Playgrounds

Looking for somewhere to let the kids burn off some energy? Somewhere they can enjoy the timeless joy of being pushed on a swing, whizzing down a slide or see-sawing with siblings and friends. Council manages 16 playgrounds in the district - check out the details below then check them out in person and get your play on! Please note all our playgrounds in Central Otago are smokefree areas.

Alpha Street Playground, Cromwell

Located in Alpha Street Reserve beside Lake Dunstan is this functional neighbourhood playground that offers a good range of activities likely to appeal to children from about three to 10 years of age. There’s a seesaw, swings and a large modular unit. Of added benefit there’s ample area to kick a ball and even for a family BBQ with a coin-operated BBQ and shelter nearby. Toilets are conveniently located near the playground.

Anderson Park Playground, Cromwell

People often travel from afar to take their kids to the Anderson Park playground, one of Cromwell’s main playgrounds. Situated in Anderson Park the sporting hub of Cromwell the playground offers a range of equipment that is well spaced giving children plenty of room to run about and keep fit. There’s swings, play mounds and tunnels, a modular unit, a seesaw and, making the playground stand out over the rest, a flying fox. This ‘destination playground’ has something to delight children from toddlers through to intermediate age. For emergencies, there are the swimming pool toilets nearby.

Big Fruit Reserve Playground, Cromwell

A junior and senior playground were installed at the Big Fruit Reserve in December 2018.

The senior playground features a mouse wheel, tube slide tower, cyclops snake swing, dizzy disc carousel, monkey pole swing and climb frame. The junior playground features play equipment designed for water and sand play

Blackmore Park Playground, Alexandra

This small neighbourhood park and playground located on Bridge Hill was developed in the early 1980s and named after Keith Blackmore MBE, a former Mayor of the Alexandra Borough Council.

Boarding this park is a distinctive mound made of schist rock, which understandably is a popular natural play space for children. Given its location, it’s not surprising that you would want to sit and relax and take the magnificent views looking out towards the Dunstan Ranges beyond.

Cecil Anderson Playground, Cromwell

Named and funded from the estate of Cecil Anderson, a well-known Cromwell personality and philanthropist, the playground can be found in Donegal Street Reserve on the eastern side of town. The playground has an extensive modular unit with almost every activity you can think of. There is also the traditional swing that kids cannot do without. Sorry no toilets are provided.

Clyde River Park Playground

This playground on Miners Lane in Clyde, opened mid-2022, was made possible with funding from the Government's Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The playground's theme celebrates the site's location by the river, and the natural and built heritage of the village. The 'centre stage' piece for the playground is its climbing structure built to mimic Clyde's iconic red bridge which is a visible backdrop to the playground. Reclaimed material features in the site including railway sleepers bordering the triple swing set, and poles and rocks creating a riverbed natural play space for balancing and imaginative play.

Dustin Park Playground, Pisa Moorings

Within the settlement of Pisa Moorings is this delightful neighbourhood playground consisting of a large climbing net, swing unit, embankment slide and super nova spinner. Likely to cater for children from 3 to 11 years of age the playground is bound to keep kids happy for a good while. In 2013 a public toilet was installed for the convenience of those passing by on the walking track or accessing the lake for recreation.

Fache Street Playground, Clyde

This small neighbourhood reserve and playground sits within the Sunderland Estate subdivision is a very popular space for local kids.

With being only a small area, it’s not that suitable for kicking a ball around but it’s a great place for kids to let of steam, and includes seating for mums and dads, a convenient drinking fountain and a small children’s playground.

John Street Reserve Playground, Ranfurly

This pleasant well-fenced neighbourhood reserve and large playground caters for children aged from three to nine years of age. It has a range of equipment to keep kids amused from swings, a fort, wobbly bridge and much more.

There is shade here too with a shade sail installed over the summer months. For mums and dads, this reserve and playground is a great place to meet with friends or have a picnic while the kids happily play. It neighbours the Ranfurly Swimming Pool, which opens during the summer season.

Lake Roxburgh Village Reserve Playground

While this playground has the usual swing, slide and seesaw, what makes it different is its play environment surrounded by hillocks and exposed rock tors. Kids if you are looking for a place to play hide and seek or explore this is the place to go. No toilets are provided.

King George V Memorial Park Playground, Roxburgh

When in Roxburgh the place to go for fun is the King George V Memorial Park playground catering for children from age three up. Here in this fenced playground you will find a large modular unit and swings as well as a traditional roundabout and bulldozer common in bygone days. There’s good space to run about as well as a place with shade. Toilets can be found nearby.

Millers Flat Playground

A small basic playground in a delightful village is the best way to describe this playground. With only a swing unit it does not offer much, but if you are keen on tennis there are courts right next door. Sorry no toilets are provided.

Molyneux Park Playground, Alexandra

Take a break from the hurly burly of sport at Molyneux Park or the Stadium and relax under the trees while watching your kids have fun using this modern playground. This playground features swings, a large modular unit that offers a range of play activities from climbing, crawling and balancing, and a large climbing net. Catering for primary school age children the playground has toilets nearby.

Naseby Recreation Reserve Playground

Located at the eastern end of the Naseby Recreation Reserve this playground had a makeover late 2019 to provide some additional play options for pre-schoolers and enhance safety. The playground has a fort, swings, seesaws, a slide, mounds with pipes, a climbing structure and plenty of room to run around. Plus, there’s a BMX track nearby, toilets and plenty of seating for parents and caregivers.

Naseby Swimming Dam Playground

While not well endowed with equipment – with only a slide and swing unit – this playground makes up for that with plenty of bush area to explore and a nearby dam to puddle about in. Toilets can also be found nearby.

Pioneer Park Playground, Alexandra

Ideally located right in the heart of Alexandra is the Pioneer Park playground. Popular with visitors as well as locals the expansive playground caters for toddlers right up to young teens. Split into two nearby areas older children may be interested in using the multi-faceted modular unit that provides a range of climbing and upper body challenges. The junior playground was upgraded in late 2017 following consultation with the "play experts" themselves - the kids of community! The colourful modern fort swings and roundabout are covered with shade sails during the hot Central Otago summer months. Toilets can be found nearby at the side of the Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery building.

Table Top Playground, Alexandra

The playground within popular neighbourhood reserve Table Top Park on Ashworth Street in Alexandra is small but functional with a swing set and a jungle cube to climb The playground is surrounded by a generous expanse of grass for kids to kick a ball around, throw a frisbee, do cartwheels or have a running race. Mature trees offer welcome shade over the hot summer months to parents and caregivers supervising play and there is a picnic table too.