Semaphore Foreshore North Playground | Review
The new Semaphore Foreshore North Playground – which we have unofficially renamed the ‘Semaphore Crab Playground’ – is the perfect seaside sojourn for little kids.
Review by Lisa Bachmayer
Replacing the previous playground and opened in May 2026, this sweet seaside play space features a giant blue swimmer crab play structure at the heart of its delightful ‘life under the sea’ theme.
Located right on the beachfront next to the Semaphore Palais, this play area has always been the little sibling of the Semaphore South Playground – designed especially for young children.
If the three hours our three-year-old reviewer spent here is anything to go by, it remains a suitable seaside kingdom for ages 7 and under, but perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
It still has traditional play equipment, from slides, swings, seesaws, and climbing nets to musical and accessible features.
However, it’s the equipment design that encourages interactive and tactile play – perfect for making new best friends and exploring.
The Crab
Upon arriving, Miss 3 ran straight to the giant crab play structure dominating the space and climbed up to it via a spiral pole (smaller than normal playgrounds – perfect for little hands and feet). It can also be accessed by a wide metal ladder.
To get down, there are two slides – one small traditional slide for toddlers and a larger tunnel slide fashioned as a crab leg.
While the main play structure is no longer as accessible or visible for caregivers as the previous one, which had large ramps and an open top, it rewards adults who venture onto the crab with a lovely view of the beach.
It also has a lot of play features, both on top of and underneath the crab, including small hammock-style swings, a climbing net, speaking tubes, and tactile play features, including a clock and spinning cylinders.
The play features under the crab give younger toddlers (and their supervising caregivers) plenty of accessible fun at ground level and fosters interactive play with other kids.
A favourite with Miss 3 and her new best friends was a letter box with a lid that could be pulled from the other side, resulting in squeals of laughter.
Other Play Equipment
There are plenty of opportunities for physical, imaginative and musical play, with more play equipment placed throughout the space to explore. Aside from the crab, you’ll find:
- A swing set with a twin swing and a toddler swing
- An accessible trampoline
- A fish seesaw
- Starfish, seashell and turtle sculptures
- A boat with two steering wheels
- Seaweed forest climbing structure
- An accessible carousel
- A mound slide
- Fish shaped rockers
- Musical play elements including chime bars
- A Liberty Swing with fencing
A special mention goes to the seashells and turtles (realistic, beautiful and perfect as stepping stones or seats), and the twin swing (with space for an adult in the middle).
We also highly recommend getting in the boat and enjoying some fun imaginative play with your child. Miss 3 and I navigated shark-infested waters as we sailed “to the museum”(!).
Accessibility and Inclusive Features
Our friend Gracie, who was one of the first to test the new playground, loves the new Liberty Swing, which replaces the old one and allows her wheelchair to be strapped in safely.
Her mum, Donna, said the accessible swing allows Gracie to “enjoy the thrills of a high and fast swing, that all children should experience in growing up”.
Photo supplied by City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Another accessible feature is the large trampoline with ramps at either end, making it easy to get a wheelchair on and off.
“Bouncing is such a simple but rewarding activity for someone that wouldn’t normally get to experience such simple pleasures,” Donna told us.
Supplied by City of Port Adelaide Enfield
There is also an accessible carousel, a smooth, rubber soft-fall surface, and plenty of space around the equipment to make moving between play zones easy.
Know before you go
- Shade: Large shade sails over the playground
- Fencing: The playground is semi-fenced by a low stone wall.
- Toilets: Public toilets are about 150m away, south of the Palais on the roadside.
- Food & coffee: Coffees, drinks and meals are available next door at the Semaphore Palais. There are many cafes and shops on Semaphore Road.
- Picnic areas: There are two all-access picnic settings and barbecues and a small grassed area behind the playground. These areas are unshaded, occasionally with some shade from palm trees. There is a larger grassed area further south, near the jetty.
- Parking: A large carpark is next door, immediately north of the playground.
- Nearby attractions: Extend your outing by visiting Semaphore Beach, Semaphore Road, and especially the Semaphore Foreshore, where you’ll find the jetty, another playground, and a historic carousel and steam train (pending operating hours). The North Haven to Point Malcolm Coastal Bike Path runs past the playground, so bring your bikes or scooters for a short ride to the foreshore or ride the whole 7km for seven playgrounds!
What we love
Miss 3 and I just loved the ‘life under the sea’ theme – particularly the gorgeous seashells and turtles – the twin swing, and the boat.
We especially commend the council for retaining the existing stone wall bordering the playground, which not only looks great, but is also ideal for balancing practice and seating for snack time or weary parents.
But what we loved the most was how interactive and social the playground feels. Miss 3 spent a surprising amount of time making new friends at the tactile play features and then playing on interactive equipment like the seesaw and twin swing together.
Combine this delightful playground with its location at the beautiful Semaphore Beach and attractions of the nearby Semaphore Foreshore, and you have all the ingredients for a perfect day at the seaside.
If you want to make magical memories by the seaside with your little one, this is the place to go.
Things to Consider:
- In case you’re meeting friends, be aware there is another playground nearby. The crab playground is immediately north of the Semaphore Palais, while the other is further south, next to the jetty.
- This playground is best suited for ages 7 and under, especially toddlers and preschoolers. The playground next to Semaphore Jetty is better for mixed ages, especially older kids.
- The crab structure can be slightly tricky for adults to navigate when supervising little ones on top, but there are plenty of play features underneath at ground level.
- It is not possible to see or supervise children on the playground from the Semaphore Palais, so visit before or after your play (or send a friend out for takeaway coffee)
- The public toilets are not visible from the playground, so familiarise yourself with their location (north of the Palais) in case you need to make a quick dash.
- Consider bringing bikes, scooters or beach equipment to extend your outing.
Location:
Wonga Park Reserve, Esplanade, Semaphore
For more information and all enquiries please visit the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council 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, unless specified.
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