Playground review by Susannah Marks
If you’re looking for a toddler-friendly playground in eastern Adelaide then add Knightsbridge Reserve to your list. Set in the quiet residential streets of Leabrook, Knightsbridge Reserve is shady and tranquil and a charming, low-key destination for little people. While it’s not overly fancy or new, it has good solid play equipment and the usual favourites like swings and slides that will keep little people entertained.
Play equipment at Knightsbridge Reserve
The Reserve has a variety of play equipment that will appeal to toddlers and younger school aged children alike.
Is it a dinosaur, or is it a lizard?
In addition to the two main pieces of play equipment there are two ‘springers’, a standard swing and a toddler swing.
There’s not a focus on ‘nature play’ as such but my little one enjoyed clambering over a series of low round boulders and playing hide n seek amongst the trees.
There are two main play structures. One is a big red truck (which my little one says is a bus) and it has fun interactive features like a steering wheel you can turn and a gear stick.
The other is more along the lines of a cubby house with attached slide and stairs. My little one enjoyed testing out the ‘loud speaker’, probably destroying the tranquility of the neighbourhood with her shouts of “I’m The King Of The Castle”.
This bridge structure at the top of the cubby house was a lot of fun for ‘trip trapping’ along the bridge along the lines of the Billy Goats Gruff.
The cubby house features a small slide and a rope climbing structure for the more adventurous.
It was near impossible to extract my little person from the bus, and if you’re invited to hop aboard the bus a) you may need a ticket and b) you may get stuck as it’s quite squishy for larger or taller grown-ups.
It’s fully fenced
One of the big pluses of Knightsbridge Reserve is that it is fully fenced, with a solid metal fence around the edge that faces the road with a child-proof lock on the gate. There’s a mixture of fencing between the reserve and adjoining houses.
A picturesque reserve that’s a great spot for birthday parties
Knightsbright Reserve is a lovely spot for family gatherings or birthday parties – if you’re lucky you’ll have the place to yourself!
Even on a hot summer’s morning this playground is still green and shady.
Taking the time to stop and smell the roses.
What we like about Knightsbridge Reserve
- It’s fully fenced
- There’s a water fountain
- There’s space to run and grassy areas perfect for picnicking or playing chasey
- Being within a quiet residential area means that there is little through-traffic, or noise
- It’s set amongst established trees and planting, and some picturesque flower gardens and houses
Things to consider
- Unfortunately there are no public toilet facilities
- The play area is surfaced in bark chips so this may not be the playground for you if you’ve got a toddler or baby that likes to put everything in their mouth
- We have seen a few dogs in this reserve on occasion
- Parking is limited to street parking and if the park is busy with a birthday party then you may find it difficult to find a spot to park
- Although it’s fully fenced the fencing does consist of wire fencing at one point where it adjoins a neighbouring property and this wire fencing is set behind a hedge – theoretically a fun hiding spot for adventurous children
- There are no shade sails as such but the guys provide shade
Coffee and food options nearby
Leabrook Bakehouse & Patisserie, 4/457 Glynburn Road – 450m (there’s also an IGA here)
Woolworths, corner of Tusmore Avenue & Kensington Road – 1km away and has coffee shop, bakery and other shops on-site
Map link
Knightsbridge Reserve, 38a Rochester Street, Leabrook, SA 5068
The full review and more photos were published on Play & Go Adelaide. You can see the review here, plus check out their list of top parks & playgrounds here
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