Frankton Beach Playground

Honestly, this little spot punches above its weight purely because of that Lake Wakatipu backdrop — on a clear day it’s genuinely hard to focus on the kids with those mountain views doing what they do. It’s geared toward the toddler crowd, so don’t expect anything too elaborate on the play front, but the open grass and beach access give little ones plenty of room to roam. Fair warning: it can get seriously windy out here, so pack a layer even in summer. The airport proximity makes it a solid last stop before a flight — run the toddlers ragged, then head straight to departures.