Found a good place to burn off the kids’ energy in Melbourne’s east: McAlpin Reserve in Ringwood North. The playground design is really cute. There are apple and pear sculptures scattered around it, and the kids love them. It’s just like a fruit park. Walking in feels like stepping into a red and green fruit playground, and it’s very childlike.
The fruit comes from the reserve’s history. The renovation is a nod to the old McAlpin orchard.
In autumn it’s really pretty. The leaves slowly turn yellow and red, and it’s pleasant just to walk around. The air is good, and it feels like being surrounded by nature. You don’t need to plan anything. Bring snacks and a picnic mat and you can stay the whole afternoon. It’s a relaxed place for a weekend.
The playground
It’s a big playground with slides, climbing and swings, and the kids can play for ages without wanting to leave. It was renovated in 2021, so it’s been a few years.
There are two sets of equipment, one for smaller kids and one for bigger kids. You’ll find swings, a cute border collie rocker, a small trampoline, a water pump, a water well and musical scale bells. The baby area is fun, and the big slide is a challenge.
The renovation put lots of interesting things around the place. There are lifelike apple and pear sculptures and animal sculptures, and little fairy houses.
The lawn
A big open lawn with wide views. You can put down a picnic mat, the parents chat and relax, and the kids go wild. We took fruit and snacks and had a picnic while we watched them play.
Scooters and bikes
There are paths for scooters and balance bikes, so you wear the kids out and walk the park at the same time. The paths make a full loop, and the park is fairly enclosed, which feels safe. It suits kids on bikes too.
The lake
There’s an artificial lake with ducks swimming on it. The air is fresh, and it feels like a small forest. People feed the ducks, and the ducks are what our kid likes most. Water birds of all kinds gather there, including a bird with a pointy beak and a chicken with a blue neck.
Blossoms and picnics
In spring the cherry and apple blossoms come out and they’re very pretty. A picnic under the flowers is really pleasant.
Facilities
There are toilets, several BBQs and several shelters, so it suits a gathering. It also suits a kid’s birthday party. There are four electric BBQs. We’ll try one when the weather’s warmer. There weren’t many people when we went. Close to midday there were still empty shelters.
Costco
It’s only a 6 or 7 minute drive from the Costco in Ringwood. Now whenever we go to Costco for groceries, we come here first to recharge the kid. That’s a bit unfair on such a fun place, and it’s worth a special trip.
Where it is
73-75 Wonga Road, Ringwood North VIC 3134.
More Melbourne playgrounds in the east: Bayswater’s red steam train playground and the newer Hazelwood Park Playground in Aintree.