Hills View Reserve Playground

Good benches, good sightlines, and a couple of bits of equipment that toddlers actually want to repeat over and over — Hills View Reserve gets the basics right for the under-5 crowd. The climbing structure has enough of a tower element to feel like a real challenge for a three-year-old, and the merry-go-round is exactly the kind of spinny thing little kids lose their minds over. Parents can sit and watch without craning their necks, which honestly makes a bigger difference than people give it credit for. It’s a solid neighbourhood spot in Papamoa if you’ve got a 2-to-6-year-old who wants to run the show themselves.