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HOT: Skinners Adventure Playground, South Melbourne

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne is a free communal backyard and a hidden oasis of junkyard creative play. It is one of only five staffed adventure playgrounds in Melbourne (the others are in St Kilda, Fitzroy, Prahran and Kensington).

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

Skinners Adventure Playground is mainly for the children living in the nearby public housing estates but is open to public most of the time.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne
Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

The large play space is dominated by a few shipping containers which act as indoor learning spaces where programs are held.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

The playground has an educative purpose so there are veggie patches and animal enclosures as well.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

It expands out on both sides with cubbies built of recycled materials as well as a smattering of play equipment, toys, vehicles and a popular trampoline.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

Apparently, until the 80s kids who visited Skinners Adventure Playground were all given a hammer and nails and let loose on scrap timber to build and dismantle their own play structures.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

The playground description says it’s best for 5-12 years but 3 year old Baby 2.0 is just as happy in the space. Little kids just need to be more actively supervised.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

There are nooks and crannies for imaginative play, lots of things to climb, slides galore and spaces to explore that an adult can’t get into.

Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne
Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

The equipment is built to teach kids to take risks. Lady AB says ‘this is challenging…but I like challenges.’


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Skinners Adventure Playground South Melbourne

Note that Skinners Adventure Playground is open only during certain hours as it is staffed. The playground offers programs and activities for children living in public housing in and around South Melbourne and may be closed to the general public when these programs are operating. As such, it’s worth calling the playground directly on 03 9209 6777 or 0432 005 346 to check opening times.

Click here to find out more about Melbourne’s adventure playgrounds.

HOT Tips:

  • Suitable for toddlers (but need to be actively supervised);
  • Suitable for older kids;
  • staffed;
  • Toilets;
  • Water taps;
  • Mostly fenced except for entrance;
  • Some shade;
  • Seating;
  • Picnic table on second level of shipping containers;
  • Paid street parking or close to #112 tram stop.
  • Skinners is a Junk Food Free Zone;
  • Skinners is occasionally closed to the general public during regular playground hours due to events and outings with local families; and
  • playground will close when the weather exceeds 35 degrees, or during heavy rain and/or strong winds.

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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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