East Quarter Reserve

Papamoa keeps getting new reserves as the suburb grows, and this one’s a decent addition to the neighbourhood. It’s geared more toward the younger kids — toddlers will get plenty out of it — but there’s a climbing structure thrown in for the bigger ones who’d otherwise get bored in two minutes. The covered picnic area is genuinely useful, especially if you’re doing a proper lunch stop rather than just a quick play, and there’s a drinking fountain on site which saves you hauling water bottles from the car. Parking is right there, which makes life easier when you’ve got a toddler, a bag, and a snack situation to manage.