If your kids love planes, head to plane-themed Rathmines Park playground on the shores of Lake Macquarie.
This was always one of our favourite playgrounds and with an upgrade in October 2024, it’s even better. It’s definitely worth a visit but be prepared to spend the whole day in Rathmines as there’s now heaps to do.
As well as a revamped playground, there’s a nature play area and a large learn to ride / scooter area at Rathmines Park.
Rathmines Park is an important historical site as it was the home to the RAAF Catalina Flying Boat Base with 14 Catalinas and almost 3000 officers at its peak making it the largest flying boat base in Australia.
As a result, there’s lots of plane themed play equipment including a plane that kids can climb into and over and a little photo plane cut out.
There’s also 4 signs around the perimeter of the park that indicate the actual size of the Catalina flying boat. It was huge!
What’s terrific about this park is that it caters to different age groups.
It has baby swings and stairs that toddlers can climb up as well a climbing structure, a flying saucer swing and a mega flying fox for older kids.
New components to the playground include a nature play area where kids can balance and jump along log and sandstone rocks.
Bring your kids’ scooters or little bikes. There’s also a large new learn to ride / scooter track next to the playground.
This course is actually on the the existing historic aircraft stores concrete pad
When we first visited last October, a new section of the park Treasure Island was blocked off as Lake Macquarie City Council was awaiting some parts to arrive from overseas for the final sign-off of the tower.
This is now open and is a great spot for kids who love to climb.
Designed for older kids, this is a adventure play area incorporating a large climbing structure and steep slide.
The last new feature of Rathmines Park is an outdoor fitness area.
Down the street is the new Rathmines Youth Hub which includes a skate park, pump track and half-basketball court.
It’s an easy flat walk between the Rathmines Youth Hub and Rathmines playground,
As you can see, there’s plenty of fun to have at Rathmines for kids and teens of all ages.
We recommend making a day of it at Rathmines and packing a picnic and enjoy the views. If you feel like there’s also a covered seating area behind the park with BBQs.
If you feel like another free and fun family activity, bring your frisbees and play a round of Disc Golf at Styles Park in Rathmines. To access the Rathmines disc golf course, you’ll need to drive away from the lake and enter via 2 Overhill Road. This puts you right outside the entrance to Styles Point Reserve.
Address: Rathmines Park is on Stilling Street in Rathmines, south of Toronto
Public Toilets: New toilets are nearby at the entrance of the parking lot
Water Fountain: Yes
Picnic Facilities: Covered picnic shelters behind Rathmines Park playground.
BBQ: Yes
Café Nearby: No. Nearest at Rathmines shops
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