Best BBQ and picnic parks in Colyton
Shepherd Street Park leads the picks, because it's the only park here with a BBQ and a shelter together. Colyton's BBQ and picnic parks differ mostly on cover, room and the kind of picnic they suit. Gunning Park is the one for a BBQ followed by a lakeside walk.
Quick picks
- Under cover: Shepherd Street Park is the one to pick when a shelter matters most.
- Lakeside: Gunning Park has barbecue facilities, and walking paths run all around its lake.
- Shaded tables: Gilmour Park and Iron Bark Way Reserve each have a shaded picnic table and a playground.
Shepherd Street Park for a covered BBQ
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
Shepherd Street Park is the pick for a covered BBQ. Its picnic area sits beyond the playground, and it has a BBQ and a shelter that gives picnic groups cover. Toilets and drinking water are listed with the picnic area too. The playground has modern multi-age equipment on rubber softfall. Gunning Park also has a BBQ, but no shelter is known there, so this is the stronger choice when you want cover.
Best for: A BBQ under a shelter, beyond the playground
Gunning Park for a BBQ and a lakeside walk
- BBQs
- Playground
Gunning Park is the pick for a BBQ followed by a walk. Its barbecue facilities sit among expansive green spaces and shaded areas that suit family gatherings. Walking paths run all around the lake, so a stroll is easy before or after the cooking. The lake sits off on its own, away from the playground and barbecues. Unlike Shepherd Street Park, no shelter is known here. The playground is well maintained, so the kids can play while the grill heats up.
Best for: Lakeside walks after the cooking
Gilmour Park for a picnic with children of different abilities
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Gilmour Park is the pick for a picnic with children of different abilities. The multi-play unit has climbing features and slides, and a swing set and an accessible rocker sit alongside it. A shaded picnic table and bench seating sit across the reserve, so parents and carers can rest while the children play. New landscaping and pathways run through the reserve, with a shade sail over the play area. At 0.12 ha it's the smallest of the picks, so expect a short stop.
Best for: Parents who want a seat while the kids play on a multi-play unit
Iron Bark Way Reserve for a quick shaded lunch
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Iron Bark Way Reserve is the pick for a quick shaded lunch. A picnic table sits under a shade sail over the picnic and play area, so the table stays in the shade while the children use the play equipment. The small multiplay unit has a slide, and the playground also has swings and a nest swing. At 0.28 ha it's bigger than Gilmour Park and Shepherd Street Park, and smaller than Gunning Park and Potter Field.
Best for: A quick shaded lunch, with swings and a slide close by
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near Colyton
Each park's BBQ, cover, tables, toilets and playground sit side by side below, with the picks first.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Shepherd Street Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Gunning Park | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ |
| 3.Gilmour Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 4.Iron Bark Way Reserve | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.Potter Field | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6.Kevin Maley Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 7.Mick Martin Park | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Colyton | |||||
| Beresford Street Reserve · St Marys | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Brian King Park · Oxley Park | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
How we picked
Scoring weighed BBQs, shelter and toilets most, then tables, the playground, parking and size. A park needed at least six known details to be a pick, so the thinner ones stay in the table only. A dash is a gap in what we know, not a sign the park lacks the feature, so check before a big day.
FAQ
Which park in Colyton has free BBQs?
Shepherd Street Park and Gunning Park both have BBQs, though we don't know whether either is free to use. Shepherd Street Park's BBQ sits in its picnic area, beyond the playground.
Does Colyton have a picnic shelter?
Yes, Shepherd Street Park has a shelter as part of its picnic area. No shelter is known at the other parks here.
Can I picnic at Potter Field without a BBQ?
Yes, Potter Field has open green space that suits a picnic. A canteen beside the sports grounds sells snacks and drinks, so you can buy something there if you forget a thing or two.
Are there toilets at the picnic parks in Colyton?
Shepherd Street Park has toilets, and Potter Field has public toilets. No toilets are known at Gunning Park, Gilmour Park or Iron Bark Way Reserve.