Best playgrounds in Thornleigh
Brickpit Park has the widest range of play features in Thornleigh, with shade sails, a junior water play area and inclusive equipment. Hawkins Hall and Oakleigh Park suit other visits: a fully fenced playground for young children, and a playground with BBQs in a park that also has seasonal sport. The gap between them comes down to water play, fencing and how much shade there is.
Quick picks
- Water play: Brickpit Park's junior water play area is the only one among the Thornleigh parks.
- Fenced for little ones: Hawkins Hall's playground is the only fully fenced one among the Thornleigh parks.
- Sport and BBQs: Oakleigh Park pairs its playground with barbecues and a seasonal sports ground.
- Big open space: Brickpit Park is the largest of the Thornleigh parks, at 7.09 ha, with a paved circuit path.
Brickpit Park for water play and inclusive equipment
- Shade
- Toilets
- BBQ
- Parking
- Accessible play
- Water play
Brickpit Park is the pick for water play, with a junior water play area set alongside inclusive equipment. The kids' options run from a flying fox to a climbing net. Shade sails and picnic shelters sit over the play space, which helps on warm days, though parts of the park have little natural shade. BBQs are on site, and parking is free in more than one lot. At 7.09 ha it's the largest of the Thornleigh parks, so there's room for a long day out.
Best for: Water play, inclusive equipment and shade sails on a warm day
Hawkins Hall for a fenced playground with a trike track
- Fully fenced
- Shade
- Toilets
- Parking
Hawkins Hall is the Thornleigh pick for young children who need a fenced space, since the whole playground is fully fenced and shaded by sails. Inside, there's a slide, swings, a cubby house and a covered sandpit, with a children's trike track that has an electric charging station for ride-on toys. Parents get seats for watching, since the grounds have picnic tables close to the play. Drivers can use the off-street spaces, though the time limit is three hours on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Weekday mornings are the quiet time, since weekend crowds gather at the trike track.
Best for: Young children in a fully fenced playground with shade sails
Oakleigh Park for a playground, BBQs and seasonal sport
- Toilets
- BBQ
- Parking
Oakleigh Park is the pick for a longer family outing, since it's open 24 hours a day and has BBQ facilities. The playground suits young children, and picnic areas and seating support longer visits. The sport here is seasonal, so the mix changes through the year. The same park also hosts baseball and soccer, so the rest of the family has more to do. Toilets are provided, and the car parks are off Giblett Avenue.
Best for: Longer family outings, with BBQs and seasonal sport
Headen Park for a renewed playground and free parking
- Toilets
- Parking
Headen Park is the pick for a renewed playground with a flying disk spinner, close to free parking off Sinclair Avenue. Older kids and younger children both have equipment to use, so it works for mixed ages. The park is 2.72 ha, with walking trails and grassy open space around the play area. Undercover seating offers shelter for picnics, and updated toilets are in the park too.
Best for: Young children and older kids, with free parking
The Esplanade Garden for modern play structures and BBQs
- Toilets
- BBQ
- Parking
The Esplanade Garden is the Thornleigh pick for modern play structures. Seating sits around the play area, so grown-ups can keep an eye out. Public BBQs are first come, first served, and the garden has picnic tables for groups. There are public toilets on site too, and the garden hosts community events and festivals. At 0.19 ha it's the compact option, so the play area is a quick stop.
Best for: Modern play structures, with public BBQs and picnic tables
How the playgrounds compare
By area
Every playground in and near Thornleigh
Every playground in and near Thornleigh appears below, with the picks at the top and the rest ranked by fit.
| Park | Fenced | Shade | Toilets | BBQ | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Brickpit Park | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Hawkins Hall | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 3.Oakleigh Park | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.Headen Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.The Esplanade Garden | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6.Wanawong Drive Park | – | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | – |
| 7.Janet Park | – | ✓ | – | – | – |
| Nearby, outside Thornleigh | |||||
| Thornleigh Park · Pennant Hills | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Jack Thompson Reserve · Pennant Hills | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Wollundry Park Playground · Pennant Hills | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
How we picked
Scores weighed fencing heaviest, followed by shade and toilets, while BBQs, parking, water play, accessible equipment and park size added smaller amounts. Anything we couldn't confirm is marked with a dash, never a no. Nearby playgrounds in the group below are ranked on the same scores, but they're never picks.
FAQ
Is there a fenced playground in Thornleigh?
Yes, Hawkins Hall on the corner of Lockerbie and Sefton Roads has a playground that's fully fenced for young children. Shade sails cover it, which helps on a sunny day.
Where can kids cool off with water play in Thornleigh?
For a splash on a hot day, Brickpit Park's water play is aimed at junior kids. The play space also has inclusive equipment and shade sails.
Is there an accessible playground in Thornleigh?
Brickpit Park has inclusive play equipment, and its amenities building has accessible toilets. Hawkins Hall has an accessible parking bay and ramp access to its covered seating.
Where can families spend a longer afternoon in Thornleigh?
Oakleigh Park suits a long afternoon, with BBQs for group gatherings and a playground for young children. The park is open around the clock, so there's no closing time to plan around.