Hi Girls

Myself and a couple of other twin mums are starting to go crazy as our toddlers are turning into destructobabies if they aren't given the chance to run around for a good amount of time each day.

We are going to organise to meet up a couple of mornings a week at a park and let them run!

I've only just moved to Tuggers, and don't really know any nice parks for toddlers in this area. We were previously using Chifley quite a lot, but would now like something closer.

We go to Monkey Mania once a fortnight or so, but can't really justify the $ to go any more often.

Any suggestions of nice places to let them play?

Thanks

Kylie

Adventure Playground in Kambah - we've just walked home from a good run around there

I take the kids to Kids Rampage a lot. I like it much more than the larger ones. El is a few months younger than your twins and she goes into the bigger area to play. It's cheaper and usually quieter.

Otherwise we go to Kambah adventure playground which has a few different play areas. There is, I think, a nice park next to the Tuggeraong Aquatic Centre. And a few nice small ones around the other side of the lake.

There is a cool looking playground in Gowrie, off Isabella Dr... Keep meaning to take DSDs there, but we get distracted!

Hi Kylie,

I second the Kambah Adventure Park but also the park at Fadden Pines. Tuggeranong Park is good too as long as you don't have to chase after 2 toddlers, heading in different directions and one of those is the water!!

I also love the little park in Greenway. If you wanted to go for a drive the park at Black Mountain is fantastic.

Gordon Point Hut Pond park has a great toddler area too.

Cheers

Robyn

Has the adventure playground been redeveloped in the last 3-4yrs? Last time i was there it wasnt so apparopriate (equipment wise) for 2 year olds.

The park near the aquatic centre is ok imo but not suited for kids who like to run off due to the lake being right there. Great for feeding ducks/swans though.

Black mountain peninsula has a great modern park, is far enough away from the waters edge, has swans (although sometimes they are a pest and try and steal food etc) but is a bit of a drive from tuggers.

Queanbeyan central park (behind the police station) playground has had a big facelift at the start of this year and is now fully enclosed, has bbq/toliet facilities, has a soft 'road' track all around for riding trikes etc on and has a toddler and bigger kids play area, lots of shade etc. It's probably a good 15-20min drive from you though.

Have you considered doing something like Kindergym through the actual gymnastics club? I think you can start at 18mths. They use things like balance beams, mini trampolines, bars, rings, tunnels, spring boards and tumbling mats just to name a few items. There is a gymnastics club in tuggers (i think it's in erindale) that offers kindergym and it's only $110/10 week term per child. Much cheaper than Gymbaroo. The YMCA in belco & Qbn also does Physikids which is like Gymbaroo. In QBN at least it works drop in style and is $9/session/child.

Earth Angel - the only problem with the suggestions of kindergym etc is that the OP has twins and unfortunately all of these activities require one adult per child to participate and having to rely on family and friends each week is not always possible.

I also like the Fadden Pines playground and the one near Lake Tuggy.

The other playground we like is a new one in the new part of Bonython. Pretty flash, but could be a little hard with two to handle. Not sure. My 2 year old just loves it, but my twins aren't mobile yet so can't say I've tried it with more than one to chase after.

If you can be bothered travelling, the Fun Factory in Fyshwick is a lot cheaper than Monkey Mania - parents are free , but you still have to pay a small fee for children over 1yo.

rob: in my experience once a child is 2 the parent involvement in many programs lessens and/or many classes/organizations help out and are willing to use a child as the model (depends on the childs personality as to whether this would be suitable however).

There are some nice new 'community' parks which have popped up around the place. The ones I know about are at or near the sites of closed primary schools. Ones I have been to are Mt Neighbour Community Park on Boddington Circuit (grab a coffee over the road at Carleton St shops first!) and Village Creek Community Park (parking is on Summerland Circuit Kambah, next to old preschool). I think there are other similiar parks in Rivett and Weston. These are great little parks for toddlers and they are brand new.
Another one I like for my 18month old is the one at the Wanniassa shops - you can grab a coffee and relax. I do take her a little step to climb onto the fort though, the step up is a little high for her even though the rest of the fort is suited to the younger age group.

Hope that helps,
Leanne

There is a newer one in the new section of Bonython which is amazing for toddlers. They have a wooden firetruck for littlies to climb all over and explore.

I used to live near the point hut pond playground, but didn't go there often because of how dirty the toddler area was.

Tots tumbling at the Erindale PCYC was also really affordable and great for the 18m-3y age group.