Monalta Drive Playground

Locals know this one’s worth the trip — the flying fox is genuinely one of the better ones in the hills, and the sandpit usually has a stash of toys left by other families which the kids absolutely love. It’s right on the edge of the Belair trails so you can tack on a short bush walk before or after, which makes it feel like more of a proper outing than just a playground visit. The shade trees do real work here on hot days, and there’s shaded seating for parents who actually want to sit down for five minutes. Picnic tables, good visibility, and parking that doesn’t require a 10-minute hike — it ticks a lot of boxes for the 2–10 crowd.