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Cheltenham Beach Playground — Cheltenham
Hidden Gem

Cheltenham Beach Playground

Cheltenham

About this playground

Located at the northern end of Cheltenham Beach, this medium-sized playground offers simple equipment but plenty of open space to run around. The ocean views from the swings and slide are a highlight. Parking can be challenging, especially on Vauxhall Road, though Arawa Avenue offers an alternative within walking distance.

At a glance

  • Swings face the beach; pohutukawa shade over the picnic and seating areas feels natural rather than “installed”
  • Cheltenham Beach is steps away — shallow, calm water and dramatic tides, ideal for wading, shells, and long summer evenings
  • Usually quiet; street parking around the reserve — try Balmain Reserve for toilets and a clearer approach, or the small bay where Oxford Terrace meets Cheltenham Road

A complete accident, and a perfect one

We did not plan to find this playground. One afternoon I picked the kids up from school, took a different road home on a whim, and caught a glimpse of it from the top of a hill. The view on the way down stopped us in our tracks — we pulled over almost immediately. That is how Cheltenham Beach Playground entered our lives, and it has been a regular ever since.

The playground itself is on the smaller side compared with some of the bigger parks we have visited, but size is not everything. What it lacks in scale it more than makes up for in setting. I will say it plainly: this might have the most scenic slide in the world. Standing at the top and looking out over the water before you go down is genuinely something. The kids were not the only ones impressed.

The playground

The playground itself is quite simple. There is a slide and a few basic play elements, but not a lot to keep kids busy for long. What makes this place special is the view — the beach right in front of you, the open water, and the calm atmosphere. It feels less like a destination playground and more like a small, beautiful spot to pause, breathe, and rest for a while.

Cheltenham Beach Playground, overlooking the coast
The restroom is right next to the playground and well maintained, though a bit out of sight, so I'd recommend going there with your child.

The beach is the real star

Truthfully, Cheltenham Beach is the real highlight here. The tide shifts dramatically, and when the water pulls back, kids can roam far out across the shallow sand searching for shells and little clams at the water’s edge. On warm summer evenings especially, it becomes one of those places where time disappears without you noticing. Our kids ask to come here more than anywhere else. Ever since our arrival here in 2026, this is their most-visited beach. Their absolute favourite, without contest.

This is pretty much the exact view your child — or you — would actually see while riding the slide.

Parking & access

The beach and playground are generally not crowded, which is part of the appeal. Parking is available on the surrounding streets, and if you are coming for the first time, the entrance can be a little unclear — coming through Balmain Reserve is the easiest approach, and there are public toilets there too. One handy tip: there is a small parking spot right where Oxford Terrace meets Cheltenham Road that most people miss. Worth knowing, especially on a busy day.

There's surely a reason they put in as many as six swings, and the view from them is just fantastic.

If the play area here feels a little small compared with the big destination parks, Allenby Reserve Playground is only about 500 m on foot from this spot. It is larger, recently upgraded, and one of our favourite picks in Devonport.

Key features

Toilets
Beach
Green
scenic
Water Fountain

Gallery

More Nearby Playgrounds

Map

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