Western Australian coastline and Read more…
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Tucked within the Lakelands development on Dragonfly Boulevard, Lakelands Park is a lovely little nature play space that’s perfect for a morning tea stop, after school play or a quick run around on the way to or from Mandurah. It’s around a six‑minute drive from Lakelands Shopping Centre and Lakelands Library on Mandurah Road, making it easy to pair with a coffee stop or errands. The Playground is nestled between mature trees and an open grassy area, giving it a peaceful bushy feel despite being in a new estate. Being close to Paganoni Reserve, you may even be lucky enough Read more…
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Found besides the waters of Lake Claremont is a small, but lovely nature playground. The play area has been designed for primary school aged kids, though little ones will love the sand play! The main fort structure is suitable for older kids, as it is made up of wooden steps and rope to climb up to the top. Once you’re at the top, the “floor” is also made out of rope, so there’s no solid surface to stand and play on. There’s a large concrete sand-play table, with a tyre to scoop up the course red sand, attached to a Read more…
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Hillcrest Park in Bayswater is a great spot for families looking for a fresh, non-sand Playground with loads of space to run and play. Set along Coode Street between the Jamison-Frame Pavilion and the cricket practice nets, the newer Playground sits on the edge of the oval and is an easy after-school stop if you’re coming from Hillcrest Primary nearby. One of the first things families will appreciate is that the main play area is not sand based, which is ideal if you’re not keen on taking half the park home in your car. The main multi-level climbing structure offers Read more…
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In amongst all the shiny office buildings in West Perth is Totterdell Park. The leafy inner city park is made up of a soft fall play area with a large metal play frame that features two slides, “shop” window, climbing nets, ramps, monkey bars, a climbing wall and more. There is also a see-saw and fun nest swing too. This play area isn’t covered by shade sails, though the park is surrounded by mature trees, giving a little afternoon shade. The quiet park is not fenced and runs alongside Thomas Street, so you’ll want to keep an eye on little escape artists if you choose to take younger children. There is ample space Read more…
