Wittunga Botanic Garden Playground

Wittunga is one of those places where the playground is only the beginning. Tucked amongst the beautiful gardens in Blackwood, the nature playspace gives kids plenty of reasons to climb, scramble, bounce and explore, while the gardens, lake and winding paths make the whole visit feel like a little adventure. There are some wonderfully quirky features here, including flower and nut cubbies, a giant frog, a rock mound and an in-ground trampoline. Pack a picnic and give yourself plenty of time to wander — this is a spot where kids can play, then head off to see what they can discover around the gardens.

Find it at: Shepherds Hill Road, Blackwood, inside Wittunga Botanic Garden.

Good for: Toddlers through to primary-aged kids, particularly children who enjoy nature play, climbing and exploring.

Best for: Climbing, scrambling, swinging, jumping, imaginative play and exploring the natural surroundings. The in-ground trampoline is also a standout feature, with one designed to accommodate wheelchair users.

Toilets: Yes. Toilets are available near the main car park and at the Sherbourne Road entrance.

Shade: Yes. There are established trees and shaded areas around the playspace and gardens, although there are no shade sails directly over the playground equipment.

Fenced: No. The playspace is open to the wider botanic garden, so younger children will need supervision, particularly with the lake and other water areas nearby.

Accessible: Yes. Accessible paths provide access to the playspace, and there is an in-ground trampoline suitable for wheelchair users. Some of the play area has a bark-chip surface, which may make access to certain equipment more difficult.

Parking: Yes. There is a car park right near the playspace, accessed from Shepherds Hill Road.

Cafe or food nearby: There isn’t a cafe inside Wittunga, but there are picnic tables, lawns and sheltered areas where you can enjoy your own lunch. Blackwood’s cafes and shops are also just a short distance away.

We loved exploring the unique nature play items, climbing the rocks and logs, whilst the unique play equipment was great for the kids to climb on and spend all that energy. The kids also loved hiding in the very cute nut cubbies, playing in the nest swing and of course the in-ground trampolines.

But the real winner here was the Giant Chair. Such a simple idea but it was just so much fun! Just goes to show you don’t always need a million bucks to make a playground special doesn’t it. There are toilets (not quite at the playground but a short walk away), water drinking fountain and tables for your picnics. The playground is accessible for most, but there is a lot of bark chips which will make it trickier for some.

There is very easy parking, in the main botanic garden car park (the playground is right next to the car park) and bring your frizbee, kite or balls for a run around on the beautiful grassed areas.

This is one of those beautiful spots where you can just explore and let your imagination run wild, plus follow it up with a walk around the gardens. Bliss!

Wittunga Botanic Park is a beautiful location, spread over 13 hectares it’s the perfect place for enjoying family picnics and the lake is surrounded by spots that have plenty of shade.

Discover the extensive collection of water-wise plants from Australia and South Africa, brilliant displays of Ericas and Proteas in spring and an extensive collection of plants from Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. 

Visit the enticing Butterfly Garden. Try to spot the huge variety of native bird and animal life that are attracted to the indigenous flora. Listen to the songs of the birds instantly drown out the noises of suburbia.

Plenty of free parking is available and you can look through the Visitor Guide for more information and a map. There are toilets within the park, but for cafe’s you’ll need to wander up to Blackwood where there are plenty (5 minute drive).

Shepherd’s Hill Road, Blackwood
Opening Hours: Weekdays 8.30am – 4pm.