Best Kids Parks Near Ringwood

If lockdown has taught us one thing, it’s that getting out and about is massively beneficial for kids and parents alike. Outdoor play is vital for children, both for physical activity and brain development. Playing outside and exploring new spaces encourages independence, imagination, teamwork and develops problem-solving skills, with the added bonus of being exciting and fun.

Below is a list of some of the best kids parks near Ringwood with some info about the play equipment and facilities at each one. We hope you enjoy checking out our recommendations! 

Ringwood Lake Park, Ringwood

172 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood, VIC 3134

Ringwood Lake Park is a hidden gem in the middle of busy suburbia. The playground was recently redesigned with the beautiful new play equipment highlighting the natural environment surrounding it.

It is perfect for children of all abilities, as it includes an accessible playground, with wide, railed ramps to link play areas, a liberty swing and a floor level carousel designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

There are also lots of tall towers to climb and a plethora of slides of all different shapes and sizes. Additionally, Ringwood Lake Park includes a large water play area that imitates a winding river along the back of an eel sculpture, with minimal equipment encouraging independent, imaginative play.

Other great features include a separate toddler area, large sandpit, lots of natural shade from trees and beautiful animal sculptures both large and small integrated within the playground.

The park has lots of facilities too, including barbeques, toilets, a water tap and undercover picnic tables. It’s set within bushland, alongside a beautiful lake with ducks for the kids to watch, and it has a lovely, relaxing walking circuit which parents are sure to appreciate and might encourage a little one to nap. 

Mullum Mullum Reserve, Ringwood

50-60 Mullum Mullum Rd, Ringwood, VIC 3134

Mullum Mullum reserve is a great, multi-purpose area. It features two ovals, a playground a new pavilion and connects to the relaxing Mullum Mullum creek trail.

Mullum Mullum reserve is definitely one of the best kids parks near Ringwood. The playground includes multiple slides, swings, monkey bars, seesaws and chain bridges which are awesome for developing balance for littlies. There is ample shade from surrounding large trees, but you should be mindful of swings getting hot on sunny days.

Parents will appreciate the onsite parking, drinking water tap, barbeques and picnic tables and benches, and if your family includes members of the furry, four-legged kind, parts of the reserve are also dog off-leash areas!

Halliday Park, Mitcham

308-332 Mitcham Rd, Mitcham, VIC 3132

Halliday Park is under a ten minute drive from Ringwood and is a large park which is popular for gatherings of families, extended families, friends and kids parties. It has a great fenced playground with equipment that caters to a range of ages. The playground includes a fun play tower, basket swing, rope climbing pyramid and even flying foxes.

The play areas for children are shaded well, with a combination of shade sails and natural shade from large trees. Additionally, there is a water play space and a large grassed area which is perfect for picnicking, ball games and running or crawling around as well as for practising tummy time.

Halliday Park also has plenty of great facilities, including toilets, undercover picnic spots and barbeques, with the added bonus of a kid-friendly short 500m walking track.

McAlpin Reserve, Ringwood North

73-75 Wonga Road, Ringwood North VIC 3134

McAlpin Reserve is truly picturesque, with a gorgeous backdrop of established trees, grassy expanses and water. Children will love the pond, with its ducks and little bridge proving lots of entertainment and opportunities for pretend play.

The reserve also has a sizeable playground, with a range of structures to suit children of all ages. There are swings, slides, a rope pyramid for climbing and network of little towers connected by bridges.

The facilities at this Ringwood North kids park include drinking water taps, toilets, barbeques, benches and shaded table areas. Another great feature is that there are paved walking trails throughout the reserve that connect up with the lovely Montery Bush Park, making this spot a great choice when you have some extra time to explore two areas and a relaxing walk for parents and bubs.

Bayswater Train Park, Bayswater

1 King Street, Bayswater VIC 3153

As its name suggests, the eye-catching retired red train engine is the highlight of this kids park, complete with train tracks, a platform and a ticket booth which is brilliant for imaginative games.

Only ten minutes south-east of Ringwood, this kids park is well worth the visit.  The main play area is the giant wooden castle structure, with the slow incline ramps being great for crawling toddlers. The park also includes a climbing wall, monkey bars, shaded sandpit, slides and a rope climbing structure. Animals are heavily featured in this playground as well, with lots of lizards, hippos and even an elephant!

Other great inclusions are the network of paths perfect for bike riding or scootering and netball hoops at various heights to accommodate different ages.

Bayswater train park has a range of facilities too, including toilets, picnic grounds and walking tracks. It is worth noting however that there is limited shade, so this park is better on cooler days.

Wyreena Reserve, Croydon

1 King St, Bayswater Vic 3153

Just east of Ringwood, Wyreena Reserve is a multi-purpose area which includes a sensory playground, the Wyreena Community Arts Centre and Conservatory café.

The play space was specifically designed for children under 12 and contains a combination of traditional playground structures, creative spaces and natural elements to stimulate their senses. The majority of the play area is shaded by large trees.

It has excellent accessibility, with disabled parking spots and a full wheelchair accessible site, with paths linking different areas and a ramp up to a raised deck with many activities.

Wyreena Reserve includes traditional kid playground favourites like slides, swings and climbing nets while also incorporating nature play through water, sand, soil and tree nuts. Other great features that encourage imaginative play are the natural tunnels, birds nest lookout and giant spider’s web.

Facilities include park benches and tables, toilets and the added benefit of being adjacent to a café – ideal for tired parents and caregivers to get a caffeine or hot chocolate fix!

Ruffey Lake Park, Doncaster East

99 Victoria St, Doncaster East Vic 3019

Whilst a bit of a further drive from Ringwood, Ruffey Lake Park is an excellent destination, with three different playgrounds to cater to range of different aged children. The most exciting one is on the eastern side, with fun snake sculptures, plentiful climbing equipment and higher towers. As such, it’s better for slightly older children, and one of the smaller playgrounds would be better suited to toddlers.

With lots of large trees on the edges of the playgrounds, there is abundant natural shade, so this playground is a good choice year-round.

It has plenty of facilities including large covered picnic tables, barbeques and toilets, with a carpark to ensure your visit is stress-free!

We hope you give some of these great parks a try, and agree they should be on the list for the best kids park near Ringwood. We look forward to hearing all about your little one’s adventures when we see them next at Choklits!