The Best Rocket Playgrounds in Melbourne

by Ian White (subscribe)

Fly me to the moon. Well, if that's not possible at least to a playground with a huge rocket ready for launch. Buddy astronauts are well catered for in Melbourne with some towering rocket playgrounds.

Our favourites are:

Ray Bastin Reserve, Norfolk Drive, Narre Warren

This playground has a rocket theme and the highlight is a large rocket on a launching pad. The rocket has a very twisty tunnel slide to use as an escape route if the thought of flying off to the moon and missing your favourite meal for dinner overcomes your lust for space adventure.



There is a huge control panel to launch this projectile into space. Why go all the way to Kazakhstan or Cape Canaveral when the Ray Bastin Reserve has all the facilities needed for launching.



To complement the space theme there is a large moon buggy and extraterrestrial creature writhing in and out of the ground.



The rest of the playground area is excellent with highlights being a large play structure, rope climbing frame, colourful stepping stones sprouting like mushrooms, large sandpit and lots of swings. There is also a sensory trail which highlights different eco-systems. Facilities include BBQs, plenty of shaded tables and seats under trees, shelters, toilets and shade sails.

Central Gardens, Henry Street, Hawthorn

This huge rocket towers into the clouds (well it does when the clouds are low). Depending on how fearless you are, it is possible to climb up the inside of the rocket to the top using a series of ladders. If the thought of meeting aliens on the moon is making your stomach a little queasy then it is possible to make a quick return via a tunnel slide to terra-firma where it is more firma and there is less terra.



There is some other equipment to entertain the kids including a lovely carousel with horse seats, circular flying fox and warped monkey bars. The area is very pleasant with lots of beautiful trees, plenty of seats, tables and shade.



This playground can get very busy and parking can be a problem. Come on a quiet day when NASA is not planning any space missions.

St. Kilda Botanical Gardens, Dickens St, St Kilda

Maybe you can't fit a trip to the moon or Mars into your busy schedule. In that case take a leisurely climb on the metal frame rockets in the St. Kilda Botanical Gardens. We can't guarantee that they will break you out of the earth's gravitational pull but will provide a bit of climbing exercise (even in a weightless environment). The rest of the playground area has some limited equipment including three slides and an old fashioned set of monkey bars (the type which was popular when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon)

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Why? Outdoor fun and excitement and it's free

Cost: Free

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