If you’re driving to or through the Raymond Terrace area, check out these four great parks to visit with kids. Boomerang Park, Bettles Park, Finnan Park and Lakeside Park Playground have a range of playground equipment for kids to enjoy.
Boomerang Park
With a woodchip base, undercover picnic tables, lots of fun equipment plus a skate park, a visit to Boomerang Park will keep kids of all ages entertained and it’s also a pleasant spot for a picnic lunch.
There’s equipment at Boomerang Park to suit kids of all ages. For younger ones there’s swings, including two baby swings, two normal swings and a spider web swing, a roundabout and lots of sandstone blocks/rocks to balance and climb over.
For older kids there’s a great rope climbing frame with a rope climbing bridge on one side and a large slide on the other.
Kids need to be able to climb to the top of the climbing frame to be able to slide down the slide. The slide, although metal, is positioned under a shade sail so it can still be enjoyed on sunny days.
There’s also a small climbing section made of timber and rope which kids will have fun climbing, exploring and traversing.
Kids can choose between two roundabouts at this park. One sits above the ground and can hold multiple kids, great for group play.
The other is flush to the ground and is able to accommodate up to three wheelchairs, allowing kids of all abilities to play inclusively.
Be sure to pack scooters, skateboards or bikes so the kids can scoot or ride along the wide concrete path that runs through the park. It has a slight slope, perfect for learners.
Older and more experienced skaters and riders will love the nearby skate park. It features a bowl, gap bank, 45-degree bank, transitions, a rail and more.
Older kids and adults will also benefit from the fitness station. Although some of the equipment was out of order on the day we visited, there was still lots to choose from. The fitness area also includes a shuttle run track.
The facilities at Boomerang Park are great, with three undercover picnic tables, plenty of garbage bins, a water fountain with a dog bowl below and three toilets, one of which is a disabled toilet.
You can even bring your four-legged friends along as, right next door, there is a fenced dog off-leash area. Remember to pack the bug spray as mosquitoes also enjoy this park.
Good to Know
The park is suitable for all ages.
The park is located on Irrawang Street in Raymond Terrace, NSW.
Yes. There are three public toilets available, including an accessible/disabled toilet facility.
Yes. A water fountain is available at the park.
Yes. The park features three undercover picnic tables.
No. While there are picnic areas, there are currently no BBQ facilities located within this park.
Yes. The park is highly inclusive, featuring wide concrete shared paths, disabled parking, and a carousel that is flush to the ground to accommodate up to three wheelchairs.
Yes. While there are no cafes inside the park itself, the Raymond Terrace town centre is a 5 to 10-minute walk away, where you can find spots like the Riverhouse Cafe or Terrace Central Cafe.
Bettles Park
Located just off the Pacific Highway, on Adelaide Street, Raymond Terrace, Bettles Park is a good place to stop to break up a trip north or just a nice little park to visit if you happen to be in the area.
Surrounded by a large, grassed area, this neat little park features three swings (a toddler swing, a regular swing and a spider web swing), two slides, a small roundabout, balance logs and plenty of climbing.
There is a small and a large slide. Kids will need some good climbing skills to access the top of the larger slide. The smaller one is perfect for toddlers.
The small roundabout is at a height suited to babies, toddlers and lower primary-aged kids.
Older kids will have a lot of fun climbing the rock wall and hanging around in the net hammock underneath the slide.
There is one picnic table at this park and toilets nearby. If you happen to be towing a van there is spacious parking and an RV dump point near the car park. Remember to pack the bug spray as mozzies love this park too.
As a point of interest, located across from Bettles Park is historic Sketchley Cottage and Museum. Sketchley Cottage was built in 1850 by ex-convict William Sketchley, and is currently open on the fourth Sunday of every Month from 10am to 2pm as well as Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 12 noon (February to December).
Good to Know
The park is suitable for toddlers through to primary school-aged children.
Bettles Park is located on Adelaide Street (just off the Pacific Highway) in Raymond Terrace, NSW.
Yes. There are public toilets on-site, which make the park a popular “Driver Reviver” stop for those traveling along the highway.
No. There is currently no dedicated drinking water fountain at this park.
Yes. There is one picnic table available.
No. There are no BBQ facilities at this location.
Yes. The park features level concrete pathways around the playground and accessible parking, though the playground equipment sits on a bark (mulch) base.
No. There are no cafés directly adjacent to the park. The nearest options are located in the Raymond Terrace town centre, which is about a 5-minute drive away.
Finnan Park
Spacious, with big, beautiful, shady trees, Finnan Park, located at the southern end of Grahamstown Dam, is a lovely spot to stop for a picnic.
Although there are plenty of trees in the park itself, the playground is unshaded so remember to pack sunscreen. There’s two regular swings and enough equipment to keep preschoolers and older kids entertained for quite a while.
The park is fully fenced (except for the driveway) and there are some great, wide paths weaving their way through and around the park, perfect for older kids on bikes.
With a small playground, toilet block and plenty of undercover tables, Finnan Park is also a popular spot for birthday parties.
Grahamstown Dam is the Hunter’s largest drinking water supply dam. As the dam is a drinking water supply source, no dogs or other pets are allowed in the park. The gates to Finnan Park are open during daylight hours and locked at dusk.
Good to Know
The park is best suited for preschoolers and primary school-aged children.
Finnan Park is located on Richardson Road in Ferodale (near the southern end of Grahamstown Dam), Raymond Terrace, NSW.
Yes. There is a public toilet block available on-site, which includes an accessible (disabled) toilet.
No. Most recent reports indicate there is no dedicated drinking water fountain, so it is recommended to bring your own water.
Yes. The park is a popular spot for picnics and birthday parties, offering plenty of undercover picnic tables and benches.
Yes. The park features open, wood-fired BBQ facilities for public use.
Yes. The park offers easy terrain with wide paved pathways weaving throughout.
No. There are no cafés directly at the park. The closest options are in the Raymond Terrace town centre or at Lakeside Village, both about a 5-10 minute drive away.
Lakeside Park Playground
Lakeside Park Playground is a great little shaded playground with a variety of new equipment, including some challenging climbing equipment, a slide and two swings (1 x baby swing). There’s plenty of open, grassed area for kids to run around and a skate park nearby.
Good to Know
The playground at Lakeside Park is suitable for a variety of ages.
The park is located on Benjamin Lee Drive in Raymond Terrace, NSW.
No. There are no public toilets located directly within the park itself. The closest public amenities are found at the nearby Lakeside Village Tavern or within the Lakeside Village shopping area.
No. There is no dedicated drinking water fountain at this park.
No. This reserve does not have picnic tables.
No. There are no BBQ facilities available at this location.
Yes. The park is situated on relatively flat terrain with on-street parking nearby.
Yes. The park is conveniently located right next to the Lakeside Village precinct, which offers several options including the Lakeside Village Tavern, a Chinese takeaway, and a bakery.
Want more things to do around the Raymond Terrace area? Here’s some inspiration: