Royal Reserve Playground

Note: Royal Reserve Playground is in Westgate — not on Auckland's North Shore.

Royal Reserve Playground — Don't Just Look and Walk Past

A large two-zone playground in Westgate with a big tower structure, a fast hill slide, and more to explore than you'd first expect.

Two Playgrounds in One

Royal Reserve Playground is divided into two clear areas. One side is for younger children, and the other is for older kids. They're different enough that each age group has something properly suited to them, which doesn't always happen at playgrounds this size.

The older kids' area has the most eye-catching equipment. The main structure is a set of two tall wooden towers with yellow poles, connected by a rope bridge, with a large tube slide running down from the top — you can see it clearly in the photos. It's quite impressive and keeps older kids busy for a good while. The floor in this section is wood chips, which is softer for falls. The whole perimeter of the playground is paved, so getting around with a pram or a bike is easy.

The toddler area has rubber flooring and more appropriately scaled equipment. One thing that stood out here is the seating around the edge — there's a low concrete border that wraps around the whole toddler zone, so parents can sit facing inward and watch the kids play without standing the whole time. It's a simple thing but really well thought out. There are also ground-level trampolines embedded in the rubber floor, which younger kids love.

The seating ring around the toddler area is one of the better parent-friendly details we've seen. You can sit in a full circle around the kids and always have them in view.

The Big Hill Slide — the Real Highlight

Just next to the main playground is a large hill slide built into the slope — the wide blue one you can see in the first photo. This is probably the most popular thing here. It's fast, it's wide, and kids will go back up and do it again and again. A few things to know: it moves quickly, so younger or smaller kids should be supervised. And in summer, the surface can get hot in direct sun, so it's worth checking before you send a toddler down.

One useful tip: the toilets are at the bottom of the hill near the sports field. If your kid refuses to go to the toilet, tell them there's a big slide nearby. Works every time.

What's Below the Playground

A lot of people visit the playground and don't realise there's more just below. Walk down from the main area and there's a large open sports field with goal posts — good for football or just running around — and some adult fitness equipment alongside it. The toilets are down here too. They're fine, but the location is a bit out of the way and not very visible from the playground. It's worth going with your child rather than sending them on their own.

At the entrance to the park there's also a basketball court, which is popular with older kids. On weekends it's usually taken, but worth checking.

Overall Thoughts

A good-sized, well-equipped playground that's worth visiting alongside Kopupaka Reserve if you're making a trip to the Westgate area. The two together make for a solid half-day out.

The playground is located at 7 Beauchamp Drive, Massey, Auckland 0614.