Merthyr Park Playground

Right on the Brisbane River in New Farm, this one’s got that easy, unhurried feel that’s hard to find closer to the city. There’s a pond nearby which the kids inevitably gravitate toward, so just be ready for that. The whole park has a pretty relaxed vibe — locals walk their dogs past, people sit on the grass, nobody’s rushing anywhere. It’s the kind of spot where an hour somehow turns into three.