Mofflin Reserve Playground in Elizabeth Vale features a huge beehive-themed playground as the centrepiece of this extensive redevelopment.
Review by Claire Davill
Completed in January 2024, the transformation from paddock to large park has been incredible. There are facilities here to keep you occupied for the whole day, including a playground, nature play area, fitness zone, ball play areas and lots of picnic and seating areas amongst landscaped gardens. There’s something for everyone!
The beehive structures are really unique. Three hive towers make up the main playground, and each increases in height and level of challenge, so there’s equipment suitable from toddlers (with supervision) up to older kids here.
The small hive contains a spiral staircase up to a platform with a straight slide and a bee-themed maze activity board. There are also bee-themed beads inside the hive at the ground level.
The second, tallest hive contains climbing nets and platforms at the lower level, leading up to a fun obstacle bar/ladder level before the top platform. The top platform leads to a huge twisty tube slide and a bridge across to the third hive.
The third, mid-sized hive is accessible via the bridge from the tallest hive, or via ladders and platforms from below. You can climb up or down from the mid level via a climbing net. There’s also some bee-themed beads up on the top platform and a great view of the playground.
Kids will love spotting the bees positioned on the the outside of the hives – see how many you can count! Nearby, you’ll find a large, accessible in-ground trampoline and accessible merry go round with a seat.
There’s also a fun, jenga-style stack of large wooden logs to climb and balance on in this area. There’s also a couple of swings and a basket swing nearby.
On the other side of the beehives, you’ll find a large nature play area amongst lots of trees providing natural shade. There is a small hill with rocks and logs to climb, with a pretend fire place at the top. There’s also wire shelters, rock paths and dry creeks to explore.
There is a large expanse of lawn in the middle of the reserve, and around the edges near the playground you’ll find landscaped gardens with lots of picnic shelters, BBQs, lounge chairs and benches. There’s plenty of natural shade here, and a lot of native birds such as galahs, corellas, cockatoos and magpies.
The central lawn is also bordered by a running and biking track. It’s nice and flat and has 50 metre increments marked along the path so you can see how far you’ve gone.
On the other side of the lawn from the playground is a fitness zone. Here you’ll find parallel bars, steps, hurdles and chin up bars.
The fitness zone leads to a half court basketball court, which also contains a netball ring, a four-square/handball court, and a wall with targets and painted wicket. There’s a big picnic shelter here too, suitable for large groups. The toilet block is just around the back.
Things to consider:
- This is a large playground and reserve, and it isn’t fenced. There is some fencing along the playground area adjacent to Mofflin Street, but all other borders of the park are unfenced and you’ll need to keep an eye on little ones.
- There is a shade sail over the swings, and natural shade in the picnic and nature play areas, but the beehives are in full sun.
- You’ll need sunscreen, and check the temperature of the equipment. We visited on a warm day, and the slides were a little warm, but the metal structures inside the hives were fine.
- Take basketballs and tennis balls for the basketball court and handball and target wall area – this area is really well designed.
- Off-street parking is available on the Trimmer Road side of the reserve, and there’s plenty of parking along Mofflin Street closer to the playground as well. The roads around here are fairly quiet.
Location:
Mofflin Road, Trimmer Road or Oldham Road, Elizabeth Vale
For more information and all enquiries please visit the City of Playford 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.
Image Source: photos by Play & Go January 2024
SUBSCRIBE
Follow Play & Go on Facebook and Instagram
Want to get all the latest events and activities straight to your inbox?
Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter below to keep up to date with our latest posts and find out all the best events & activities for Adelaide families. Newsletters are only sent once a week, and you may sometimes get a special offer exclusively for our subscribers only!
