HOT: Royal Park Nature Play, Parkville

The Royal Park Nature Play Space is a Parkville park which is also known as the Royal Children’s Hospital playground located inside Royal Park Parkville.

Royal Park Nature Play Playground

Where is the Royal Park Playground?

The Royal Park playground is an award-winning, nature-based play space built on the site of the previous Royal Children’s Hospital and is adjacent to the new hospital, on the corner of Flemington Road and Gatehouse Street.

Royal Park Nature Play Wooden Bridge

The Royal Park Nature Play playground is huge, with lots of different play experiences to explore for kids of all ages.

Royal Park Nature Play Lower Playground

The playground is separated into two areas – an upper playground and a lower playground. The lower playground has lots of climbing structures, from wooden, rope to metal, as well as a sandpit and nest swing.

Royal Park Nature Play Wooden Climbing Logs
royal park playground

The metal structure is actually meant to act as a nature cubby.

At the upper playground, there are four slides with varying degrees of speed and a large rope obstacle course suitable for older kids with long legs and more confidence.

Royal Park Nature Play Climbing Nets

The swings overlook the upper playground and provide city views!

royal park playground

Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Royal Park Parkville


On a hot day Lady AB and Baby 2.0 gravitate to the water play area, water jets and sandpit – so bring a change of clothes or bathers!

Royal Park Playground
Royal Park Playground
Royal Park Playground

All the equipment is well-integrated into the natural environment and mainly natural materials have been used in the construction.

Royal Park Playground

Note there’s no shade covering so it can be very hot on sunny days.

Royal Park Playground

Another hit is the huge grassy knoll which provides an excellent vantage point over the playground, as well as being a fun place to pretend to go bear-hunting or for rolling down!


Royal Park Playground Virtual Tour

Full Screen View

You can spend a lot of time there, as the facilities include picnic tables, seating, a drinking fountain and two BBQ areas and public toilets (plus the toilets inside the Royal Children’s Hospital). Free parking is available on most of Gatehouse Street (limited time slots) and there is paid parking on Flemington Road.

Royal Park Nature Play Upper Playground


The Royal Park playground is a wonderful place to entertain patients and children visiting the Royal Children’s Hospital as well as families from across the city. It’s one of Melbourne’s best playgrounds and well worth travelling for. You can even make a day of it by checking out the nearby family-friendly eatery Smith and Singleton.

Tips for Royal Park Nature Play:

  • suitable for toddlers;
  • suitable for older kids
  • picnic tables, seating;
  • drinking fountain;
  • two BBQ areas;
  • public toilets with baby change table;
  • 3 hour paid parking on Gatehouse Street as well as paid parking on Flemington Rd;
  • walking distance to Smith and Singleton cafe.

Best playground in Melbourne’s west

Best playgrounds in Melbourne’s east

Free water play in Melbourne

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About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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