Roy Marten Reserve Playground | Taperoo | Review

Amenities

• Shaded picnic areas throughout the park, we counted 6! (all with BBQS and tables) 
• Toilets
• Basketball courts
• Huge area of lawn to run around or kick a ball on
• 2 enclosed dog parks – one for big dogs and one for small dogs
  
• Drinking fountains
• Car park at Military Road entrance

A closer look at some of the playground features:

This tall twin tower structure is a hit with the older kids. There’s plenty of scope for imagination and navigating skills as the kids work out the best way to climb up the nets to the top, and the brave ones can cross over to the other side. It’s a very clever design with openings at each level at different corners, so it’s not possible for a child to fall from the top to the bottom. The netting is fairly close together too.

There are all different types of swings – here are the two basket swings below.

Pictured below is the dual face to face swing. Perfect for swinging together with your toddler or swinging two kids at once. Notice in the picture below how the playground is not fully fenced. Please be aware that the little kids play area is closest to the car park.

For the younger kids there are plenty of mounds to climb and this rope bridge below leading to a smaller slide.

A large sand pit area with water play is covered with shade sails, which will be appreciated when the weather is warmer.

The water troughs have parts which open and close allowing water to flow or build up, and encourage some co-operative play amongst the kids.

Just turn this wheel to pump the water through.

Another water pump is situated nearby. If you’re worried about the kids getting sandy and wet, take along a spare pair of clothes and towel.

More sand pit area with two sit-on sand diggers below. Take along some buckets and spades if your kids like to play in the sand.

The toddlers playground is a very cute ship theme with plenty of interesting bits and pieces to keep them happy. There are bark chips so be aware if your child likes to put things in their mouth. As mentioned above, this play area is right next to the car park and is not fully fenced.

More swings below for little ones.

The climbing frame below is great for smaller kids who want a challenge, or older kids. With baskets at various heights it will suit kids of different ages – they can decide how high they would like to go, and challenge themselves each time.

The two sets of in-ground trampolines are fun for bouncing.

The wide pathway running in the middle of the playspace is smooth and perfect for scooters and little bikes, with a path that goes around the reserve for riding on too.

Adjacent to the playground is a huge grassy area and off to the side are the two dog parks. Take a ball for kicking or games.

TENT LINE SCULPTURES

This is a public art work by the ABC – D’art Team 2018 – Will Hendricks.

These sculptures were inspired by the term ‘tent line’, the name used to describe the duty roster at the Largs Bay Holiday Camp. Each day men from a designated line of tents were rostered to carry out a range of heavy chores, including carting water, chopping wood, lighting fires and generally keeping the tent sites tidy. This distant memory of a by-gone era is expressed through Tent Line. As you view the sculptural forms from different angles, you will experience glimpses of the former Tent City.

The sculptures are not designed to be climbed on.

Things to Consider:

As mentioned, the playground is spacious and spread out. While there is plenty of space for everyone, it does mean that it may be hard to supervise several kids at once, especially if they are of various ages and wanting to play on different equipment that is nowhere near each other. On the weekends, especially when the park is busy, and if you have little ones, it may be easier to supervise if you have another adult to help.

The park is partially enclosed by a small fence only. We did not find this an issue as the park itself is MASSIVE and the bigger problem for us on the day was that all of the kids went in different directions. Also, the playgrounds themselves are quite safe. If you have runners or more than one child, you might found what we found – it can be really hard to see people. This is not the park’s fault, just a note.

Location:

Military Road & Wandana Terrace, Taperoo (car park and entrance on Military Road)