Ridge Park Playground
Long Bay
About this playground
Next to Ridge Park in a quiet residential pocket — a thoughtful playground that rewards slowing down. Fenced toddler zone plus a larger area for older kids, with strong pram and wheelchair access via paved paths, including inside the toddler enclosure. Equipment looks modest but engages deeply; our kids spent thirty minutes on log balance beams alone. Clean, well maintained, and easy to visit.
At a glance
- Tucked-away residential spot with clean facilities - a calm, easy visit that never feels crowded
- Looks pretty unassuming from the parking lot, but the layout's smart: mound slide, swings, and simple timber balance pieces that kept our kids busy for ages
- Two distinct areas - a fully fenced toddler section and a bigger open space for older kids - plus pram-friendly paths where you actually need them
- Shade sails, sand-and-water tables in the coolest corner, picnic tables, a toilet, drinking fountain, and parking right by the park
What's at this playground?
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Log balance beams and stepping posts
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Large shade sails over the main activity areas
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Picnic tables and benches throughout the play zone
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Wood chip surfacing under the equipment, generally well maintained
Modest at first glance
When we pulled up to Ridge Park, we honestly were not expecting much. It sits tucked into a quiet residential neighbourhood, and the playground looks modest at first pass — no towering castle or flashy multi-level frame to grab your attention straight away. Spend a little time here, though, and it becomes obvious that a lot of thought has gone into every corner.
Mound slide, swings, and the timber course
The main play area centres on a yellow slide built neatly into a small grassy mound, so even younger kids can scramble up without much trouble. Small climbing holds on the side of the hill help little ones find their footing — ours made full use of them. A classic metal swing set sits nearby, alongside a large nest swing with a modern arched frame. The nest swing was claimed the moment we arrived.
What really surprised us was the array of log balance beams and stepping posts. They look almost unassuming, but our kids spent the best part of half an hour working their way across them, completely absorbed. It is one of those reminders that children do not always need elaborate equipment — they need good design.
Shade, sand and water, surfacing
Shade sails cover the main activity areas generously, which made a real difference on a sunny afternoon. The elevated sand and water play tables sit in the shadiest pocket — a thoughtful placement for hot days. Wood chip surfacing runs through the whole zone and, on our visit, felt soft underfoot and well kept.
My kids spent 30 minutes on those log beams alone. No screens, no coaxing — just total focus. Sometimes the simplest things win.
Two zones: toddlers fenced, bigger kids open
The playground sits right next to Ridge Park and reads as two distinct spaces: a fenced toddler area for the littlest visitors, and a larger open area for bigger kids. The toddler enclosure is fully fenced — genuinely useful when you want small children to roam without shadowing every step. Inside, there is a sweet little slide and swings, shaded and easy to navigate.
Wheel access is clearly a design priority, not an afterthought. The perimeter is paved, and even inside the toddler area the central path is paved, so you can push a pram in and out without fighting gravel or grass. If you have ever wrestled a stroller over uneven ground, you will notice the difference.
Grass, picnics, and the practical wins
Beside the playground is a rectangular grassy open space — not enormous, but plenty of space to run around and play with a ball. Picnic tables are plentiful; there must be four or five, and they looked clean, newish, and well spaced — the sort of spot where you can unpack a proper lunch instead of balancing everything on your lap. We are already planning sandwiches for next time.
There is a toilet and a drinking fountain on site; both were easy to find and in good order on our visit. Parking sits right next to the park, which keeps the whole outing low-stress.
The neighbourhood
The surrounding streets are quiet and open, which gives the park an easy, settled feeling. It is probably not the playground you would drive across town for — but if you lived nearby, it is absolutely the kind of place you would happily return to every week. We would go back.