HOT: Valley Reserve, Mt Waverley

Valley Reserve is a 15-hectare bushland serve in Mount Waverley and at its centre is a unique, award-winning adventure playground with nature play.

In 2016 the playspace won best new major playspace in Victoria and it’s nominated as one of Australia’s best playgrounds.

Valley Reserve Mt Waverley

The vision is to create a SPARC – a Socially Inclusive, Playful, Active, Relevant and Connected – play space. The playground takes its natural bush setting as its inspiration and is built with mostly organic materials.

Valley Reserve Mt Waverley

It’s split up into four different areas, presided over by a different native animal.

Valley Reserve Mt Waverley

A King Parrot metal climbing frame welcomes toddlers to their play area, with a sandpit, carousel, swings, cubbies and climbing structures.

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A wooden Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo overlooks the main rope climbing course for teaching balance and climbing skills. A huge birds nest swing overlooks the course and it is hung quite high – watch out that you don’t hit your face when pushing (like I did)!

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A stone carved owl is set amongst the two flying foxes and high platform/tree house. The upper area caters for more intrepid, adventurous children.


Find Hotels and Airbnbs near Valley Reserve, Mt Waverley


Valley Reserve Mt Waverley

In the quieter sandpit and dry creek course you’ll find a Eastern long-necked turtle set amongst the rock.

Valley Reserve Mt Waverley

The play space is a popular meeting spot for families and includes five shelters with tables and two unshaded barbecues.

Valley Reserve is a really unique play space, full of adventurous and natural elements to keep little and big kids happy. It’s worth a special trip as you’ll probably spend several hours there. Monash Council has also committed to funding an educational hub and nature play pods for schools and nature groups.

Best playgrounds in Melbourne’s south east

Australia’s Top 40 playgrounds

Another playground by the award-winning designers

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”thon-hot-tips-panel”]Tips for Valley Reserve:<

  • Suitable for toddlers;
  • Suitable for older kids;
  • Some natural shade;
  • Water tap;
  • BBQ and picnic facilities
  • toilet block is outside the play space and has an accessible cubicle and baby change facility;
  • Walking paths throughout the reserve;
  • Free parking.

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I hope this post has helped or inspired you! Get my awesome weekly newsletter in your inbox every week to find out more ways for your family to have fun together!

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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