Cotton tree playground

Right in the heart of Cotton Tree, this playground punches above its weight for such a central spot — solid climbing structure, slides, and swings that actually get used hard by the local kids. You’re a short walk from the beach, so it’s easy to do a swim and then let the little ones burn off whatever energy they’ve got left. Parents will appreciate the shade trees and covered seating, because the Queensland sun is no joke, and there are BBQs and picnic tables if you want to make a proper afternoon of it. The open grass field gives older kids room to kick a ball around while the 2–5 crowd sticks to the equipment. Parking is right there, toilets are on-site — honestly, it’s one of those parks locals take for granted until someone visits and points out how good the setup actually is.