The Pod Playground…
I won’t lie, I was expecting more from the Pod Playground.
It has been hyped up so much that I was expecting it to be huge, dynamic and perfectly thought out.
Yes, it is good, from a structural perspective it’s very cool but otherwise it didn’t impress me. It didn’t live up to the hype.
First of all, and straight off the bat, I would say visiting in autumn, winter or a cool, overcast day would be best. It is far too unsheltered or unprotected to go on a hot day.
Here’s the full review. And I’ve put up some more pictures on the AllThingsMomSydney Instagram and Facebook page.
Where is the Pod Playground?
The Pod Playground is in Canberra. So if you’re looking for great Sydney Playgrounds maybe head over here: “Our Favourite Sydney Playgrounds”.
Location
The Pod Playground is located in the National Arboretum, up on the hill overlooking Canberra. To the west of the Lake. It’s really pretty up there. Once you get into the grounds of the National Arboretum follow the signs to the Main Village.
The Arboretum itself is at Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway, Weston Creek ACT 2611.
Parking
There is parking onsite, right next to the playground but it is paid parking. From 9am until 4pm daily the rate is $2.10 per hour with a maximum of $7.80 for one day. But there is no way you could stay there all day!
Just note when you park that from the parking you have to walk along the bottom of the playground to then access it on the opposite side.
The Pod Playground Areas
I’m going to divide this post into two main sections – what I liked about the Pod Playground and what I didn’t like about the Pod Playground. In this way you can make a decision about whether you go up to the Arboretum for the playground or not. After that, I’ll add in the basic information about when it’s open etc.
The Pod Playground has three areas:
1. A climbing frame or net for the bigger kids to climb. My 3 year old was not keen to get on because it was too overwhelming.
2. The big acorn area which I will get into in more detail shortly. This and the below are are almost within the same space.
3. The smaller kids pod play area.
There are a few other pods around the place with other things in them. There are also five swings, with a basket swing and the smaller pods are largely located in a sandpit.
The pods are pretty cool! These have to be the draw cards.
What I like about Pod Playground
The Big Acorn Pods
These are the giant acorn cubbies that you see in all the photos. Each of these cubbies are big enough to fit a few kids and an adult inside. Yes, I was forced to climb up into them.
These cubbies are raised up off the ground so you have to climb up a ladder to get into two of them.
There are a set of two that are connected to each other by a net that you climb up. A net that is suspended high above the ground. I swear I felt it shaking as I climbed up it. But the kids were crawling along it like little brave spiders. From the second of the inter-connected two is a twirling slide which is quite dark so kids sometimes get stuck at the top of that one. Just keep an eye out.
The inside of the cubbies is very cool. It’s all wood and the windows have resin blocks with various things set into them.
There are also some Pods on the ground. One that has some musical tubes and other noise makers. Another has some drums.
The smaller Pods
The other space is closer to the ground and definitely for younger children. This area is set within lots and lots of sand.
The Pods include a single ladder leading into a single giant acorn cubbie with a normal-sized slide, a little little climbing net.
What I don’t like about Pod Playground
Looking back at my photographs of the Pod playground, it does look really great. But there are just some things that make it a difficult place to go with kids.
The first of my problems with the playground is lack of shade. When we last visited it was a hot Summer’s Day. Not the ideal time to visit. But you would expect some shade. There was no shade for the families to sit under. We had to try crawl in under a tree in a flower bed, not ideal!!
With the lack of shade, the sand under the smaller pods gets really hot as do the slides. My little one was so desperate to go on the slide and when she tried nearly burnt her bottom. Poor little thing.
The Playground is up high and really open to the elements without any blocking. If it’s windy then you really bear the brunt of it up there.
The other big problem with the playground is that if your kids are little they can go off and play in the small pod area. If your kids are okay with heights and climbers then they’ll be fine with the pods. BUT, if your child is somewhere in the middle, they can’t get up into the pods. They’ll get stuck up there or you will have to go up. There isn’t really much for kids who too big for the small pods and too little to brave the heights.
The slide is also a little scary, its high, windy and steep. And dark!! Just check for yourself first, if your child will be okay going down it.
The pod playground also has a large climbing frame. It’s a really big one, that sprawls out but there is nothing vertical for the kids to hold on it. That just doesn’t make sense to me. Having watched a lot of kids climb a lot of climbing nets, I have never seen a child just spider across on all fours, they just don’t do that. Yes, they may in part but they generally need something for their hands to hold on to slightly above them or to the side of them. It seems really illogical to me. Here is a picture for you to see for yourselves.
The basics
Opening hours
The Arboretum grounds and Pod Playground are open from 6 am to 8:30 pm seven days a week during Daylight Savings Time and from 7 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week during Eastern Standard Time (Non-daylight Savings Time).
Facilities
There are bathrooms close to the playground.
The Arboretum also has a cafe inside. We didn’t eat there. Without being too negative, I would assume that it’s not cheap as it is a bit of a tourist spot. I should think there are better places to eat.
