After reading about Bilarong Playground and Reserve on Seana Smith‘s Blog .. I knew that I had to go and have a look and I am really glad that I did. This was my second attempt at coming to the park. On our first attempt the family went for a drive but unfortunately both kids fell asleep just before we arrived … so it was postponed. This last weekend was put down for this.
So, on the weekend to keep Mum and I occupied we went for a drive to the Northern Beaches. While the plans to have lunch at the Pilu Kiosk did not go to plan (Must write about that … it is awesome … but for another day). We got to go to 2 playgrounds with the kids and had a wonderful day. Our second playground of the day was the Bilarong Playground on Narrabeen Lake.
Bilarong Playground and Reserve (Pittwater Council) is lovely and well worth a visit … however due to some limitation is not one that I would come to regularly (apart from the drive) or on my own. The first thing you notice when you drive into the playground is the beautiful view over the lake. I am not a Northern Beaches person (but worked up here for a few years) … but I love coming to Narrabean Lake. You would not think that you were that close to either the bustle of the beaches or Manly. It is just so peaceful and lovely.People were fishing and you could see some others enjoying kayaking on the water. It is a really nice place to have a park. Ahhh the serenity …
The next when you walk into the playground are the amazing sculptures. They are fantastic and how they work around the play equipment and the dry creek bed as the sandpit is really innovative … oh yeah I was talking about this as a playground … no seriously in addition to the lovely views and the sculptures there is also a nice playground.
For the little kids there is a playground that is fenced in. The equipment I would class as 2 and under. Little Miss had a lovely time on the swing and the other equipment but after a few minutes Little Man was quickly bored and wanted to explore outside. There is a large climbing structure, dry creek bed sandpit, round merry-go-round thing (not sure what it would be called) … plus a nice BBQ area near by. All areas are shaded by either shade cloth (little kids areas only & BBQ) or large trees. Both my kids had a wonderful time climbing over things and generally having a wonderful time. What was really funny was LittleMiss trying to get on the merry-go-round thing with some bigger girls … but those girls looked like they were about 7 or 8. A bit big for little not yet 2 year old.
My one main criticism is that the whole playground is not fenced in. While I was prepared for this before I came (after reading the review by Seana). Considering it is so close to the water and a busy road (Wakehurst Parkway), IMHO it really needs to have a fence around all of the play equipment and not just the little kids. I know I have a bias (and a LittleMan with Autism that has a tendency to love to run … and not always in my direction) but because of this limitation I would not come here either by myself and as I felt alittle like a ‘helicopter mother’ … it would probably be one that I would come to occasionally with someone else that can keep up with my 2.
Location: Bilarong Reserve, Narrabeen
Map: Google Maps
Enclosed: Yes (Little kids only)
Toilets: Toilet facilities for the park are located next the Scout Hall and are open dawn to dusk each day.
Shade: Yes
Parking: Carpark
Bus stop nearby: Don’t know
4 comments
Hi there, love your piccies, they’re great. I very much agree about the fence, the water is just so close. It’s OK for me now but would have been a nightmare for about the last 14 years either with mad ASD child or when twins were little.
I just went to a playground by Parramatta River and it was unfenced too with the water right there, give me the heeby jeebies.
Thanks! I really enjoyed reading about the park on your blog and it inspired me to come and do the visit. Generally speaking I tend to go to parks only with fencing but it is nice to go and try something new and different.
Though I agree with you that I wish that playgrounds near busy roads and water-ways (like lakes, rivers, Sydney Habour) would be fenced. Not that I don’t want to properly supervise … just that it is nice to let him go and run without feeling like I need to be running just behind him.
Hi there, love your piccies, they’re great. I very much agree about the fence, the water is just so close. It’s OK for me now but would have been a nightmare for about the last 14 years either with mad ASD child or when twins were little.
I just went to a playground by Parramatta River and it was unfenced too with the water right there, give me the heeby jeebies.
Thanks! I really enjoyed reading about the park on your blog and it inspired me to come and do the visit. Generally speaking I tend to go to parks only with fencing but it is nice to go and try something new and different.
Though I agree with you that I wish that playgrounds near busy roads and water-ways (like lakes, rivers, Sydney Habour) would be fenced. Not that I don’t want to properly supervise … just that it is nice to let him go and run without feeling like I need to be running just behind him.