Natureplay playground at Royal Park
The Natureplay playground at Royal Park is inspired by the seven seasons of Wurunderjeri people, showcasing elements reflecting the interaction between season, plants, animals and people. It’s also huge fun and a massive hit with Melbourne families.
Thank you to guest poster Sally T. Ridden for these fabulous words and wonderful photography
Where: Royal Park, Flemington Road PARKVILLE (adjacent to the Royal Children’s Hospital) Check the map.
Welcome to Natureplay at Royal Park (womin-je-ka), indeed a special gift to Melbourne, a place to climb, explore, create, get wet and dirty! Suited for all ages and already one of our absolute favourites from just 2 visits. Judging from the crowds on any given day, it’s a feeling shared by many Melbourne families. Think active play, water play, gardens, lawns, picnic bbq area and lots of plants.
The accessible features of the nature-based park includes water pumps, channels, lochs, sand play elements and sprouting water fountains the kids can gleefully run through (make sure you take note of the silver circle which is the start button on the ground it’s quite hilarious to watch when no-one is clued into where it is and then someone finally accidentally triggers the water system). It seems less is best policy and even when they strip down to just underwear or you pre-pack smart the bathers & towel, another child instils the care-free naked element that is truly their right to enjoy.
An adventure forest of wood and ropes for all skill levels, new and growing natural plants, rocky climbing escarpments to assorted slides and swings, open grassy lawns, vast selections of native and indigenous vegetation, free bbq & seating plus explorations trails perfect for walking, scooting or riding. The grassy hill vantage point between the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Native Garden is ideal for rolly-poly or kite flying.
No shade as such to offer protection, but if you walk up the side embankment there’s smaller tree shrubs to place a blanket. We could not find any convenient public toilets so we used the Royal Children’s Hospital facilities which itself turned into an eye-popping sensory experience due to the fabulous 2 level aquarium with seating, stairwell and platform prime viewing of ta wide variety of fish and add to this the Melbourne Zoo Meerkat enclosure, all for free whilst on a toilet adventure!
Respect this place by having lots of fun. Pack smart and stay for the day.
Sally’s Notes:
Royal Park is the largest of Melbourne’s inner city parks located 4 kilometres rom the CBD in Parkville. The City of Melbourne and Victorian Government have recently reinstated parkland with the design expressed by the local community through extensive engagement and contribution of ideas and vision for the site.
There’s plenty of parking and Disability parking off-street. For public transport options the Upfield railway line travels through and stops at Royal Park Station and there are Trams 19, 55, 57 and 59 options. Even cyclists have ease of access using the Capital City Trail.
Written for Meetoo April 2015
This is an awesome playground – and thank you for the tip re the toilets as this was the only criticism of an otherwise perfect play space! Excellent review and photos.