The Buggbuddys guide to parks with shade in Perth! The ultimate guide to the best playgrounds and parks with shade 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, skate are FREE!
Why visit a playground or park with shade?
Why not be Sun Smart? Perth can have some extreme temperatures, and experiences high UV rating regularly. In addition to sun hats and sunscreen, shaded parks protect delicate childhood skin on hot or high UV days. Parks with natural shade or shade sails are perfect for keeping children safer in these conditions.
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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FEATUREDThe Village East Playground at Whiteman Park is a bright, modern play space where toddlers can confidently explore while older children still find plenty of challenges. Shade sails cover much of the main structure, making it a comfortable spot to play even on sunny days. You’ll find the Playground in The Village at Whiteman Park, right across from the Village Cafe and immediately beside the Mini Water Playground, which operates during the warmer months (generally 10am–5pm – always check the Whiteman Park website for current seasonal dates and conditions). With toilets, BBQs and plenty of seating close by, it’s easy Read more…
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Ahoy sailors! Set within the Sienna Wood estate in Hilbert, Shipwreck Park is a fantastic nautical-themed destination Playground designed with families and inclusivity in mind. Located around 36km south-east of Perth, this big, bright, fully fenced space is ideal for toddlers through to tweens, with plenty to keep everyone busy for hours. From the moment you arrive, it’s clear the park has been thoughtfully planned for families. There’s a generous car park, unisex toilets and a parent room close by, and the entire Playground is fully fenced with multiple entry and exit points, including a push-button gate that’s perfect for Read more…
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Tucked within the Sienna Wood estate in Haynes, Explorer Park is a brilliant all‑rounder park that keeps toddlers, tweens, teens and even adults happily busy. It combines a huge landmark climbing tower, nature play, all‑abilities equipment and serious sports facilities, making it a true destination Playground rather than just a quick stop. The star of the park is the striking “Tree of Life” tower – an 8‑metre high climbing structure with two enclosed tunnel slides spiralling down from different levels. Little adventurers can reach the lower slide via straightforward stairs, which makes that first big climb far less intimidating. To 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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Amberton Beach Lighthouse Park located 20km North of Joondalup. The 5 million dollar foreshore playground features an 8.5 metre tall lighthouse with twisting tunnel slides, a ship play structure, sand play, a rope maze, and basketball court – the kids will never want to go home! The bright red and white lighthouse is the centerpiece of the playground, it is only suitable for confident climbers as climbing nets are the only way up! Saying that my fearless 3 year olds were able to climb to the top unassisted. There are two twisting tunnel slides coming off the lighthouse at different Read more…
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The new Tomato Lake all-abilities playground has opened and it appears to be a big hit as it was very busy when we visited. The playground is in front between the cafe and the bbq picnic area. The bbq area has also been refreshed with new picnic tables. The playground has been designed to suit toddlers through to older kids, including those with disabilities. It is bright and colourful with soft fall base The playground features an inclusive seesaw, which is the only one of its kind in WA. There are a number of bench seats along the car park Read more…
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Set in the heart of Manjimup, around three hours’ drive south of Perth, Manjimup Timber and Heritage Park is an absolute must‑visit for families exploring the Southern Forests. Spread over 12 hectares of landscaped parkland and natural bush, it combines one of WA’s most impressive regional adventure Playgrounds with museums, heritage buildings and tranquil picnic spots, making it very easy to spend a whole day here. The adventure Playground is the big drawcard and it truly offers something for all ages. Little ones are well catered for with a shaded toddler and pre‑school area featuring a small climbing structure and 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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Nestled at the corner of Mason Road and Doryanthes Avenue, Newhaven Robot Park is a must-visit destination for families in Perth. This vibrant and imaginative park offers something for everyone, with its standout robot-themed playground and a variety of engaging activities for kids of all ages. Robot-Themed Playground: The park’s centrepiece is a giant fallen robot, designed to spark creativity and adventure. The robot’s head and body are a climber’s paradise, featuring rock climbing walls, ramps, a twisty slide, and a large climbing net. A fun ‘hamster wheel’ adds an extra element of excitement. The robot’s ‘feet’ house Read more…
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Marlinspike Park in Jindalee is a bright, modern coastal Playground that’s popular with local families and visitors exploring the northern suburbs. Set beside the primary school playing fields, the park feels open and airy, with ocean breezes and plenty of space for kids to run around, kick a ball or enjoy a picnic. The Playground’s design has a contemporary, almost industrial feel, with lots of rope structures and climbing frames that encourage kids to scramble, balance and swing. Children who love to climb will be in heaven here – there are rope nets, tunnels and fortress-style structures that are perfect Read more…
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Situated in the Shorehaven Estate is Shorehaven Boulevard Playground – a lovely, partially fenced playground that is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Shorehaven Boulevard Playground features some play equipment we hadn’t come across before, and Miss 3 had a great time exploring. In the sand area, we found lots of colourful wood and plastic based play equipment. The lowest parts are made up of interconnected stations and feature some sensory play. One part has different knobs, balls and a spinning bullseye you can move around, and a cute owl on top that twirls. Another adjoining section was like a little Read more…
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Lawler Park is a green, leafy park in Floreat with a playground suitable for toddlers and upwards. There are lots of play opportunities here to keep the kids busy. The larger playground structure includes two slides of different sizes, ring-shaped monkey bars, swinging platforms to climb across, some climbing ropes, and a tricky balancing beam with vertical bars to up the difficulty level. It has a miniature climbing wall on one side and a clock for practising setting the time. Miss almost 3 particularly enjoyed the balancing beam. Standing separately, there is a train shaped spring rocker, a spinning pole, Read more…
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Abbeville Park, in the northern coastal suburb of Mindarie, is a bright, energetic Playground set within a large active reserve. This is very much a “run, climb and burn off energy” kind of park – ideal for active kids who love to scramble, swing, and explore, while still offering enough quieter corners and sensory elements to keep younger children engaged. Where Abbeville Park really stands out is its range of climbing and physical play options. Kids can challenge themselves on steppers, a mini zipline, rope bridges, a rope spider web, rope tunnels, vertical climbing tubes, a climbing wall, and more Read more…
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Opportunity Playspace at Rotary Park has long been one of Wanneroo’s most loved playgrounds, and after visiting again following the Stage One upgrade completed in July 2024, it’s easy to see why this space continues to draw families back year after year. Originally opened in 1979, the park still carries a sense of history and character, yet it remains well-maintained and thoughtfully updated by the City of Wanneroo. The biggest change is the replacement of the original wooden fort, now a large mostly-metal play structure with some timber elements. While the materials mean it can get warm on hot days, Read more…
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If you’re looking for a new spot to let the kids burn off some energy while soaking up stunning estuary views, the South East Dawesville Foreshore Playground is well worth a visit. This beautifully designed, fully fenced nature play area is perfect for all ages and abilities, with something to keep everyone entertained. There’s a dedicated wooden climbing structure for the older kids featuring climbing nets, a slide and a fireman’s pole. And a smaller version for the little ones too! South East Dawesville Foreshore Playground includes all types of swings, including a toddler, parent/child, traditional and even a harness Read more…
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Tucked within Calleya Estate in Treeby, Allure North Park is a brilliant combo of junior BMX pump track and adventure Playground, making it a top spot for kids who love to ride, climb and explore. Located on Sapphire Drive, this community park is designed with active families in mind, with plenty to keep both confident riders and younger children entertained. The standout feature at Allure North Park is the junior BMX pump track. This smooth bitumen circuit is popular with BMX riders, kids on regular bikes, skateboarders and scooter riders. The track includes gentle rollers and curved walls that allow Read more…
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The Perry Lakes Reserve is a 200 acre nature reserve found on the eastern edge of the larger Bold Park reserve in Floreat. There are two playgrounds here, set amongst beautiful trees, large grassed areas and two lakes. The older playground on the western side of the reserve is shaded by trees, it also has the extra sun protection of shade sails throughout. A lot of the traditional metal play equipment is accessible for people in wheelchairs and less able bodied people, as there are ramps throughout the main structure and also a disability swing. There are two large metal Read more…
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Set right on the Scarborough foreshore, Whale Playground is one of those parks where you can easily spend hours while the kids disappear into imaginative play. Inspired by Noongar culture and the form of a blue whale skeleton, this $1.4 million Lotterywest‑funded Playground is a real hero of the Scarborough Reserve redevelopment and a must‑do on a family day at the beach. The centrepiece is the giant whale structure. Little ones usually start at the whale’s head, which doubles as a small concrete slide – it’s perfectly sized for toddlers and younger children, but it is quite fast, so a Read more…
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Tucked into the Village precinct of Whiteman Park, Village West Playground is a fantastic, family-friendly play space that’s ideal for a full day out. The Playground sits just a short stroll (around 200 metres) from the Visitor Information Centre, with the closest parking in Car Park 6, though it’s easily reached from anywhere in the Village area of the park. The Playground is fully fenced, with a single entrance beside the picnic tables. This layout makes it easy to keep track of little ones, even when the Playground is busy. Almost the entire space is shaded by sails and mature Read more…
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Tucked within Princess Wallington Reserve, Bina Parkland is a vibrant neighbourhood Playground that offers a good mix of traditional equipment and nature play, with plenty to keep energetic kids busy. The space feels open and welcoming, with large mature trees providing natural shade and the play elements spread out so families don’t feel crowded. The main drawcard is the impressive rope climbing structure. Rope ladders lead up to a series of birds nest pods at different heights, connected by ladders and a rope bridge that feeds onto a slide. Confident climbers will love scrambling up high and testing their balance, Read more…
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Colour Block Park, affectionately known as “The LEGO Park”, is a compact but seriously eye-catching neighbourhood Playground tucked into the coastal suburb of Golden Bay. The bright, block-inspired design gives it instant wow factor, and it makes a great stop-off if you’re exploring the southern beaches or visiting nearby Shipwreck Cove and other Golden Bay parks. The hero of the Playground is the colourful climbing structure built to look like giant building blocks. Kids can scramble up the “bricks” to reach a central platform, then choose between crossing a rope bridge or taking the ladder up to the enclosed tunnel 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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Leisure Park Playground near Yanchep Lagoon is a fantastic spot for families who enjoy a relaxed, coastal day out with plenty of play opportunities. It’s easy to combine a visit with a swim at the lagoon or a beach walk, making it well worth the drive for a full family day trip. The Playground itself has a laid-back, open layout that feels welcoming while still offering lots to do. It is not fenced, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on younger children, especially with nearby roads and the general openness of the area. Shade sails cover sections of 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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Amberton Beach Toddler Playground in Eglinton is a gorgeous little coastal spot, purpose‑built for younger children and perfectly positioned to make the most of those Indian Ocean views. Set right next to Amberton Beach Bar & Kitchen on the beach side of the Amberton Estate, it’s an easy place to stop for a play before or after a meal or drink at the Beach Bar. The Playground has been designed with toddlers in mind and is mostly fenced, which is a big plus for parents with speedy little runners. While it’s not fully enclosed, the only open section is a 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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Gingin Outdoor Activity Space is a fantastic family-friendly destination in the heart of this small, historic township, offering a huge variety of play opportunities for children of all ages. Set in a picturesque, country-town setting, the Playground combines nature play, active play and community facilities, making it well worth the drive from Perth for a day out. The centrepiece of the space is the impressive Gingin Tower, a nature-inspired climbing structure that immediately catches the eye. Kids can climb up using rope ladders and bridges before choosing from two different slides to zoom back down. Surrounding the main tower are Read more…
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Tucked just off Charles Riley Road beside the North Beach Community Centre and sports fields, Charles Riley Reserve is a welcoming, leafy spot for a relaxed play. Manicured lawns and landscaped gardens surround a small war memorial, and behind this you’ll find the sand-based Playground, shaded by blue shade sails and bordered by young trees and garden beds. It has a friendly, local feel and is especially popular with toddlers and grandparents on weekday mornings. The Playground surface is mostly clean white sand with some purple soft-fall areas, so it’s ideal for little ones who are still finding their feet. Read more…
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Gibbon Park, Mosman Park Gibbon Park is the latest nature playground in Mosman Park. This park includes a mix of nature play elements and traditional play equipment that’s sure to satisfy active children! On arriving Miss 6 raced straight for the traditional play equipment first. What kid can resist a slide? This part of the playground is covered with shade sails, has a soft fall rubber base and is surrounded by grass. Great if you’re not a fan of sand. This playground appears to have been installed in 2012. It features climbing ropes, climbing walls, a tunnel and slide, Read more…
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Joe Saunders Park in Champion Lakes is a great place to take the kids with plenty on offer for all ages. Set amongst the backdrop of the very impressive purpose built/man-made lake and close to the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre – which hosts rowing, canoeing, dragon boating and triathlon events throughout the year. The playground itself is set on white sand with plenty of wooden structures including a great climbing fort with slides. swing setplay kitchenbalancing and climbing logs and rocksrope bridge and shade sails for warmer days. It does get hot and the UV seems to be high any time Read more…
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Playtime at Walter Padbury Park is wonderfully inclusive, with an all-abilities Playground set within the large district reserve in the heart of Thornlie. The reserve itself features three expansive sporting ovals catering for soccer, cricket and AFL, complete with practice cricket nets and club facilities, making it a brilliant destination for both active kids and families who want space to spread out. The fully fenced all-abilities Playground sits on soft-fall rubber flooring, creating a safe, comfortable surface for wheels and little feet. A standout feature is the ground-level, seated flying fox, designed so that children of all abilities can join Read more…
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Coodanup Foreshore Park, tucked along Peel Parade to the south east of Mandurah town centre, is a lovely estuary-side spot that has been steadily evolving thanks to major upgrades from the City of Mandurah. The reserve stretches along the northern edge of the Peel‑Harvey Estuary, offering families a mix of traditional Playground equipment, nature play, open space and shallow water access, all with that relaxed “by the water” Mandurah feel. The foreshore features two distinct Playground areas. One is designed with younger children in mind, with equipment suited to toddlers and early primary-aged kids. The second focuses more on climbing 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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If you love a walk or ride along the Swan River like we do, be sure to add the Scented Gardens Playground on the South Perth foreshore to your list of places to stop. The Scented Gardens are found Sir James Mitchell Park, about half way between the Mends Street Jetty and Coode Street Jetty. The manicured gardens themselves are a delight for the senses to walk around, featuring fragrant plants like lavender and rosemary – my guess is that kids will make a dash for the playground found right next to it! The large, shaded playground has equipment for Read more…
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If you’re looking for a new park to explore with the kids, Napoli Park in Catalina Beach, Mindarie is well worth a visit. Located at the end of Portofino Promenade, this 1.62-hectare park is a beautifully designed space with plenty to offer for families. With a mix of adventure, nature, and relaxation, it’s a great spot for kids to burn off energy while parents unwind. The playground is packed with fun and interactive elements. A multi-level play tower sits at the heart of the space, complete with climbing nets and a fireman’s pole for little daredevils. Nearby, two smaller Read more…
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Augustus Park located in Jane Brook is situated overlooking a beautiful lake. The main play area is mainly made up of ropes which is something different to the usual playground. So if your kids love climbing and hanging this is a park for them. The playground is based on sand and wood chips. Some of the rope equipment which is at the park is rope monkey bars, a wobbly wooden bridge, spider web climbing areas, rope bridges, and balance ropes. There are shade sails covering the playground for extra protection from the sun. There are tables overlooking the lake and Read more…
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Tucked into the New Junction redevelopment in the heart of Midland, Weeip Park has quickly grown from a “new” Playground into a much-loved community hub. Just a short stroll from Midland Gate Shopping Centre and the Cale Street café strip, this large public open space combines a nature-inspired Playground, youth zone, kick-about oval and public art celebrating local history and culture, all in one spot. The park is named in honour of Weeip, the traditional leader of the Boora clan (Boya Ngura people), who was responsible for much of the City of Swan area during early European settlement. In 1834 Read more…
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Do your kids watch ninja warrior shows and tell you that they want to challenge one? Then you have to bring them down to Radiata Park at Aubin Grove to give them a taste of the ninja warrior-style obstacle course! Not only that, Radiata Park has a pump track, skate park, and even a toddler-friendly playground! This smallish pump track inside the park is great for beginners. The girls had no trouble looping around it with their bicycle and scooter. I like that the trees around it provided some shade onto the track. Next to it is a 3-3 basketball Read more…
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If you’re looking for a playground that truly caters to everyone—from toddlers to grandparents—Ballajura Intergenerational Playspace – Weitj Park is a must-visit. This $6.5 million playspace on Oxleigh Drive, Ballajura, is thoughtfully designed to encourage active play, creativity and social connection across all generations. With three distinct play areas—Parkland, Industrial Vibe and Nature Play—Weitj Park offers shared play experiences that set it apart from other Perth playgrounds. Whether it’s grandparents swinging their grandkids, parents and children racing through the ninja course or toddlers making new friends while building a cubby, this space brings families and the community together in a Read more…
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Dianella BMX Track at Dianella Regional Open Space is a brilliant spot for kids and teens to burn off energy on their bikes and scooters. The track sits among tall trees and natural bushland, offering plenty of shade and a relaxed, outdoorsy vibe. It’s the kind of place where kids can really have an adventure, rather than a perfectly polished, “sanitised” play space. The track is essentially split into two distinct sections, catering for a wide range of ages and confidence levels. One side is a compacted limestone dirt track with rock climbs, balance beams and drop‑offs. It’s deliberately rough Read more…
