Belair National Park Adventure Playground Review
Review by Claire Davill
The Adventure Playground in Belair National Park is an oldie but a goodie, with plenty of old-school play equipment and space to run, ride and explore. The equipment is showing its age but has obviously stood the test of time and still provides plenty of adventure for little kids and bigger kids.
The playground consists of four main sections – a large wooden fort, a metal playground with bridges, ladders, slides and swings, a semi-buried concrete tunnel maze, and a wooden stepping stone section. All sections are suitable for older and younger kids.
One highlight is definitely the wooden fort, with an elevated walkway for views of the surrounding area, and smaller “indoor” areas to run around and explore, with little windows to peek outside.
The other highlight is the years-old concrete tunnels, interconnected inside a large mound with angled tunnels leading to the mound top. Kids will spend ages here running through the tunnels, climbing up or sliding down the angled tunnels and testing the echoes as they find different routes in and out.
The playground is set amongst huge old gum trees, some of which are hollow and provide nature-play inspired shelters with stumps and sticks to encourage creative play. There are also huge fallen logs and stumps to climb and play on.
While the playground is not fenced, it is set away from the car park and it is open and easy to keep an eye on kids who might make a run for it!
There are two toilet blocks at either end of the playground area, picnic tables throughout and a barbeque shelter nearby. On weekends and holidays, there is a kiosk adjacent to the carpark, that sells hot coffee and hot chips, and cold drinks and a variety of soft serve ice creams. Note that, despite the signs, the kiosk no longer serves hot doughnuts.
Accessibility Trike
National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia has partnered with the District Council of Yankalilla and the City of Mitcham to provide an exciting new opportunity for people living with a disability to experience Belair National Park.
An accessibility trike is now available and free to hire from the park’s Information Office from 9:30am every day (bookings essential), with returns due by 4pm.
The chair has brakes and steering operated by a buddy and will pave the way for residents who use wheelchairs, or who may not be able to walk longer distances, to explore the park with friends or family.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE
Things to consider:
- There is an entry fee for vehicles to drive into Belair National Park. As of 2022, the fee is $12 per car or $10 for concession card holders. If you want to avoid the fee, you can park in a carpark just inside the entrance gate and walk or ride to the playground – about one kilometre. Consider exploring other parts of the park and make a day of it to get your money’s worth.
- The playground is not fenced but is some distance from the carpark and the road.
- In wet weather, the wooden sections of the playground can get a bit slippery.
- The kiosk is generally open on weekends and school holidays from 10:30am-3:30pm, but this can change depending on the weather.
- There are no bins in the whole park, so you will need to take your rubbish with you.
For more information about entry fees, tennis court hire or venue hire see the National Parks SA website here.
Find general information about Belair National Park here.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Belair National Park website
What: Belair Adventure Playground
When: 8am to sunset all year round, except Christmas Day when the park is closed.
Where: Belair National Park | Upper Sturt Road, Belair
Who: Nature Park Fans
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.
Image Source: All photos by Claire Davill for Play & Go
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