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C I T Y P L AYS C A P E S
Brisbane City’s Best Playgrounds WRIT TEN BY JOANNE CRANE
Do you ever look back on your own long summer holidays and reminisce about days spent at your local playground? Sure we had fun, but do we really miss the hot metal slides, swings with no soft-fall, and the roundabouts that flung you off in all directions (a great early lesson on centrifugal force!). Today’s playgrounds are scientifically, architecturally, and artfully constructed with the highest consideration given to safety, and with the ‘fun’ element ratcheted up to maximum! These little worlds allow your child to explore their imagination and develop their physical and social skills, and are great places to get together with family and friends for an active day out. We’ve explored the BEST City playgrounds for you. Grab your sun hats and your sunscreen and take your little — and not so little — ones off on a playground adventure tour!
C I T Y B OTA N I C GA R D E N S The City Botanic Gardens (Alice Street, Brisbane) is a fabulous all-abilities inclusive play area providing wheelchair accessible play equipment alongside, and integrated into, the regular playground essentials. The playground has been imaginatively designed and features multi-use rockers, spinners and a roundabout, swings, interactive sensory elements, sand diggers, and more. It makes a bright, fun, and challenging playground where children of all abilities can safely play and interact with friends and siblings, sharing in the same fun and exciting experiences. The upgraded facilities in the park
are excellent and include new toilet facilities, drinking fountains, electric barbecues and shady picnic areas. The Botanic Gardens span 45 acres with ponds, sculptures, and fascinating sights, so pack a picnic, bring along your bikes or scooters, and take a self-guided tour of the 24 highlighted points of interest. If you feel like going on an explorer’s multi-playground adventure, a pleasant stroll across the Goodwill Bridge will take you from the City Botanic Gardens right into South Bank and to the first of three playgrounds there.
Brisbane’s best bike paths – why not cycle along the Brisbane River to get to the City Botanic Gardens? Find out how here: www.familiesmagazine.com.au/bike-paths-brisbane/
B R I S B A N E B OTA N I C GA R D E N S The Brisbane Botanic Gardens is fun for big and little kids alike with a specially designed ‘Hide’n’Seek Trail’ and The Kuta Kids Playground. Pick up your Hide’n’Seek Trail map from the information kiosk, or download it from the Brisbane City Council website, and begin your adventure at the Japanese Garden. There are 17 objects hidden along the wheelchair accessible trail so be sure to look up, down and all around to find them all! The Kuta Kids Playground invites imaginative play and exploration in a beautiful nature-inspired setting.
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Your Local Families Magazine December 2016/January 2017
Opened in May 2015 after the completion of the Northern Link Tunnel project, the area features swings, a slide, climbing frames, stepping stones and other natural elements with shade shelters for picnics, and toilets and drinking fountains close by. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens is a great place to relax and explore after playing, so be sure to leave a little extra time to make the most of this wonderful area before heading home.