New sea life playground at Semaphore, right by the beach, built around a big blue swimmer crab. Lots of local families on the day we went, and I didn’t spot many other Chinese families, which is partly why I’m writing this one up.
The crab
Big blue climbable crab in the middle of the whole thing, eyes on stalks, pincers out front, a tube slide coming off one side. Kids go through low ropes underneath and up through the body. Plenty of climbing nets and crawl-through bits packed in, and the structure’s tall enough that bigger kids will keep busy on it too.
Starfish climb
A bright red starfish moulded right into the rubber ground, with rounded bumps to grip. My toddler spent a good while crawling arm over arm across it, the kind of low-down play that suits small kids who aren’t ready for the crab yet.
The rowing boat
Yellow boat sitting on the ground with a pair of steering wheels, dials and a seat decorated with fish and jellyfish. Kids climb in and pretend to sail. There’s a rowing oar too, and it got a lot of use.
Purple spring seesaw
A fish-shaped seesaw on a big spring, purple with orange outlines, looks like a clownfish. Wobbles side to side instead of up and down, so it’s easy for little ones to manage.
Musical flowers
A cluster of bright metal flowers, red, yellow, green and orange horns, that you hit with a mallet to make sound. Noisy, but toddlers love it.
The swing
The swing’s a bit different from the usual, it fits four small kids at once, or two little ones with an adult. Good if you’ve got more than one kid to keep happy.
For little ones
Small slides with green archways, an in-ground trampoline set into the rubber surface, and plenty of flat space to crawl around on. Babies are catered for properly here, which isn’t always the case.
Shade, sea and snacks
Large teal and cream shade sails cover most of the play area, a relief on a sunny day. You can see the water over the top of the bushes on the far side. Yo-Chi frozen yoghurt is close by for afterwards.
Worth it
Free, new, and right on the foreshore. Good for under-fives especially. The playground’s on the Esplanade at Semaphore, next to the Palais Hotel, with a large car park just along from it.
For another big Adelaide playground, try the St Kilda Adventure Playground, or see our guide to the must-visit beaches in Adelaide if you’re making a day of it.