When it comes to toddlers, playgrounds are one of the best ways to spend time outside with them. Full of adventure, learning to explore, and curious about different play environments they encounter, a young child can spend hours at a playground if we let them. So, what are the best playgrounds for toddlers in Brisbane? We have gone through our collection and found the playgrounds that we think best suit a toddler’s age and ability. Whether that is because it is fenced to hold little ones in safely, has toddler-sized play equipment, or has facilities and play areas that best support their needs, this is our list of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers.
Thornlands Community Park, Thornlands
Thornlands Community Park hits the top of our list of toddler-friendly playgrounds in Brisbane for so many reasons. The playground itself is new, huge, and super impressive – the designers have thought of everything when it comes to family-friendly play equipment.
For toddlers in particular, the space is perfectly set up for them. Small, low-to the ground play cubbies mean they can easily navigate them on their own and fuel their imaginative play at the same time. The soft-fall base, shade sails, and wide open spaces between play equipment makes it the perfect environment for them to explore safely too. There are sand dinosaur digs, water play, tunnels to climb, swings, and so much more that they will absolutely love.
Oh – did we mention that the whole park is fenced (with toilets and change areas inside too)?!
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: The reasons are almost countless! The park is fully fenced, has toilets / change areas on site, features toddler-sized play equipment, water, and nature play facilities, as well as soft-fall flooring, and it is widely spaced.
Features:
- Fenced playground
- Accessible toilet facilities
- Climbing structure with tunnels and two giant slides
- Pirate ship crows nest
- Soft fall, sand and wood chip base
- Partially shaded by shade sails
- Dinosaur dig area
- Water play area with pumps, funnels and pump shower
- Swings
- Large two-person flying fox
- Nature play
- Spinners
- Sandpit with diggers
- Cubby house farmers market
- Mini ninja warrior climbing course
- Fitness area
- Large oval
- BBQs
- Picnic shelters with tables
- Benches
- Grassy areas and shade trees
Location: 270-282 Cleveland Redland Bay Road, Thornlands
Read our detailed in-person review of Thornlands Community Park.
Ascot Park, Ascot
Allowing a toddler their independence while playing is what parents look for in a playground, and Ascot park delivers this in bucketloads. Created with toddlers in mind, the playground is fully-fenced and all of the play equipment has been built low to the ground. The soft-fall base and spaced out play equipment means the area is never too busy or overwhelming for little people to navigate on their own.
The playground itself has some delightful cubbies, with one actually having the front half of a truck at one side. There is a water pump, plenty of seating for parents and toilets nearby too.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: With all the equipment built low to the ground and the entire playground being fully-fenced, Ascot Park’s cute little play spaces, cubbies, and maze are perfect for toddlers.
Features:
- Fully-fenced playground
- Accessible toilets – outside the fenced area
- Three cubby-style play forts
- Slides
- Tunnels
- Interactive sensory panels
- Swings – toddler, typical and lounger swings
- Roundabout
- Water pump with rocky creek bed
- Grass/concrete maze
- Cargo net climbing structure
- Basketball half-court (outside fenced area)
- Grassy area for ball games (outside fenced area)
- Partially shaded by shade sails
- Grassy area shaded by mature trees
- Rubberised soft fall
- Near Ascot train station
- Street parking only
- BBQ
- Cafes nearby
Location: Corner of Lancaster and Kitchener Roads, Ascot
Read our detailed in-person review of Ascot Park.
Oriel Park, Ascot
Another Ascot park that gets our vote for being extremely toddler-friendly is Oriel Park. I remember spending many hours here when my kids were young, sitting quietly on a bench beneath the shady trees and sipping a coffee from the nearby cafe while my toddlers delighted in racing around between each of the different play areas.
Being fully-fenced means you don’t have to be one step behind them the whole time and the play equipment is all the perfect size for them to navigate on their own. The old steam tractor with slide is always a huge hit too.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: This park is simple, but beautifully spaced for toddlers. It’s not overwhelming with fancy equipment, and the playground features play areas that a toddler will love and at a size they can navigate on their own. The area is canopied by shady trees, is fully-fenced, and has plenty of space for toddlers both within the playground and outside of it to run around.
Features:
- Fenced playground
- Accessible toilet facilities
- Play equipment under shade sails and shady trees
- Bark base
- Rope climbing structures
- Castle forts
- Rope bridges
- A variety of slides
- Firefighters’ poles
- Games
- Spring riders
- Dizzy stick
- Round-a-bout
- Old steam tractor
- Swings, including infant swings and a basket swing
- Nature-based balancing obstacles
- Grassy open spaces (unfenced)
- Electric BBQs
- Picnic tables
- Park gym equipment
- Street parking
- Café and shops across the road
Location: Alexandra Road, Ascot
Read our detailed in-person review of Oriel Park.
Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane
Although the two playgrounds found at Roma Street Parkland are not actually fenced, we have still listed it as one of our favourites. In fact, the entire parkland is just such a wonderful play space for toddlers. Not only is there suitable play equipment for little ones at both playgrounds, but there are plenty of lovely big manicured lawns to roll on, gardens and flowers to exclaim at, pram-friendly pathways, a vegetable garden, a worm farm, and even a trackless train that meanders throughout the parklands. Toddlers (and their whole family) will love it!
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: Once inside, there is a full day of fun that can be found at Roma Street Parkland. Pack a picnic and spend the day alongside one of the children’s playgrounds, marvel at the worm farm, have a ride on the trackless train, or simply stoll (or scooter) along the many wide forest pathways.
Features:
- Two unfenced playgrounds – climbing structures, slides
- Accessible toilets
- ‘Children’s Garden’
- Lakeside BBQs
- ‘Xpress Fun’ trackless train
- Vegetable and herb garden
- Well-maintained walking paths
- Plenty of shady, grassed picnic areas
- Shaded BBQ areas with tables and chairs by the lake and scattered throughout the park
- Water bubblers
- Café
- Information hub
- ‘Spectacle Garden’ and ‘Rainforest Walk’ are open from dawn until dusk
- Metered parking is available on the street or in the car park
Location: Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill
Read our detailed in-person review of Roma Street Parkland.
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Playground, Brisbane CBD
Located in the heart of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, this playground is a perfect play area for toddlers and younger children. With concrete seating rimming the outside of the playground, parents can happily sit down and watch on as their little ones play and explore. We absolutely love the fact that the climbing fort here caters for all ages and abilities, with wide walkways offering plenty of space for wheelchair-users and parents wanting to get on their with their toddler too.
Toddlers will love the digging pit, sensory activities, and musical chimes found here, as well as the duck-filled pond and fairy lit trees that are also part of this beautiful, spacious, and green inner-city park.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: We love the wide walkways of the main fort playground at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Playground, as well as the low play equipment and sensory/nature play aspects. The adjacent expansive lawns are perfect for little people to run and play on, and the duck pond, gardens, and fairy lit trees will add even more wonder to their day.
Features:
- Partially shaded unfenced playground
- Toilets facilities within close walking distance
- Synthetic under surfacing, mulch and sand bases
- Slides
- Swings (including infant swing and accessible swing)
- Sand play area
- Musical play area
- Sensory sculpture garden
- Bike and walking paths
- Picnic tables
- Bench seating under the shady trees
- Adjacent to the Brisbane River
- Free council WiFi
- Off-street parking
- A short walk over Goodwill Bridge from Southbank. Or catch a ferry or citycat and stop at QUT Gardens Point Campus or Eagle Street terminals.
Location: Alice Street, Brisbane
Read our detailed in-person review of Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Playground.
Milton Park Playground, Milton
For any little train enthusiast, Milton Park Playground offers everything a toddler could want – with its very own train too! The hero of this fully-fenced playground, the replica train has a ladder, slide, stairs, and even a fireman pole attached – all at a size compatible with toddlers and early walkers. The train itself is quite spacious and affords the room for toddlers to wander through a carriage, sit as a passenger, or head straight to the front to play pretend as the train driver.
Other playground features include a railway crossing, petrol station, play cafe for a quick stopover, and various transport-related signs. The park itself is quite compact and sheltered by shady trees, which means parents can actually relax and easily keep and eye on their toddler while they do so.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: We love that this Milton Park Playground is fully-fenced, is shaded and compact, and has the delightful train-theme throughout. So many toddlers are fascinated by trains and being able to get close to one, ride on one, and use their imagination while doing so is a big win for us.
Features:
- Fenced train-themed playground
- Toilets in main park
- Play equipment under shady trees
- Rubber and bark base
- Climbing structures
- Slide
- Swings
- Rockers
- Basketball half-court
- Grassy open spaces (unfenced)
- Bike and walking paths
- Electric BBQ
- Picnic tables and shelters
- Small carpark and street parking
- Fenced off-leash dog park
Location: Milton Road, Milton
Read our detailed in-person review of Milton Park.
New Farm Park Playground, New Farm
New Farm Park Playground is unfenced and is always very busy – something that would normally deter us from adding it to a toddler-friendly playground list. But this playground is just so magical, enchanting, and perfectly built for little ones that your toddler would be missing out if they didn’t get the chance to explore it!
Built seamlessly into the roots of the giant fig trees that surround it, this wooden fort playground will attract little ones just as much as the purpose-build ‘toddler’ playground nearby. Low to the ground, with wide access, and with plenty of nooks and crannies to weave in and out of, it’s no wonder this playground and surrounding park are amongst the most popular for families in Brisbane.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: New Farm Park Playground’s wide spaced and low-built wooden fort built into the trees is like a low-lying tree house that toddlers will love. There is also an actual toddler playground for tiny ones, as well as picnic lawns, toilets, other play equipment, and so much more to love about this park too.
Features:
- Unfenced playground
- Accessible toilets
- Soft fall, bark and sand base
- Wooden fort style playground built among fig trees
- Balancing beams, ladder, bridges, fire poles, slides
- Giant rope climbing frame
- Dedicated toddler playground
- Dragon themed section
- Multiple bay swing set
- Harnessed, adaptive swings
- Various spinners
- Interactive and educational games
- Picnic shelters
- Electric BBQs
- Bike and walking paths
- Open grassy spaces
- Rose gardens
- Historic bandstand/rotunda – available for hire
- Free council Wi-Fi
- Dogs on leash friendly
- Off-street parking
- Coffee and restaurants nearby
Location: Brunswick Street, New Farm
Read our detailed in-person review of New Farm Park Playground.
Hills District All-Abilities Playground, Arana Hills
The Hills District All-Abilities Playground is not only all-inclusive, but it’s perfect for toddlers too. Fully-fenced, the playground features a delightful bee theme throughout and has a wide range of toddler-designed play equipment.
Small, soft hills house slides, and a tiny cubby lends itself well to imaginative play, with a farmer’s market and café theme. The playground is easily accessible for toddlers to move about independently, yet big enough for pre-schoolers too. We also love that the it’s on a sand base and has a watercourse near it that’s frequented by ducks. A lovely bike track also circles the playground.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: This is a wonderful toddler park due to it being fully-fenced and featuring a wide variety of toddler-friendly play equipment. It is generously spaced out and has wide lawns to run on too. There are plenty of imaginative play opportunities, lots of wildlife to meet, and, if they bring their bike or scooter along, your toddler can have fun on the bike track too.
Features:
- Fenced, partially shaded playground
- Accessible toilets
- Toddler-friendly cubby with farmer’s market/café theme
- Musical instruments
- Sandpit with two diggers
- Seesaw
- Shaker
- Slides – numerous including roller slide
- Swings – toddler, normal and supported harness swings
- Fireman pole
- Climbing walls
- Monkey bars
- Periscope
- Garden area
- Partially shaded by shade sails and mature trees
- Rubberised soft fall and sand
- Playing fields adjacent
Location: Dawson Parade, Arana Hills
Read our detailed in-person review of Hills District All-Abilities Playground.
Karawatha Forest Park Playground, Karawatha
When it comes to nature play playgrounds for kids, you really can’t go past Karawatha Forest Park. Not only is it an important wildlife haven, but the park is also home to a fascinating Discovery Centre, numerous walking tracks, two picnic areas, and an awesome nature play space.
With a playground built from and surrounded by nature, your toddler will be able to follow natural bush paths, hop across wood stumps, climb large felled tree trunks, and enjoy a water play feature too. On certain days of the week, the park also hosts bush kindy for toddlers, where they can enjoy storytelling outside and then enjoy some time with buckets and water in the nature playground.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: Fully nature-based, this playground will have your child immersed in nature. We love the bush kindy days and the fact that, after playing, your toddler can explore the Discovery Centre and learn all about the surrounding environment and the animals that inhabit it.
Features:
- Unfenced playground
- Toilets – 2 blocks with accessible toilets
- Nature play
- Shade trees
- Soft fall base around the climbing play area
- Water pump and rocky stream water play
- Picnic lawn
- Rocks and tree stumps climbing area
- Animal experiences
- Pollinator Garden
- Composting Station
- Native Plant Nursery
- Native Bee Hive
- Bush Kindy
- Sheltered tables
- Unsheltered tables
- Barbeques
- Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre, open 9am-4pm every day but Monday when it is closed
- Network of bushwalking tracks
- Filtered water station
- Large car park with 3 disabled spaces
- Gates are open between 6.00am – 6.00pm
Location: 149 Acacia Road, Karawatha
Read our detailed in-person review of Karawatha Forest Park.
Queens Park Playground & Nature Centre, Ipswich
While it’s not strictly located in Brisbane, Queens Park in Ipswich is located less than 30 minutes away and is well worth the quick journey there. The playground here is not fenced, but the green spaces that surround it are generous and make for a wonderful place to set up for a picnic while your little one explores the area around them. There is a wonderfully long water play route that toddlers will delight in racing leaves down, as well as plenty of play equipment spread out over a large space.
The main reason we love this park though is because of the Nature Centre (situated within the grounds) that is full of native animals your toddler will love, as well as featuring wide pram-friendly pathways that area easy to navigate and a gold-coin donation fee only to enter.
Why we think it’s one of the best playgrounds in Brisbane for toddlers: A one-stop shop when it comes to a full day of toddler fun, Queens Park features a wonderful playground with water play, wide grassy fields to run on, a fabulous on-site cafe, and an incredible nature centre/zoo full of delightful native animals and birds that your toddler will adore.
Features:
- Unfenced playground
- Toilets including disabled access (2 toilet blocks)
- Nature Centre
- Generous lawns
- Swings
- Nappy changing facilities
- 4 electric BBQ’s
- Rubber base around equipment
- Lots of shade over the playground
- Cafe
- Water pumps where children can pump the water and watch it run down the little streams made.
- 2 carparks, including free parking and disabled parking.
Location: 10A Milford Street, Ipswich
Read our detailed in-person review of Queens Park.
Tips for visiting Brisbane playgrounds for toddlers
Visiting these fabulous Brisbane playgrounds with toddlers can be a fun, but often mammoth task. Here are some of our tried and tested tips to make sure your playground visit runs smoothly:
- Have a variety of snacks available (playing is hungry work!)
- Bring a full water bottle and additional cold water for hot days
- Be SunSmart by wearing hats and applying sunscreen regularly
- Pack a change of clothes for everyone
- Have bathers, rashies, towels, and a wet bag on hand for impromptu beach visits after park play
- Bring sensible shoes and slip-on slides/thongs if you encounter sand, water etc
- No matter what the age of the children, always have some wipes on hand
For more toddler inspiration, you may also enjoy:
The best toddler playgrounds on the Gold Coast
Best things to do with babies and toddlers in Brisbane
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