Kew is a surprising place. In the middle of a residential area there is a fully fenced playground full of surprises. It has a helicopter and a tram, and a small slide on a half slope.
The Tram
The little retro tram is not just a photo prop, and it is not only somewhere to sit on a rainy day. There are springs under it. When the kids jump up and down inside the carriage, the whole tram shakes with them. It is a bit like a giant seesaw that you can sit inside.
The Helicopter
I rarely see a helicopter in a playground that looks this good. It has a round red cabin and a long tail, with a rotor on top. It sits under a tree as if waiting for little pilots to board.
The kids can really climb inside it, and then slide out from the yellow slide at the front of the cabin. For photos, the red body frames the picture, with trees and grass outside. It feels like you could take a page from a children’s adventure picture book without trying.
A Fully Fenced Playground
The whole play area is fully fenced, and dogs can’t come in. That is especially good for kids who are scared of dogs.
Little Ideas Everywhere
There is a zebra crossing, traffic signs and a mini charging station. Hidden under the wooden climbing frame is the Foley Cafe. If I looked closely, there were little clever touches everywhere.
We brought a scooter. After driving the tram, the kids went to “charge up”, and then to the little window to do business. A small community for kids came together.
Outside the Fence
Outside the fence there is also a basketball court. With an older child at home, I would bring a basketball next time, so everyone has their own kind of fun.
Our Take
The place is not especially big, but it has a compact feel, where every few steps give a new scene. Compared with a huge playground, it is more refined and quiet. It held our child’s attention for a whole afternoon.
A scooter is worth bringing. There are picnic tables and shade in some parts, but I still needed sun protection on a sunny day. There are no public toilets, so we planned that before we came.
Address: Foley Reserve, 23 Foley Street, Kew VIC 3101
We also wrote about Hazelwood Park in Aintree, another Melbourne playground. More ideas are in our things-to-do directory.