If you’re always on the lookout for new spots to take the kids in Perth’s northern suburbs, there’s a lovely new addition to add to your list. We recently spent an afternoon at the brand-new Community Corner at Hawaiian’s Newpark in Girrawheen, and it’s exactly the kind of low-key, free outdoor space that makes a great local outing with little ones in tow.
The centrepiece of the precinct is the Firewise Nature Play Garden, a space that blends nature-inspired play with a few Playground favourites the kids will recognise straight away. There’s a slide, a sandpit and water play elements, along with interactive nature features for children to explore at their own pace.
What I love about spaces like this is that they don’t need to be enormous or crammed with equipment to hold a child’s attention. The natural, open-ended design actually does more for their imagination than a Playground packed wall to wall with gear, encouraging kids to get creative rather than just moving from one piece of equipment to the next.
It’s also worth knowing the garden was developed with the City of Wanneroo and bushfire education group Firewise, so there’s a genuine community and bushfire-awareness element woven into the design, which is a nice point of difference if you’re chatting to older kids about why some of the plants and features are there.
It’s not just for the little ones either. The Community Corner also has a free public basketball court, so older siblings or bigger kids have somewhere to burn off energy while you’re keeping an eye on the younger ones nearby.
Between the play garden, the court and the open lawn areas with seating, it’s an easy space for the whole family to hang out in for a while, whether that’s a quick play on the way to run errands or a longer visit paired with lunch at one of Newpark’s dining spots.
Practically speaking, it’s a really convenient stop if you’re already out and about in Girrawheen. Parking is free and easy off Marangaroo Drive or Templeton Crescent, and there’s a Parents’ Room on site near the public toilets if you need somewhere to feed or change bubs. It’s a genuinely free, no-fuss space that’s perfect for a quick local outing or for adding to your rotation of Perth Playground adventures.
Hawaiian’s Newpark Community Corner
Address: 64 Marangaroo Drive, Girrawheen WA 6064
Opening hours: The Community Corner is an open-air public space; Hawaiian’s Newpark shopping centre is open 8:00am–8:00pm daily
Website: hawaiian.com.au/newpark
Location
Place Categories: Fenced, Nature, Playgrounds, Near Cafes, With Toilets, and With Water Play
