I often wonder, years from now, will the parks and buildings we know today still be standing. The playground I’m writing about today gave me something of an answer, in its own way.
Victoria Park sits in Kew, on what many people might not realise is actually elevated ground. That position is part of why the area attracted so many wealthy residents from the 19th century onward. Walking past the Kew Croquet Club sign inside the park, you get a small glimpse into that older era, people playing the same sport, in the same spot, generations ago. The club’s current clubhouse was actually built in 1934, designed by Roland Chipperfield, though croquet and other lawn sports have a longer history at the site.
The overall feel of the park leans English. The huge-canopied plane trees, elms and oaks were among the earliest plantings from the 19th century. Wattles, eucalypts and native shrubs came later, added from the mid-to-late 20th century onward.
The Playground Itself
The park has had a playground for a long time, and it’s been through several redesigns, most recently upgraded in 2022. Today’s main slide sits on a wall built from Victoria’s distinctive blue basalt stone, giving it real height and a bit of a challenge without being genuinely risky. No need to worry about a fast landing either, the ground underneath is fully rubberised, even the steps are covered.
Right next to the main slide there’s a wooden structure that, surprisingly, isn’t connected to the slide at all. It’s a proper run-up-and-launch kind of play, hitting footholds on either side before swinging up and over. If I hadn’t watched a kid demonstrate it first, I never would have worked out how it was supposed to work.
Then there’s a big cone-shaped climbing net nearby, and a single log carved with a series of notches that becomes a climbing step for younger kids. Genuinely has that rustic, distinctly Australian charm to it. A bit further along there’s a bamboo-style structure too, unusual shape, really catches the eye. If your kid has that endless-energy kind of personality, they’ll be up and down this section dozens of times.
More Than Just a Slide
What surprised me even more, there’s a scooter pump track for bike-loving kids, a dedicated area for older visitors, and a sandpit where kids can control the direction of water flow themselves. Each one held my son’s attention for a solid 20 minutes or more.
The Bike Loop
The pink pump track is a standout feature in its own right. Bring a balance bike and you’re set. Watching him loop back and forth around the bends, it’s a reminder that outdoor fun really can be this simple.
Slides and Climbing
Beyond the standard slide, there’s the stone wall, climbing posts, and a large rope net. A whole range of swings too, plus the sandpit. Different equipment lets kids explore and challenge themselves in their own way, which makes the whole visit more interesting than just wandering around a regular park.
A Place to Properly Settle In for an Afternoon
The park is surrounded by trees, nicely spaced out, so once everyone’s tired out there’s always somewhere to sit down and have a bite to eat. Kids do their own thing, and the adults get to enjoy some sun while the weather holds.
Since having kids, I’ve come to realise you don’t need an elaborate plan every single weekend. Pick a nice day, find a park, lay out a picnic rug, run around and ride bikes with your kid, and that’s already enough.
Visiting Tips
- Toilets on site, relatively new and clean, plus a Changing Places accessible toilet near the playground
- Bring a spare set of clothes and shoes
- Plenty of picnic and BBQ areas, worth bringing your own food to cook
- Tram route 48 runs nearby, good public transport access
- This post covers the main northern playground, parking is on High Street
- If that’s not enough, there’s a second, also recently renovated playground on the park’s western side, parking on Adeney Avenue
Victoria Park Regional Playground
450-500 High Street, Kew VIC (north playground) / Adeney Avenue entrance (west playground)
If you’re planning more Melbourne playground visits during the school holidays, check our VIC school holidays and term dates for 2026 page, or our Beckett Park Balwyn, Ron Barassi Snr Park Docklands and Mill Park All Abilities Play Space reviews for more Melbourne playgrounds worth the trip.