I have to properly rave about this one. Beckett Park in Balwyn isn’t just a playground, it’s basically a whole outing. Great for the kids to run wild in, and honestly great for me too, since there’s a proper walk and a tower to climb if you want to get your steps in while you’re there.
The Playground Itself
The playground is a big wooden castle-style structure, and it actually has some real substance to it, not just your standard plastic set. There’s a wooden maze the kids can duck in and out of, which turned out to be perfect for a proper game of hide and seek. It’s set up for a wide age range too, swings, slides, climbing frames, a sandpit, pretty much everything covered. The ground is all soft wood chip, so a fall doesn’t hurt much, which as a parent I appreciated more than I expected to.
The Tower You Have to Climb
Right next to the playground, just a few steps away, there’s the landmark stone lookout tower, the Beckett Park Centenary Tower. The staircase inside isn’t huge, but for a kid it’s a proper adventure. My son went up and down it over and over. Once you’re at the top, the view opens right up, you can look out over all of leafy Balwyn, and further out you can pick out the Melbourne city skyline.
A Walk Through the Park
If your kid’s got the energy for it, or you’re pushing a pram and just want to stretch your legs, the paths around the park are flat and easy to walk. This whole area has kept a lot of its native plants too, so it doesn’t feel like a manicured suburban park, more like a proper patch of bushland tucked into the suburb.
Parking and Facilities
Street parking nearby is easy. Both the car park and the toilets are about a minute’s walk from the playground, and there are bins dotted right along the play area, so cleaning up after snacks isn’t a hassle. There are benches too, so if you’ve packed your own lunch, you can sit down properly after all that playing.
Making a Day of It
It’s about a ten minute drive to Box Hill Central, so once everyone’s worn out, you can head over for hotpot or a bubble tea and call it a full day. One visit, we grabbed a pan-fried dumpling combo with cold noodles from a spot in Box Hill afterwards, which on a 38 degree day was exactly right.
Nearby – Maranoa Gardens
Beckett Park sits right next to Maranoa Gardens, so if you’ve got a bit more time, it’s worth wandering through there too. There are patches of native plants along the way, and depending on the day and the light, you can apparently see all the way out to Mount Macedon from the tower.
Worth the Trip?
Yes, easily. It’s a bit tucked away in a residential pocket of Balwyn, but that’s part of the charm, it doesn’t feel crowded even on a hot day. There’s shade for the adults, plenty of play options for a whole range of ages, and a genuine view at the top of the tower that most playgrounds simply don’t have.
If you’re planning more Melbourne playground visits during the school holidays, check our VIC school holidays and term dates for 2026 page.