HOT: Wombat Bend, Templestowe

Wombat Bend isn’t one of the best playgrounds we’ve visited in terms of play equipment, but it is a large fenced play area built around a charming bushland setting and a great location for a kid’s birthday party or picnic (as we witnessed on our visit).

It’s the kind of place where kids can roam and run free while the adults set up home base by the free undercover picnic benches and barbecues.

As we enter Wombat Bend park the first area you encounter is a wooden maze decorated with artwork tiles, funny distorting mirrors and other sensory games. Great for easy games of hide and seek along with the bushland pathways twisting around the whole area.

As you explore Wombat Bend play space further (crossing a bridge with the musical scale embedded in the wooden planks, like a walkable xylophone) you’ll find swings (including a disabled swing), slides and a seesaw as well as two in-demand low level flying foxes and a 3 seater swing carousel.

We also see lots of kids bring their own bucket and spades to enjoy the sandpit area.

Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Wombat Bend, Templestowe

Lady AB loves the short slides particularly as she can climb up the slope and slide down easily by herself but she seems a bit freaked out by the carousel and flying fox so we looked but didn’t touch.

Mostly I like Wombat Bend playspace due to the native bushland setting, encouraging lots of independent exploration.

It’s also convenient – there’s lots of parking straight outside the gate and Finns Reserve is also accessible via the Main Yarra Trail cycling and walking path.