Harrier Point Park Playground

Note: Harrier Point Park Playground is in Hobsonville — not on Auckland's North Shore.

Harrier Point Park Playground — That "Statue" Is Actually a Slide

Found by accident on the way back from the Catalina Bay Farmers Market — and glad we stopped.

An Accidental Discovery

We found this playground completely by accident while visiting the Catalina Bay Farmers Market. Most people come to this area for the waterfront walk and the market, which makes sense — it's a lovely spot. But if you have young kids with you, this playground is worth a detour before you head back to the car.

It's easy to miss. The playground sits back from the main Catalina Bay foot traffic, partly tucked among trees, and doesn't announce itself from the waterfront the way you'd expect. That's partly why it feels like such a find once you stumble on it — and partly why we'd call it a hidden gem rather than an obvious destination.

The playground is split into three separate areas, spread out among the trees. Because of the tree cover, each section isn't easily visible from the others, so it can feel like there's not much here at first. There's a flying fox area, a general play area with some basic equipment and wooden post frames with hanging bars, (as you can see in the photos), and then — the one that stops you in your tracks — the giant bird.

The Giant Bird — Not a Statue

When you first see it through the trees, it looks like a large sculpture. A big rust-coloured bird, maybe two storeys tall, sitting in a clearing. You'd walk straight past it thinking it's just a piece of art. But it's actually a climbable structure with stairs inside, an observation deck, and a slide coming out the side.

You climb the stairs up through the body of the bird. Partway up there's a landing where you can look out toward Catalina Bay — the view through the trees is quite nice from there. Go up one more level to the head and the view gets even better. To come down, you take the slide on the side of the structure. It's a proper metal slide, reasonably fast, and comes down at a good angle.

One important note: the staircase inside is quite steep and narrow. For children under 5, it's best to go up with them. The steps are manageable but it's not something you'd want a small child doing alone.

We thought it was a sculpture. Then we noticed kids climbing stairs inside it. Then we saw the slide. It's one of the most unusual pieces of playground equipment we've come across.

The Rest of the Park

The other two areas are simpler. The flying fox is a good length and kids enjoyed it. The general play area has wooden post bars, a few hanging elements, and a rope structure — nothing elaborate, but fine for a short stop. There's some shade, a picnic table or two, and BBQ facilities nearby, so it works well as a spot to sit and eat after the market.

The park is small overall and the equipment isn't extensive. But with the bird structure and the flying fox, there's enough to keep kids busy for 30–45 minutes, which is about right for a stop-off on a market day.

Overall Thoughts

Harrier Point Park won't compete with Westgate's big destination playgrounds on size alone. What it offers instead is something memorable in a small package — and a location that rewards people who look past the market and waterfront and follow the path up toward the car park. If you're already at Catalina Bay, it's absolutely worth the detour.

The playground is located at 1 Boundary Road, Hobsonville, Auckland 0616.