Four great playgrounds to visit along Onkaparinga Valley Road in the Adelaide Hills.
by Katrina Gogel
Onkaparinga Valley Road is the main thoroughfare through the beautiful Adelaide Hills. Commencing at Verdun this busy road is the gateway to some of the best wineries and attractions in the Hills, but did you know it’s also home to four great play spaces? Next time you plan a trip to the area, be sure to add a visit to one of these playgrounds in your itinerary!
Balhannah Playground
Located in the Johnston Memorial Park sporting complex, this is the biggest and one of the best playgrounds along Onkaparinga Valley Road.
Toddlers are catered for with a great piece of play equipment that offers an easy-climb ladder, tunnel, fireman pole and slide. Other equipment in this section of the playground include a traditional seesaw, rotating seesaw, swing set and small basket swing.
There’s a little wooden bridge that crosses over a small rocky creek which kids love to explore, and some other smaller pieces of equipment are scattered around the area, such as: a xylophone, colourful round sliders and a spinning maze game. There is also a large sandpit.
Older kids will be sure to get a thrill from the giant swivel basket swing. Our eldest son loves holding on tight and being pushed high into the air- it’s by far his favourite piece of equipment here! There’s also a rotating climbing net nearby (see if you can reach the top while it spins around), and a bitumen area with basketball hoop.
Take a stroll across the Junction Creek bridge and you’ll find a fun BMX track and a large picnic shelter with electric BBQ’s. While this area is spacious, it is not fenced from the busy main road and takes you further away from the toilets and carpark. If you are wanting to be closer to your car, there are two electric BBQ’s under a small shelter, plus seating in the main playground.
Other facilities at the Balhannah playground include: public toilets, plenty of carparking, rubbish bins, as well as access to the oval and cricket nets.
*Please note this playground is not fully fenced.
Location:
Corner of Onkaparinga Valley Road and Bridge Street, Balhannah.
Oakbank Playground
The Oakbank community playground is tucked away on a corner along the main thoroughfare and surrounded by big, shady gum trees. Fully enclosed and with a bark surface, this is a great little playground for toddlers and young kids.
There is only one main piece of equipment here, but it’s a good one! A staircase leads children to a platform, where they can continue the climb up to the tall twisty slide, or opt to make their way through a tunnel, and across a rubber swinging bridge to two more slides. These two slides, which sit side-by-side, are great fun for races. There are also two swing sets, two rockers and monkey bars at this playground.
Facilities include a picnic table and rubbish bin, side street parking and public toilets (located in the institute just across the side road).
Location:
Corner of Onkaparinga Valley Road and Pike Street, Oakbank (next to the Oakbank kindergarten).
Woodside Playground
Situated at the entrance to town, Woodside playground is the perfect place to park the car, give the kids a play and then take a short two-minute stroll into the main street for a coffee and bite to eat.
The play space is located within the Woodside Recreation Grounds, and offers an enclosed playground with traditional play equipment, skate ramp and full facilities.
Play equipment on offer includes:
- Cubby house
- 2 x swing sets
- Climbing frames
- 2 x slippery dips
- 3 x tunnels
- Flying fox
Just outside the enclosed play space you will find a grassed area with a large undercover shelter that houses electric BBQ’s, seating and even a kitchen sink! On the other side of the playground is the skate ramp and public toilets, and plenty of carparks surround the area.
Location:
Onkaparinga Valley Road, Woodside
Charleston Playground
Charleston Centennial Park is a spacious, fully enclosed park in the heart of town that features a playground, BBQ facilities and small BMX track.
The play equipment is great for all ages, but bigger kids will likely have more fun here on the large stand-alone slippery dip, rock climbing wall and four-person swing. There is also a traditional swing set, seesaw and a large play piece with staircase, bridge, fireman pole, climbing net and slippery slide.
Off-street parking runs along one side of the playground, with an electric BBQ shelter, picnic table and rubbish bins for use within the enclosed area. Public toilets are a hop, skip and jump away.
Location:
Corner of Onkaparinga Valley Road and Newman Road, Charleston
Looking for good food and coffee options, plus family-friendly activities in the Adelaide Hills? Visit out latest Top Family Things to do in the Adelaide Hills post here for a comprehensive list.
Click here for all the Best Playgrounds for Toddlers
See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide here.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Hills Council website.
What: Balhannah, Oakbank, Woodside & Charleston playgrounds
When: Anytime
Where: Onkaparinga Valley Road in the Adelaide Hills
Who: Anyone
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 Katrina Gogel
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