Jean Sampson Reserve Playground

One of the North Shore's Great Toddler Playgrounds

Jean Sampson Reserve Playground is tucked into Northcote Point with the harbour in sight — a compact, fully fenced reserve that feels quietly special the moment you arrive. The playground does not try to be everything for every age; instead, it feels like toddlers were the actual brief, not an afterthought, and you notice that straight away in the scale of the equipment and the layout of the space. When we think of playgrounds that really get toddler design right, only a handful on the North Shore come to mind — Lake Town Green in Hauraki, Campbell Bay Reserve, Takapuna Beach Playground. Jean Sampson Reserve belongs on that same short list — one of the great toddler playgrounds we keep coming back to.

Built for Toddlers

After visiting playgrounds across Auckland and the North Shore, one thing we have come to realise is that playgrounds truly designed with toddlers in mind are rarer than you would think. Most are mixed-age by default, with equipment that skews older or simply is not scaled right for the very young.

Everything here feels considered from a toddler's perspective. The equipment is the right height, the right scale, the right level of challenge. The centrepiece is a fire engine-themed climbing structure, and it works exactly as well as it sounds — on our visit, a few little ones were on it for ages, deep in their own firefighter roleplay, climbing in from every angle and going back for another go just as you think they are done. It is the kind of equipment that holds a toddler's attention properly, not just for one quick go.

Right alongside the main play area is a face-to-face parent-and-child swing — the kind where you sit opposite each other and swing together. It is a small thing, but it is a genuinely lovely detail. And for any older siblings who have already outgrown the toddler equipment, there is a basketball court nearby that keeps them occupied without anyone having to feel left out.

Most playgrounds have something for toddlers. This one feels like it was built specifically for them. That is a meaningful difference, and you feel it as soon as you arrive.

Shade, Toilets, and That View

Four large shade sails cover the playground, and they do their job well. Even on a bright sunny morning when the light is already strong, the play area stays genuinely comfortable. We have visited early and the shade coverage at that time of day is particularly good — the kids can play freely without you having to think about it.

The toilets here are, without exaggeration, the cleanest we have encountered at any playground we have visited. That sounds like faint praise but it is genuinely impressive — clean, well-maintained, and easy to find.

Tip: The drinking fountain is easy to miss — it is tucked around the side of the toilet block rather than sitting in plain view from the playground. Worth knowing where to look before you go searching with thirsty kids in tow.

A wide open grassy area with picnic tables sits right next to the playground, and there is more than enough room for the kids to run around after they have finished on the equipment.

And then there is the view. A short walk from the playground, across Queen Street on the other side, opens onto wide, beautiful sea outlook — the kind of backdrop that makes the whole outing feel a bit more special than a typical playground visit. It is reason enough to make the trip even if you do not live nearby.

Overall thoughts

If you have a toddler and have not been here yet, it is worth making the trip. One of the best we have found on the North Shore — thoughtful equipment, excellent shade and facilities, and a view that elevates the whole visit. In the same neighbourhood, Stafford Park is only minutes away if you want wide open parkland after the playground; for another toddler-friendly stop with a fire-truck theme, Inwards Reserve in Birkdale is worth pairing on a longer morning out.