Ngamotu Beach Playground

Right on the edge of one of New Plymouth’s nicest stretches of sand, this little playground punches above its weight for families with toddlers and preschoolers. The water feature goes down a treat on warm days, and there’s a sandbox to keep the diggers busy while older siblings take on the slides. Shade trees and picnic tables mean you can actually sit and relax rather than hovering in the sun, and the facilities are genuinely well kept — clean loos make a real difference when you’ve got small kids in tow. The open grass beside it and the beach literally steps away mean you can easily stretch a visit into a full afternoon.