We went to Hays Paddock Playground again today. Honestly, this is one of our favourite playgrounds in the eastern suburbs. There’s plenty of shaded areas, it has everything you need, and you can even ride bikes here.
I checked the weather in advance — the temperature wasn’t too high in the morning but at least there was sunshine — so we headed out after 9am to what I’d call the “ceiling-level” playground in the Kew area: Hays Paddock.
Hays Paddock playground reviews
This place basically has everything you could want. There are climbing structures and rope courses for older kids, as well as sand play, water play, and swings for younger ones. Spending an hour here is effortless.
The upgraded Hays Paddock Playground is fully fenced, which makes it much safer. You don’t have to worry about younger kids running off. This is honestly the biggest highlight — a fully enclosed playground. For parents, especially mums, it’s a lifesaver. You can let your child play inside, close the gate, and not stress about them disappearing.
Big kids’ area: a super cool wooden castle, various climbing nets, and slides.
Little kids’ area: dedicated swings (including a parent-child swing where you can sit face-to-face), and spring riders.
Sensory play: a shaded sandpit with a digger and water pump. Kids can play with sand and water for a solid hour. The sandpit isn’t huge, but it comes with excavators and lifting buckets. There are also visual cue boards nearby.
The entire playground has a jungle theme, and there’s a small deck overlooking the wetlands.
Facilities (perfect for picnics)
Many play areas are covered with shade sails, so you don’t have to worry about getting sunburnt.
Picnic & BBQ: there are picnic tables and BBQ facilities both inside and outside the fenced area — perfect for birthday parties or weekend family days.
Toilets: located right next to the playground, and relatively clean for a public facility.
Adult fitness: there’s a ring of outdoor gym equipment outside the fence — kids play inside while you work out (although realistically, most of us just sit and scroll on our phones).
There’s also a tennis court nearby, but it likely requires booking.
Getting there & parking
Hays Paddock playground
Address: Longstaff St, Kew East VIC 3102
Just search the park name in navigation. There are quite a few parking spots, but it gets very busy on weekends. It’s best to arrive early or park on nearby residential streets.
Make sure to bring a spare set of clothes — the water pump will definitely get kids soaked. The only thing missing is a café for coffee, although there’s occasionally a mobile ice cream truck on weekends.
Highly recommended as a great outdoor spot for kids to burn off energy.
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