Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square is now one of Perth’s standout inner-city green spaces, and its incredible Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny Playground makes it a must‑visit for families. Just a short stroll or free CAT bus ride from the CBD, this huge park in East Perth has been transformed with a major upgrade, adding towering play structures, shady picnic spots, sports courts and beautiful landscaping that celebrates Whadjuk Nyoongar culture and the site’s deep significance.
The first thing kids will spot is the water play. On warm days, the trickling streams, water gates and fountains are irresistible. Children can experiment with damming the water, directing little rivers and splashing through channels, so definitely pack a change of clothes and a towel. The area is designed to be accessible, with smooth surfacing and gentle gradients so younger children and those using mobility aids can join in the fun.
From the water zone, it’s a short dash to the main Playground towers and slides. The embankment slides are enormous and offer a real thrill, while there are smaller slides scattered around for younger or less confident climbers. Much of the play equipment sits on rubber softfall and is connected by ramps, climbing walls, nets and low as well as higher monkey bars, so kids can choose how adventurous they want to be. As with most metal play equipment in Perth, surfaces can heat up in the middle of summer, so a quick hand-check before they launch themselves down the slide is a good idea.
Wellington Square is designed as a true “landscape of play”. Beyond the slides you’ll find nature play elements, balance beams, parkour-style obstacles, a flying fox including an accessible seat, basket swings, an inclusive spinner and in-ground trampolines set into rubber mounds.
The colourful discs floating above parts of the Playground aren’t just eye-catching sculptures – they cast shifting patterns of light and shadow and help with shade, while reflecting the stars and Dreamtime stories that inspired the design. Throughout the park you’ll see references to Western Australian landforms and native plants, especially the banksia, which ties the whole space together.
Older kids and teens are very well catered for. There’s a fantastic skate and scooter area with ramps and a pump track, perfect for bringing bikes, boards and scooters.
Beside this you’ll find multi-use sports courts with basketball and netball hoops, plus a large grassed playing field for soccer, footy or a casual family game of chasey. Many families set up a picnic near the courts and let older children roam between the Playground, skate park and sports areas.
Facilities are excellent, reflecting the size and popularity of the park. There are toilets on site, including accessible toilets, as well as drinking fountains, BBQs, picnic tables and plenty of seating dotted under trees and beside the play spaces. New and existing trees now provide good shade in many areas, and canopy cover will only improve as the plantings mature, but sun protection is still essential. Rubbish bins are provided, and the park is generally very well maintained.
Wellington Square is also an important cultural place. Moort-ak Waadiny means “place of family” and Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny means “children’s Playground” in Whadjuk Nyoongar. The park includes a place of reflection in the north‑west corner that commemorates the Stolen Generations, inviting visitors to pause and acknowledge the history of the site. The dual naming and interpretive elements around the park make it a thoughtful place to talk with children about Aboriginal culture and the stories of this Country in an age‑appropriate way.
For families with dogs, there’s an off‑leash dog exercise area at Wellington Square and open fields to enjoy, but it’s important to know that dogs are not allowed inside the children’s Playground itself. They can be walked on-leash around the edge of the play space, then let off-leash in the designated dog areas and playing fields.
Getting there is simple. Wellington Square sits along Wellington Street in East Perth, around the Bennett Street intersection. There’s on‑street parking surrounding the park, including ACROD bays, but it can be busy on weekends and event days. Public transport is an easy option: the free Yellow CAT bus stops nearby, and Claisebrook and McIver train stations are within about a 10‑minute walk, making this an ideal city outing even if you don’t want to drive.
With one of the biggest Playgrounds in greater Perth, layers of play for all ages, excellent facilities and a strong sense of place, Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square is a brilliant destination for a few hours of fun or a full day out. Whether you’ve got toddlers keen for a splash, school‑aged kids ready to tackle the climbing towers, or teens who’ll spend hours at the skate park and courts, this inner‑city park should be high on your family’s list.
Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square
Address: Wellington Street (corner Bennett Street), East Perth WA 6004
Official website: Moort-ak Waadiny / Wellington Square – City of Perth
4 Reviews on “Wellington Square Playground East Perth (Moort-ak Waadiny / Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny)”
Looks great!
We went to the new Wellington Square playground today. The kids loved it. It’s worth a go as the equipment is amazing! 1.5M spent on it! A couple of things were surprising though..no food or drink trucks there, no recycling bins, no shade over the benches so sitting in the sun and they havent built the toilets yet but there are the previous toilets on the other side of the park (close walking distance). We took a CAT bus from Perth Underground station and the kids loved the trip. Bring a change of clothes if they’re kids that like to get into the water play area. Basketballs and scooter areas too.
I’m looking forward taking my young grandy but the lack of shade appears to be typical of playground design.
Come on, the Landscape Architects can do better.
This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in my life