A neighbour tipped us off about a new playground nearby, so the next weekend we grabbed the kids and went to see it for ourselves. It sits inside one of the newer housing estates on Melbourne’s northern fringe, and on the drive in we actually passed two other playgrounds before we’d even arrived. The address is 1238 Edgars Road, Wollert — and yes, it’s worth the drive out to the north for this one. This is a playground where the adults end up having as much fun as the kids.
The eight-metre tower is intimidating even before you climb it
We’d been drawn in by photos of the tower, but standing in front of it in person still made me stop and stare — it’s genuinely imposing up close. The tower is the anchor of what’s officially named Kendon Park Playground, sitting on the corner of Edgars Road and Skyway Avenue, and reaches eight metres tall. If your kids have grown bored of the gentle, standard-issue slide at your local park, this is the one to try.
The design itself is what makes it interesting. There’s no staircase at all — you get up by climbing rope netting the entire way. There are a couple of footholds along the route where you can pause and catch your breath, but getting all the way to the top is still no small effort.
Two slides, and only one of them is for the brave
The two slides scale up in height and difficulty together. The lower one is gentle, with just a bit of speed built in, and it’s plenty for kids who aren’t chasing a thrill. The higher one runs almost the full height of the tower, and you can tell how steep it is just from a photo. I’m afraid of heights myself, and standing up there I was genuinely terrified. If you’re a parent who loves rollercoasters or anything extreme, though, come and try it — you’ll love it.
The toddler area is thoughtfully separate
If you’re bringing a younger one along, the soft-fall area beside the slides is set up well for it. It’s shaped a bit like a shallow basin, so parents sitting up on the edge can still see their kids easily — no blind spots, which mattered a lot to me at a playground this size with this much going on. The warm colour palette also plays nicely against the park’s autumn foliage, adding a bit of warmth to the cooler months. A handful of small slides, a bright yellow tunnel, a gently sloped climbing wall and a flying-saucer-style spinner round the area out, and younger kids can happily entertain themselves there for a good while.
What we’d tell you before you go
I’d say the tower is really only for kids four and up — any younger and reaching the rope netting is a stretch, and the entrance only fits one person at a time, so it’s hard for an adult to climb up alongside a child. There are bins on site but no toilets — the nearest ones were about a five-minute drive from us. We also found a table tennis table, a basketball half-court and a spot to barbecue. The wider playground also has two in-ground trampolines and a climbing section with rock-climbing holds, if your kids have energy left after the tower. It’s close to a supermarket, and the usual fast-food options are all within five to ten minutes by car too. If it’s your first visit, know that this park was first opened back in July 2020 and Aurora Adventure Park sits just across the road — that’s likely one of the two we drove past on the way in.
Would we go back?
Yes, and probably with a jumper for the tower’s shady side even in the warmer months. If your family likes a bit of a scare with your slide, it’s also worth reading about Hidden World Playground in Fitzgibbon, which has a similarly dramatic tower slide on the other side of the country. And while you’re planning the trip, it’s worth checking our Victorian school holiday dates so you’re not fighting the school-holiday crowds for a turn on the rope net.