Where to Find Melbourne’s Staffed Adventure Playgrounds

Melbourne benefits from many amazing playgrounds, but the city’s adventure playgrounds are particularly special.

These unique playgrounds started in postwar Denmark after public officials noticed that children were playing in bombed and excavated sites.

Melbourne has five staffed adventure playgrounds, all of which are ever-changing, junkyard play areas full of creative inspiration. They also benefit children living in nearby public housing who may not otherwise have access to a backyard.

Here are where to find Melbourne’s five staffed adventure playgrounds. Because they are staffed they are not open all the time, so to avoid disappointment check the opening times before you go.

1. Skinners Adventure Playground

Skinners Adventure Playground is a free communal backyard and a hidden oasis of junkyard creative play, close to the CBD and near South Melbourne Market. The large play space is dominated by a few shipping containers which act as indoor learning spaces where programs are held. The playground has an educative purpose so there are veggie patches and animal enclosures as well.

Skinners Adventure Playground, 211 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne, 03 9209 6777 / 0432 005 346

Open during daylight hours.

2. St Kilda Adventure Playground

The play space features an aircraft cockpit, pirate ship, a sandpit for an Israeli ball game, mini skate ramp and even Luna Park! Plus there are tree houses, cubbies, a flying fox, huge fairy-tale themed fort, rope climb and trampoline.

St Kilda Adventure Playground, Neptune St, St Kilda 03 9209 6777 / 0403 447 536 / 0432005 346

Open daylight hours 7 days a week

3. Cubbies Fitzroy Adventure Playground

** Temporarily closed **

Cubbies aims to provide a safe “backyard” for children at the nearby Atherton Garden housing estate and its run by Save the Children Australia. Look out for the spectacular central climbing structure with 25 electricity-generating solar panels.

Cubbies Fitzroy Adventure Playground, Cnr Condell St and Young St, Fitzroy

School term:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3.30PM – 5.30
Saturday 12.30PM – 4.30PM

School holiday hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12.30-4.30pm

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4. The Venny

The Venny has an indoor and outdoor area and everything is designed and built sustainably. The indoor facility includes a kitchen, bathrooms and indoor play equipment such as foosball and table tennis tables.

The outdoor area is like a very colourful junkyard play space with lots of nooks and crannies for imaginative play, mostly made of recycled materials. The playground has been built with the philosophy of teaching kids to take risks.

The Venny Kensington Adventure Playground, 85 Kensington Rd, Kensington, (03) 9376 0589

School terms
Tuesday – Friday 3:45pm-5:30pm
Saturday 1pm – 5pm

School holidays
Tuesday – Saturday 1pm – 5pm

5. The Prahran Child and Youth Community Wellbeing Hub (previously the Prahran Adventure Playground) 

Prahran Adventure Playground is now known as The Prahran Child and Youth Community Wellbeing Hub. The Hub provides programs, events and services for young people aged 5-16 years who reside in the various public housing estates in the South Yarra and Prahran area. The play area is staffed and the public are welcome to attend, but you do need to register and play around any programs that are running at the same time.

The Prahran Child and Youth Community Wellbeing Hub, 22 Little Chapel Street, Prahran (03) 8290 7020

Afternoon Drop-In from 3.30pm-5.30pm

Saturday Drop-In from 12noon-4pm