ellaslist Discovers A Hidden Gem Of A Playground

By: Lorraine Aitken, ellaslist

Secretly nestled into the foothills of the stunning Dandenong Ranges, and located just off the Burwood Hwy in Ferntree Gully is an adventure playground that’s hidden from passing traffic, just awaiting your children’s discovery! 

Locals have been enjoying the Wally Tew Reserve playground since it was completely overhauled in late 2015, but chances are, unless you’re a local you wouldn’t even know it was there.

Fun Inside The Forest

In keeping with the area's environment, the new play space is themed on a ‘Forest Floor’. The soft curving timber elements meet the harsher metal structures giving it a beautiful balance of artistic flair and playfulness without distracting from the natural surrounds. 

The two obvious standout features would definitely have to be the ‘giant mushroom slide’ and the ‘metal bug climbing frame’… the kids thought these were “seriously cool” along with the flying fox and giant basket swing.  The playground, although at first sight looks fairly simple, managed to get the big thumbs up from my four harsh critic’s aged 5-11 years old.

Let's Get Exploring

I personally love all the natural elements (no plastic slides here!). It screams ‘let’s get the kids outdoors and exploring’. There’s a dry creek bed to play in, a sand pit with one of the best metal diggers that I’ve seen, giant rocks, logs, hidden paths, landscaped gardens and beautiful autumn trees that provide shade in the summer, stunning colour in autumn, and lots of leaves to play amongst  in the winter.

Pack a picnic and spend some time just enjoying the surrounds. 

In A Nutshell

Facilities and play equipment include:

• Junior and senior play structures
• Shelters with picnic tables
• BBQ and drinking fountain
• Double swings
• A flying fox
• A Liberty swing
• Fully fenced and accessible paths
• Bike racks
• Several slides, climbing frames, sculptures, basket swing, net structures
• Free off street car parking
• Adjacent to a bike trail, football fields, Ferntree Gully public library and arts centre, community garden and opposite cafes and shops including Aldi
• Public toilets

What You Need To Know

Where:  6 Lyndale Ct, Ferntree Gully VIC 3156