Wombat Waterhole Playground

Hazelwood Park is genuinely one of the better spots in the eastern suburbs, and the playground here earns its reputation. Kids gravitate straight to the sandbox and water feature, which keeps them busy long enough for the adults to actually relax at the BBQ area without someone pulling at their sleeve every two minutes. There’s decent parking, shade trees that do real work on a hot day, and the paths are smooth enough for wheelchairs and prams. The pond nearby and the trail access into the surrounding bush give it that feel of being somewhere properly green, not just a patch of grass with some equipment dropped on it. Pack lunch, stay longer than you planned — it’s that kind of place.