Collaroy Beach Playground [UPDATED]

Collaroy Beach Playground may just be the best beach playground on the Northern Beaches. I literally can’t think of one I prefer more than this one. While Manly Beach Playground and Little Manly Beach Playground are in fantastic locations, they’re not as good in terms of the play equipment.

There are so many positives to it that it may even be a good birthday party venue. This is especially the case now that there are bathrooms close by and shade over the BBQ area in the open grassy space. The only issue I would have is parking.

On our most recent visit in August 2019, I did notice one or two things that made me a little concerned so I have added these into the post now.

Top Tip: pack spare clothes, swimmers and a towel. Even if the kids don’t go for a swim, between the beach and the water play there are heaps of opportunities for mess.

Collaroy Beach Playground

Location wise I don’t think that you get better than this. The playground is a bit of grass away from the sand and sea. You can walk between the beach, the rock pools and the playground. It would make for a wonderful day out.

It’s also got fantastic facilities and is accessible for all kids – what ever playground should be!! And it’s big with an area dedicated to swings, another area for climbing and smaller section for water play. There is quite a bit of space to run around in.

This playground really does mimic a Livvi’s Place Playground. The whole vibe of the playground is just really lovely and inviting.

Where is Collaroy Beach Playground

Starting with the basics: Collaroy Beach …

Collaroy is a Northern Beaches suburb between Dee Why and Narrabeen.

Collaroy Beach Playground is on the same side of Pittwater Road as the beach.

collaroy beach playground

How to get to Collaroy Beach Playground 

The official address for the Playground is Pittwater Road, Collaroy, 2097. This is ridiculous because Pittwater Road is probably the longest road on the Northern Beaches.

You’d get so lost if you just put this into your GPS. Rather follow my instructions below.

From the North

(Coming from Narrabeen and Mona Vale side.)

Put Collaroy Surf Lifesaving into your GPS and drive into that parking lot. You will easily see the playground from there.

From the South

(Coming from Manly and Dee Why.)

Rather use Birdwood Avenue, Collaroy 2097. Or you can use Corner of Birdwood and Pittwater Street, Collaroy 2097.

Either drive into Birdwood and park on the road or just after Birdwood into the Surf Life Saving Club Parking Lot.

collaroy beach playground aerial pictures
The blue dot is where the Collaroy Beach Playground is.

Collaroy Beach Playground Features

Accessibility

The playground is fully enclosed and accessible for kids with disabilities in terms of the equipment and the paths around the equipment.

The playground is flat and easy to manoeuvre around. There are no stairs up or down into the playground restricting access.

For kids with disabilities there is also a Liberty Swing and an all-inclusive accessible merry-go-round carousel that can fit a wheelchair.

collaroy beach playground all access

The playground equipment

One of the main features of the playground is a wooden structure that looks out over the sea and seems to be a ship. With two sections joined by a wooden plank the kids can climb the stairs to play on top and come down the slide or just hang out under the structure.

It is from this structure that the only slides come down from.

Of course there is also the standards swings. There are quite a few of them all lined up in a row.

The playground is absolutely packed with equipment for different age groups. These include:

  • A big spinner
  • Rocker
  • A large dome climbing net structure
  • Inter-connected timber logs for climbing on.
  • A see-saw thats big enough to fit probably 6 kids at a time.
  • A water play display.
  • Musical instruments
collaroy beach playground features

Collaroy Beach Playground Facilities 

Enclosed areas

The playground is fully enclosed and what’s nice is that there are benches and tables within that area. There is also a bubbler in that area so there isn’t really a need for you to be coming and going in and out of the gate.

Shade

Portions of the playground are shaded by those big sails but not all of the playground which means that some spots get very hot in the summer.  A combination of the lack of shade and the type of flooring (a combination of turf and sprung floor) makes some spots of the ground very very hot and little ones will get their feet burnt if they’re not wearing shoes.

Top Tip: if you’re visiting in summer, make sure the kids have shoes with them.

What is lovely though is that the trees and shrubs that were planted when the playground first opened have started to grow. One day these will provide shade!

collaroy beach playground perfect for all kids

Tables, chairs and BBQs

As above, there are also picnic tables and seats set throughout the playground.

In the greater park there are BBQ facilities and a big open patch of grass to picnic on. If you are wanting to spend time outside of the playground on the grassy bit of park just be prepared to keep a close eye on the kids as this area is not enclosed and does lead up onto Pittwater Road.

Bathrooms

There are not toilets in the playground itself but there are some just outside between the playground and the beach.

My concerns …

As I said at the beginning of this post, I have two concerns about this playground.

One of these relate to the upkeep of the playground and the state of repair, the other is the water play area.

The Climbing Net

When we visited in August 2019 there was a section of the climbing frame that looked like it had been re-inforced with plastic tape. You know the type of type that they use to cordon off accident areas or unsafe spaces. But instead of preventing access to the area, they have just wound the tape around the pieces of net.

Maybe I’m overly cautious but I don’t want my kids playing near that. And it makes me wonder about the rest of the net although I did let my son play around there.

The wooden ship

As with the tape on the net, there is a section of the wooden play structure – the ship – that joins the two parts of the ship. Ordinarily you would be able to walk along it.

The water play area

When we visited last, albeit in winter, the water play wasn’t working. I hope that is just during the colder months and when it warms up it will be switched back on.

Parking for the Playground 

There is parking but the playground can get quite crowded on the weekends or during school holidays.

The parking is free if you have a Warringah Council parking permit. For those who don’t the parking is paid parking. The cost for pay ‘n’ display parking is: Monday to Friday $6 per hour or $10 all day. Weekends $26 all day.

You can literally stand in the playground and see the sea sand. It’s that close to the beach.

 beach