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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Tucked away in suburban Balcatta, Grindleford Reserve is a lovely option if you’re looking for a quieter, neighbourhood-style Playground with plenty of space to run and play. The park enjoys a mix of natural shade from mature trees and shade sails over the sandpit, making it a good choice for warmer days. The Playground offers modern equipment and clean white sand, and is set well back from the road. A small car park sits between the street and the play area, adding an extra buffer for little wanderers. Families will find a mix of equipment that caters to both younger Read more…
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Just around the corner from the Alexander Heights IGA, is Lemongrass Park, a lovely shaded playground with traditional equipment and some nature play elements. One of the main features that caught our eye was the rope equipment. The curved slide has a rope web to climb up instead of stairs, and there are various rope webs or swinging ropes with a balancing rope below to cross. Miss 3 enjoyed having a go on all of these. Attached the rope structure is a small rock climbing wall, shaped like a sail, to go up and over. Nearby in the sandpit is 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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The City of Gosnells has unveiled its latest inclusive play space at Sutherlands Park in Huntingdale. This exciting development marks the first completed project of the Sutherlands Park Master Plan, with a Youth Entertainment Space still to come. The playground is one of ten all-abilities playgrounds being developed by the City of Gosnells to create more inclusive play spaces throughout the community. This thoughtfully designed, fully-fenced playground features an array of accessible equipment including trampolines, swings, a carousel, and charming pretend play areas complete with a shopfront and petrol kiosk. Built on soft-fall rubber surfacing, the playground offers generous spacing 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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Mt Henry Bridge Reserve, Mount Pleasant Mount Henry Bridge Reserve is a multi-use recreation area on the river in Mount Pleasant. It is situated in the shadow of the Mt Henry Bridge, and has a great kids playground and an on-site cafe. The first thing we did on arriving was grab some lunch at the Kerbside Cafe. This is a food van which is permanently located at the park. They sell hot and cold drinks, ice cream and delicious toasties. You pick your fillings and the friendly staff make them up on the spot. The price of toasties ranges between Read more…
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Pirate Playground in Ellenbrook is a compact, fully fenced neighbourhood park that packs in a lot of fun for young children, especially pirate-loving toddlers and preschoolers. Located just off Verbana Drive near Cashman Avenue, this themed Playground is designed for imaginative play, with plenty of soft fall and sand underfoot to cushion little tumbles. While the fencing gives parents peace of mind, there are a few gaps under sections of the fence where determined little escape artists could squeeze through, so it’s still worth keeping a close eye on very young children. The centrepiece of the Playground is the impressive Read more…
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Shipwreck Cove in Golden Bay is a brilliant seaside Playground and recreation space that makes the most of its stunning foreshore location. Set along the grassy reserve beside the Indian Ocean, this coastal-themed park combines nature play, bike and scooter fun, and plenty of family-friendly facilities, making it an easy all‑day destination. The first thing many kids will spot is the pump track. This looping circuit of rollers and banked turns is popular with confident riders on BMXs, scooters and skateboards. It’s generously sized and thoughtfully designed, giving riders space to spread out and try different lines, with features that Read more…
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Wyong Reserve in Bentley is a great little park with a lot going on. The playground is fully fenced and has a pathway running around it that is designed as a road to ride scooters and bikes along. There a few large speed humps, and we said next time we come we will have to bring the scooter. There are benches around the playground and an undercover area with BBQs and picnic benches. There is also a drink fountain and bins. It was nice that they kept some of the big trees in the development of the playground and fitted Read more…
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Stretton Way Reserve, situated behind Kenwick Village and is one of the shadiest parks I have seen. Shade sails cover the climbing equipment as well as the BBQ area making it good for summer outings. The play equipment has an excellent variety of play equipment including three slides, monkey bars, balancing equipment, various levels of climbing structures, and a basketball hoop. The BBQ area has picnic tables and seats to go with the two free BBQs. It is very well shaded and sits alongside a grassed area perfect for kicking a ball or playing cricket. Unfortunately, there are no toilets Read more…
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Robinson Reserve in Tuart Hill is a brilliant all-round community park, offering something for everyone from toddlers through to tweens and teens. Tucked alongside a big green sports oval and Osborne Park Library, the main Playground is fully fenced and shaded, making it a relaxed choice for local families and a handy stop if you’re in the area. The central Playground is set over soft white sand and fresh turf, with generous shade sails overhead. Younger kids are drawn straight to the wooden “shop” cubby, perfect for imaginative games of cafés, ice-cream stands or even a pretend jail. The sand Read more…
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Located in the peaceful and picturesque neighbourhood of Bletchley Park Estate in Southern River, Lane Gardens Park provides not one but two fantastic playgrounds to cater for children of all ages. Both sand-based playgrounds are situated beside each other, with one more suitable for children under 5, featuring a toddler-friendly play area, and the other a larger playground for older, adventurous children. Older kids will enjoy the adventurous playground, which stands higher in height, with the taller slide and more climbing elements. The play structure features a climbing hill that leads up to a ramp for the playground, and Read more…
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Set on the sheltered beach at the vibrant Hillarys Boat Harbour is this lovely playground. With a nautical theme including its very own rocking boat, there are steps and ladders, bridges and even a double slide to race down. The equipment is well designed for younger children with toddlers confidently navigating their way around. The boat is very popular and has a few seats and steering wheel for the captain and, unlike others I’ve seen before, it has some open sides so younger children can also climb up and down themselves. The main structure has plenty to do including a sand Read more…
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Birdwood Square in the City of Vincent has had a major upgrade, transforming it into an inner-city gem for families. The new playground, nestled beside the parkour area, offers an exciting mix of activities for kids of all ages. The play space boasts swings (including a basket swing), slides, climbing nets, a flying fox, a rock wall, and a timber-and-rope bridge. Other fun features include a fire pole, monkey bars, steppers, and talk tubes to keep little adventurers engaged for hours. The shade sails provide excellent cover, making it a go-to spot even on sunny days. Parents will love the Read more…
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Tucked away on Bromley Street in Beckenham, Bee Park is a sweet little neighbourhood Playground that’s perfect for toddlers and young children. The entire space is designed around a bee and honeycomb theme, with hexagonal play zones and cute bee details that inquisitive kids will love. The main play area is set within a large hexagon and features a cheerful bee platform with a slide. Children can reach the platform via a wooden bridge or by tackling climbing ropes on either side, offering a bit of a challenge for confident toddlers and preschoolers while still feeling manageable for younger kids Read more…
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Brown Park is a grassy park with shady trees and a playground covered by shade sails set among the leafy streets of Mosman Park. It’s a spot that’s sure to have something to appeal to everyone. The main play structure has lots to offer, with monkey bars, two slides of different sizes and a tunnel to crawl through. There’s a steering wheel and two different climbing walls. One plastic, one wooden. One of Miss almost three’s favourite parts was the wobbly wooden bridge. Smaller children will need to hold on to the ropes to get across, which adds to the 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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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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Tucked away in a quiet residential pocket of Alkimos, Fairgrounds Park is a charming little spot for a low-key playdate or a relaxed morning out with the kids. It’s very much a “neighbourhood gem” style park – small, peaceful and ideal for families with younger children who prefer a slower pace over big, busy Playgrounds. The play area is set entirely within a generous sandpit, so it’s perfect for barefoot play and sandcastle building. Be sure to bring along buckets, spades and other sand toys, as they really help stretch out your visit. The play equipment is simple but engaging: Read more…
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South Perth Esplanade Playground is set within the Sir James Mitchell Park and is a short walk from the Mends Street Jetty making this an ideal playground to visit on public transport. The playground is sand based and covered with shade sails. South Perth Esplanade Playground overlooks the River Swan and is surrounded by mature trees, large grassy areas, a cycle path, picnic shelters and BBQs. Making this a great playground and park for birthday parties, picnics and playdates. There is a great selection of play equipment for toddlers including this fun bus. There are also lots of climbing nets, 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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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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Bayswater Riverside Gardens is a much‑loved riverside Playground and parkland that’s especially perfect for toddlers and young children. Stretching along both Milne Street and King William Street in Bayswater, it combines a fully fenced play space with big open lawns, river views and easy paths, making it a spot where families can comfortably spend a whole morning or afternoon. The Playground itself is designed with little ones in mind. It’s fully fenced and gated, with rubber soft fall underfoot and shade sails overhead in the warmer months, giving parents a bit more peace of mind. Inside the fence you’ll find 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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Harborne Ruislip Playground, Wembley Harborne Ruislip Playground is a neat fenced park in Wembley. It may be small, but it’s packed with features kids will enjoy! The first thing that grabbed Miss 8’s attention was the wooden play structure. The main feature of the playground, it has a baby swing and a birds nest style swing. There’s a climbing wall and stairs made of logs of various heights. There’s a bridge to cross over, and a slide or fireman pole to come down. In the sandpit, there is a recycled tree stump. The stump has been set into the Read more…
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Set in reclaimed parkland alongside Railway Street in Cottesloe, you can find a one of Perth’s newest nature playgrounds, East Cottesloe Nature Play Trail. Including a scooter track, a fenced toddler park and wooden climbing equipment, this nature playground has something to suit kids from tiny tots to teens. Opening in September 2023, this new nature trail replaces an older pre-existing playground, known as the Purple Dinosaur Park. The parkland has since been extended, running a number of blocks. The new play area now includes a fenced toddler park at the Perth Street end – What we thought of as Read more…
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Naturaliste Park, Iluka – Parkour Park If you’re looking for a brand‑new outdoor adventure north of the river, Naturaliste Park in Iluka is absolutely worth adding to your weekend list. Tucked behind the leafy pathways that connect to Sir James McCusker Park, this upgraded play space blends nature, parkour challenges, imaginative play and peaceful green surrounds — perfect for families with toddlers through to energetic big kids. 🧗♂️ Parkour Course – Balance, Climb, Conquer! The standout feature at Naturaliste Park is the new parkour course, designed to get kids moving, climbing and testing their agility. You’ll find: Balancing Read more…
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Jackadder Lake Playground is a picturesque park just north west of the city. This lovely lakeside spot features a shaded children’s playground, exercise equipment and paths perfect for bikes and scooters. As of the beginning of August 2023, the playground has been refreshed with new climbing equipment, a new and improved juniors area, and new picnic facilities. Miss 9 was excited to check out the new play equipment. Gone is the crumbling soft fall rubber, and in place there is soft white sand. In place of the old stained slide, there is now a longer colourful tube slide. There are Read more…
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If you’re in the stunning Southern Forest town of Manjimup, no doubt you will have taken the kids along to the amazing Timber Park You know, the one with the ginormous slide and beautiful carved wooden birds hiding in the play area? Well, there’s another playground in Manji that’s well worth a visit – The Manjin Playground and Skate Park! If you find yourself in the more central area of Manjimup town, The Manjin Playground and Skate Park is a great spot for children of all ages to scoot, play explore. The Park boasts many quality facilities including a children’s playground, Read more…
