Best playgrounds in Matraville
Wassell Street Reserve is the top pick for playgrounds in Matraville, because its small playground is fully fenced and the reserve also has toilets, BBQs and parking. Barwon Park and Blaxland Reserve come next, with fenced, shaded play areas. The playgrounds differ most on what the equipment suits, how much shade they have and whether there is parking.
Quick picks
- Most on site: Wassell Street Reserve has a fully fenced playground, with toilets, BBQs and parking.
- Covered play area: Barwon Park's playground at the Gwydir Avenue end is fully fenced and covered.
- For toddlers: Blaxland Reserve has a baby bucket swing and softfall flooring.
- Big climbing structure: Finucane Reserve has a multi-play structure with nets, ladders and a twister, under mature trees.
- Play and picnic: Hurley Reserve has swings and monkey bars, plus open grass for picnics in natural shade.
Wassell Street Reserve for the most on site
- Fully fenced
- Toilets
- BBQ
- Parking
Wassell Street Reserve is the pick for families who want the most in one place. The playground is fully enclosed, with softfall flooring beneath the climbing frame and the sliding pole. Toilets, BBQs and parking are all listed for the reserve. Local market gardens adjoin the reserve, with residential properties around it. Shade isn't listed for the playground, so bring a hat on a hot day.
Best for: Parents who want toilets and BBQs close to a fenced play area
Barwon Park for a covered, fenced playground
- Fully fenced
- Shade
- Parking
Barwon Park is the pick for young children who need a covered play area that is fully fenced. Its playground sits at the Gwydir Avenue end of the park, with a shade structure, a park seat, a spring animal, a dual slide, a climbing web, poles, rings and seating. At 3.65 hectares it is the largest of the picks, and a shared path runs through the grass. Clarence Street and Franklin Street border it, with Barwon Crescent on another side.
Best for: Parents of young children who want a covered, fenced play area on a large grassed park
Blaxland Reserve for toddlers
- Fully fenced
- Shade
Blaxland Reserve is the pick for parents of toddlers, because its baby bucket swing sits inside a small, fully fenced and shaded play area. The same area has climbing ropes, a dual slide, a spring animal and a see-saw for older children, over softfall flooring. Barwon Park has a similar fenced play area, but on a much larger site. At 0.12 hectares, Blaxland Reserve has a park seat and a drinking fountain for carers. Neither parking nor toilets are listed for the reserve.
Best for: Parents of toddlers who want a small, enclosed play area
Finucane Reserve for a big multi-play structure
- Shade
Finucane Reserve is the pick for climbers, with a multi-play structure that has nets, ladders and a twister. Mature trees give the play area natural shade, and every piece of equipment sits over softfall. The reserve is surrounded by homes and Matraville Soldiers' Settlement Public School, with Lawson Street, Flinders Street and Menin Road nearby. Bollards block cars at the entry from Finucane Crescent, so arrive on foot or by bike. Fencing isn't listed for this playground.
Best for: Kids who like climbing, on a large grassy reserve with mature trees
Hurley Reserve for play and a picnic in one spot
- Shade
Hurley Reserve is the pick for a playground session followed by a picnic. Its swings and monkey bars sit over softfall flooring, in natural shade, alongside a slide and a climbing area. The open grass suits picnics at any time of year, and a litter bin sits at the playground. Fencing and toilets aren't listed, so the table shows a dash for both.
Best for: Groups who want a picnic beside a swing set
How the playgrounds compare
By area
Every playground in and near Matraville
The table below lists each playground in and near Matraville, with the nearby ones in their own group.
| Park | Fenced | Shade | Toilets | BBQ | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Wassell Street Reserve | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Barwon Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| 3.Blaxland Reserve | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 4.Finucane Reserve | – | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 5.Hurley Reserve | – | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 6.Purcell Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 7.Rabaul Reserve | – | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Nearby, outside Matraville | |||||
| Heffron Park · Maroubra | ✓ | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| South Maroubra Village Green · Maroubra | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Ocean View Reserve · Maroubra | ✓ | – | – | – | – |
| Doctor Walters Park · Chifley | ✓ | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
We scored each playground on fencing, shade, toilets, BBQs, parking and size. Each pick also needs enough known details to write a section that says something, so the picks are the parks with the most to compare. Unknown details show as a dash in the table, never as a no, so a gap in the record never counts against a park. Ranking in the table follows the same score, with the picks first.
FAQ
Is there a fenced playground in Matraville?
Wassell Street Reserve has a fully fenced playground, and Barwon Park and Blaxland Reserve both have fenced play areas. Blaxland Reserve's play area is also shaded.
Which Matraville playground has toilets and BBQs?
Wassell Street Reserve lists toilets and BBQs on site. Its playground has softfall flooring under the equipment, so falls are cushioned.
Is there a playground for toddlers in Matraville?
Yes, Blaxland Reserve has a baby bucket swing that toddlers can use. The play area is enclosed and shaded, with softfall flooring under the equipment.
Where is the best place to park for a Matraville playground?
Barwon Park has street parking, and Gwydir Avenue and Clarence Street are the easiest places to park. Its playground sits at the Gwydir Avenue end, so parking on Gwydir Avenue puts you closest.