Kensington Wama Adventure Playground Bird Trail | Kensington Gardens Reserve | Review

Ready, set, soar! The newly completed Kensington Wama Adventure Playground Bird Trail at Kensington Gardens Reserve is now open, and there are plenty of reasons to flock to it.

Review by Angelica-Hazel Toutounji

We have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Kensington Gardens playground and today we finally scored some sunshine so we used the opportunity to take the kids to check it out. As soon as we saw this new playground, we got excited. This play space was inspired by the natural environment and has a strong bird element featured throughout. The playground is surrounded by trees, next to multiple recreation facilities, and has ample grass for kids to run around, play, and picnic.

We visited the playground with a six- and an eight-year-old, and the first element that caught their eye was the side-by-side flying foxes, one with an accessible option. Right next door to the flying fox, there is climbing equipment and some monkey bars that required a little boost to help my eight-year-old get on. After flying and climbing they noticed the hamster wheel and ran to give it a go. This hamster wheel provided a whole lot of entertainment for the kids and for us too, watching them try it.

We then moved on to the slides and wobbly bridges, and found they even feature binoculars and a guide to the birds in the area. There are two slides, one for toddlers and one for bigger kids, multiple swings, and the element that really held their attention was the cliffhanger, a sort of pole vault that lets the rider swing from one side to the other. Our eight-year-old mastered this easily, but our six-year-old was a little scared and required some adult support to safely reach the other side. Nevertheless we love that they included this element to challenge older kids and to give this playground some wow factor.

Another really well done element of this playground is how inclusive it is for children of various ages and abilities. Non-verbal communication signage is displayed near the hamster wheel, seating is dotted throughout the park, and Kaurna heritage is celebrated with beautiful carved elements woven into the design. The playground is also spacious enough for multiple families to enjoy at once. 

This new playground feels well thought out, appealing to families with kids of varying ages, and it fits well in the space with a mix of natural play elements such as stepping stones, trees to climb and the purpose-built play features. The entire reserve has a lovely feel, and with toilets onsite, BBQ facilities, and a water fountain, it’s a place where families can happily gather.

One element to note about this playground is that although it is surrounded by trees, if visiting during the middle of the day, it can get quite sunny, so be prepared and, as always, be sun smart.

Overall, we loved visiting this new playground, there are elements that encourage you to slow down and soak up the natural environment, elements that spark curiosity and imaginative play and challenging elements that provide fun and adventure.

Things to Consider:

• This playground isn’t fully fenced, but it is quite far back from the busy road
• There isn’t too much shade, which can be an issue on hot days

Our favourite nearby coffee spots/cafes:

• You are so close to the multiple dining and coffee options on the Parade in Norwood. We also love Wattle Park Bakery; they do good coffee and delicious baked goods

Location:

422 The Parade, Kensington Gardens SA 5068 (we parked on West Terrace; a short walk away)

For more information and all enquiries please visit the City of Burnside website 

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go.

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