Parks and playgrounds poised for holiday fun

Looking for ways to get your kids active and outside these school holidays? Here’s eight parks across Moreton Bay that should do the trick.

Keep this list handy, block off some days for playground fun and set a goal to explore all eight! There’s options by the water and in the hinterland sure to delight kids of all ages.

Leslie Patrick Park, Arana Hills

No one misses out on the fun at Leslie Patrick Park because it’s an all-abilities playground which means children of all physical and intellectual abilities can enjoy a day at the park.

The playground includes:

• a passive interactive garden space aimed at providing a peaceful experience for adults with dementia and Alzheimer's and children with sensory impairments
• accessible picnic, barbecue and toilet facilities
• fully-fenced playground
• wheelchair-accessible carousels, musical instruments and sand play
• five-way swing with capsule seats

There’s also plenty of space to play, kick a ball or enjoy a picnic. The park is at Dawson Pde, Arana Hills.

Bray Farm "Harry Potter" Park, Griffin

Dubbed the ‘Harry Potter Park’ by locals for its bewitching structures, Bray Farm Park combines art, culture and nature to create a unique family fun park.

It’s tucked away in the quiet Riverbreeze Estate of Griffin and features two main structures that have a bridge, climbing net, fireman’s pole, slide, turrets and windows.

There’s also a larger climbing net separate from the structures that is considered to reflect Harry Potter character Hermione’s time turner.

Bray Farm Park does not have an amenities block or barbecue, but does have sheltered picnic tables. The park is at Rivermint St, Griffin.

Pine Rivers Park

Located on the Bald Hills flats along the banks of South Pine River, Pine Rivers Park is one of the most popular public recreation spaces in the Strathpine district.

With wide, open grassed areas, shaded picnic areas and an array of wild water birds, Pine Rivers Park is a destination everyone can enjoy.

There’s a flying fox and climbing frame nestled among the mature Norfolk Pine trees, and a garden maze surrounded by a pedal train track means there’s plenty to keep big kids amused.

Little ones can enjoy a fully-fenced and tree-shaded playground with slide and swings, and covered tables and benches allow parents to sit and chat while keeping an eye on them.

There’s even a toddler playground, complete with toddler-height activities, sandpit and swings.

Pine Rivers Park also has toilets, barbecues and big green spaces. It’s at Gympie Rd, Strathpine.

Spinnaker Park

Set in a prime location at Newport, Spinnaker Park is a beautiful lakefront playground perfect for families looking to enjoy a day in the sun.

Built in conjunction with Stockland Newport and the Touched by Olivia Foundation, it is an all-abilities playground ensuring all children can play together, including those with physical disabilities and spectrum disorders such as autism.

An 11m sail tower filled with multi-level climbing activities and two fast slides is a feature, as is a toddler sail tower still, which offers climbing activities and a slide and a play ship where they can be captains of their own adventure.

There are picnic shelters and barbecues and toilets just outside the fenced play area.

Spinnaker Park is at 39 Lakeview Promenade, Newport.

Pirate Park, Scarborough

This park on the Scarborough foreshore is a favourite with families of toddlers and teens. There’s green space for kicking a ball, sandy shores for building a castle, and a fenced playground with play equipment, a train and pirate-themed attractions, plus a cluster of trees perfect for climbing.

There’s also barbecues, toilets and picnic shelters.

Just a little bit further along Scarborough Beach, you'll find an inflatable jumping pillow.

Pirate Park is at Landsborough Ave, Scarborough

John Scott Park

This park in the heart of Samford Village is the perfect place to take the kids for a barbecue lunch and play.

It offers segmented playgrounds for smaller kids and bigger kids, and is bordered on two sides by green space – ideal for a little family footy or cricket.

The partially-enclosed toddler area has a variety of slides, rockers, low climbing structures as well as shaded seating for parents. The park’s biggest drawcard is the giant adventure playground with swings, a bridge, multiple slides, climbing equipment and more.

John Scott Park is at Station St, Samford.

The Mill at Moreton Bay water park and play space

Families and children of all ages can come play and splash about at Moreton Bay Regional Council’s first free water park and play space at Petrie. The park opened this month and is already proving popular.

Located within The Mill at Moreton Bay precinct, the space features two playgrounds for younger and older children, flying fox, splash pad with a water bucket, a large cricket pitch and green space, sheltered barbecue area with electric barbecue, and toilets.

The play space is at 1 Moreton Pde, Petrie, and is open 8am-8pm seven days a week.

Want more things to see and do across the region? Head here