Waverley Park Playground: Sydney’s best playground in the heart of Bondi

The newly revamped Waverley Park Playground in Bondi is a standout destination for families, widely described as Sydney’s best playground right now.

Finalised in late 2023 and designed to celebrate the park’s history, a modern rocket ship and launch tower centrepiece pays tribute to the original 1960s built space. In a recent press release the council described the rocket ship as a “modern interpretation of the park’s original rocket ship that was installed in the 1960s and is fondly remembered by generations of families”.

Now this is no ordinary rocket ship, featuring a launch button that sends “steam” (water vapour) pouring out of the rocket giving the impression of it blasting off, a “control panel” featuring knobs, dials and lights that kids can take charge of and a challenging but relatively safe climbing apparatus for kids to navigate their way to the top before clambering across to the giant slide.

The rocket is just the beginning. The playground is one of those rare examples that is truly designed for kids of all ages offering diverse play areas that cater to children of all abilities with an abundance of slides and swings, climbing areas, explore zones and ample seating for parents. Kids will also find spinners, seesaws, a dedicated toddler area, and a unique blend of nature, adventure, and sensory play zones featuring rope climbing, water play, and musical instruments.

And the best part for us adults? A great little cafe has just opened up serving quality coffee and snacks.

Whilst this park is a genuine 10/10 there are two common gripes which you should be aware of. Firstly, there’s little to no shade - an unusual oversight in playground planning in Sydney. Secondly, there is an accessibly entry gate that provides gate latches below adult waist level which we saw two year olds managing to open before attempting great escapes (this happens a lot). These aren’t deal breakers but worth knowing in advance.

You can find the playground off Paul St, Bondi Junction.