Parents of little ones know the struggle: you need a safe, fun spot for your toddler to burn off energy (preferably without giving you a heart attack!). Luckily, if you’re searching for the best outdoor playgrounds in Redland Bay for toddler, you’re in the right spot. The Redlands Coast area of Queensland is home to some of the best toddler-friendly parks around! Think fully-fenced play zones, soft surfaces, mini slides, and even pirate ships. In this friendly guide, we’ll explore the top outdoor playgrounds in and around Redland Bay that are perfect for children aged 1–5. Grab your hats and snacks, and let’s go play!
Images and information courtesy of the organisations mentioned/linked below.
Thornlands Community Park is a toddler wonderland, fully fenced and packed with imaginative play zones. Both toddlers and parents fall in love with this place. It’s cleverly designed with all ages in mind, but there’s plenty here that’s pint-sized and perfect for the littlest park-goers. The entire playground sits on a soft rubber base and even features a sandy dinosaur “fossil dig” pit – yes, your mini paleontologist can unearth a dino in the sand! Kiddos can toddle from a mini farmer’s market cubby house to gentle climbing hills, while you relax on a bench (actually relaxing at a playground – imagine that!).
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: Thornlands Community Park is on Cleveland Redland Bay Road in Thornlands (near Waterline Blvd) – just a 10-minute drive from central Redland Bay (Google “Thornlands Community Park QLD” for the exact spot.) With its blend of safety and fun, it’s no wonder this park is often called one of the best toddler playgrounds in Redlands!
Raby Bay Esplanade Park boasts a beachside vibe and a towering play fort that even tiny tots can conquer. Located by the bay in Ormiston, this destination playground has something for all ages, but toddlers are far from an afterthought here. The star is a massive “Goliath” play tower that looks sky-high – yet it’s ingeniously accessible for little people, featuring low-level slides perfect for timid sliders. The whole playground sits in soft white sand (bringing the beach feels right underfoot) and even includes a cute imaginary “fish & chip shop” where kids can pretend to serve up lunch. A trickling pebble creek and water pump let toddlers splash safely, and there’s a 200m bike and scooter track adjacent with road signs for pint-sized cyclists – bring the balance bike and watch them zoom!
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: Raby Bay Esplanade Park is at the end of Raby Esplanade in Ormiston (near 3 Grenoble Place). It’s about 20 minutes north of Redland Bay. Look for the tall play tower – your kids might spot it before you do! This park truly never disappoints – the hardest part is convincing your kids to leave at the end of the day.
Beth Boyd Park brings a seaside pirate adventure to toddler play, complete with a shipwreck fort and water splash zone. Set by the tranquil bay at Thorneside, this park recently got a fabulous makeover and is now a must-visit for families with young kids. The highlight is a big pirate shipwreck-themed playground that looks like a half-sunk boat in the sand. Toddlers can clamber on deck, man the pirate wheel, peek through portholes, or dig for buried treasure in the sandpit. There’s an interactive water pump that feeds a little stream running through the play area – perfect for a barefoot splash or rinsing off sandy hands. Thanks to an abundance of mature trees, much of the play space is naturally shaded, so your little buccaneers stay cool. With the bay’s shoreline just a few steps away, you can easily combine playground fun with a beach stroll (and maybe spotting a pelican or two).
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: You’ll find Beth Boyd Park at the corner of John Street and Mooroondu Road in Thorneside. It’s about a 25-minute drive from Redland Bay. This toddler-friendly playground is a little slice of paradise where play meets the bay – don’t forget a change of clothes if your child loves water play!
Apex Park offers a magical forest fairy theme beneath shady trees – a quiet haven for imaginative toddlers. Tucked away in Wellington Point, this playground feels like an enchanted little world. It’s set well back from the road and blanketed by a canopy of leafy trees (plus extra shade sails), so it’s cool and comfortable even in summer. Toddlers can discover a charming gumnut fairy house, complete with tiny door and windows, and a mini dragonfly slide just their size. There’s a giant ladybug to climb, a little letterbox for “fairy mail,” and wooden balance beams that encourage wobbly walkers to practice their balance. One unique feature is the small in-ground trampoline – perfectly sized for toddlers to get some gentle jumps without bouncing out of control. And just beside the playground is a paved pump bike track with gentle hills; your under-5 rider might not tackle every bump, but they’ll love cruising the smaller dips and watching bigger kids zoom by.
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: Apex Park is at 8–12 Starkey Street, Wellington Point, behind the Wellington Point community hall. It’s roughly 25 minutes from Redland Bay. This park is a hidden gem with a relaxed vibe. Perfect for a quieter playdate or a picnic under the trees while the kids play make-believe in fairyland.
Wellington Point Reserve isn’t just a playground – it’s an adventure destination for little ones! Set right by the beach at Wello Point, this playground combines nature play with classic equipment under the sprawling branches of enormous fig trees. For toddlers, there’s a dedicated smaller play structure featuring a little pirate ship wheel and low slide, all oriented toward the sparkling bay. Scattered wooden huts and climbing frames invite creative play – one moment your child is in a house, the next it’s a boat or a shop depending on their imagination. Swings, including toddler swings, nestle under the leafy canopy, and a mini climbing wall gives budding climbers a safe challenge. The whole area has a wonderfully natural vibe – big tree roots to step over, leaves to crunch, and plenty of sticks and shells to collect.
One of the coolest bonuses of Wellington Point Reserve is the famed King Island walk: at low tide, a sandbar emerges leading across the bay to a tiny island. It’s an easy 1km walk (or paddle) that even toddlers can attempt with hand-holding – they’ll be amazed “walking on water”. Just plan around the tides and have towels handy! After playtime, families often spread a picnic rug on the large grassy area or splash in the calm beach shallows.
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: The reserve is at 2A Main Road, Wellington Point, at the very end of the Wellington Point peninsula. From Redland Bay it’s about a 30-minute drive. If you want a mix of toddler-friendly playground and natural seaside exploration, Wellington Point is a must-visit.
Capalaba Regional Park is the ultimate all-abilities playground, and it’s terrific for toddlers too. This large park in Capalaba features an expansive fenced playground with a soft rubber and bark surface that’s easy on little feet. The main play area boasts a wooden fort structure with wide ramps and low platforms – great for toddlers still finding their balance. There are built-in shopfront cubbies at ground level of the fort, so your tiny ones can play shop or “house” safely on the ground floor. Climbing nets, swings, and musical play elements (like steel drums to bang) provide sensory fun. Don’t miss the “musical forest” – a section with outdoor instruments that toddlers can happily clank and toot! The park also has gentle hills with built-in slides, a sandpit area, and a sensory totem maze for curious explorers.
Outside the fenced zone lies a beautiful parkland with duck ponds, bridges, and walking paths. It’s perfect for a pram walk or letting toddlers observe ducks and turtles after playground time. You truly can make a day of it here: play, nature walk, picnic, repeat!
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: The park is located off Pittwin Road North, Capalaba – about 25–30 minutes west of Redland Bay. Look for the signs for Capalaba Regional Park or follow the laughter of kids! It’s one of the most toddler-friendly playgrounds in Queensland, offering a fantastic blend of play equipment and natural surroundings.
Jingeri Park is a brand new playground in Redland Bay’s Shoreline community, featuring a unique 8.5m lighthouse play structure that will wow kids of all ages. This park is a showcase of community spirit and local culture – even its name “Jingeri” means “greetings” in the local Indigenous language. For toddlers, Jingeri Park provides plenty of safe adventures. The signature red-and-white lighthouse tower is big and eye-catching, but little ones can explore it via gentle ramps and stairs, and there are two slides (one enclosed) coming down from different heights to accommodate the tiny tots as well as older siblingsThe playground design incorporates local coastal themes: there’s a mini jetty-style boardwalk to toddle on, boat-shaped elements, and even carved wooden animals hiding around. Soft landscaping and sand underfoot keep things safe. Parents will love the thoughtful touches – shaded picnic areas and mature fig trees transplanted into the park provide shade and a connection to nature
This playground was created in partnership with Quandamooka traditional owners, so you’ll also find beautiful Indigenous art murals and native plants throughout, making it a subtly educational environment too. But for your 2-year-old, it’s just pure fun – climb, slide, repeat! After a play session, you can take a stroll on the walking paths or grab a coffee at the Shoreline estate café (if open) while the little ones nap in the car.
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: Jingeri Park is located in the Shoreline development at Redland Bay (near the end of Serpentine Creek Road, then into Shoreline Drive – look for Jingeri Street). It’s right in Redland Bay, so local families have a fantastic new toddler spot close to home. This park is a fresh addition to the Redlands Coast, combining cultural storytelling with playground fun – definitely put it on your list for a visit!
Denham Boulevard Park is a hidden gem in Redland Bay – a quiet neighborhood playground that’s especially great for toddlers and preschoolers. It may not have the giant towers of the bigger parks, but it shines in toddler-friendly design. Much of the play equipment here is undercover, with shade sails covering the slides and swings to keep kiddos sun-safe. Speaking of equipment, there’s a little bit of everything: modern climbing frames, a small flying fox (yes, a mini zip-line that even cautious toddlers can try with help), slides, and toddler swings. The playground is set next to a scenic wetland, so you might spot ducks paddling nearby as you play, adding a nice nature touch. Two spacious sheltered picnic tables sit right next to the play area – convenient for supervising parents to relax (and perhaps enjoy that takeaway coffee). There’s also an adjacent grassy field that’s perfect for kicking a ball or spreading a picnic blanket.
One thing to note: Denham Boulevard Park is a neighborhood park, so it’s not fully fenced and doesn’t have toilets on-site. You’ll want to keep a close eye on little runners since the park is open to the surrounds (though it’s set back from the road), and plan potty visits in advance. On the plus side, there’s a water bubbler for drinking water and even some outdoor fitness equipment for parents to use (or for toddlers to amusingly attempt mimicry). For a low-key, local outing this park is just the ticket.
Toddler-Friendly Highlights:
Where to Find It: Denham Boulevard Park is on Denham Boulevard in Redland Bay’s newer estate area. It’s roughly a 5-minute drive from Redland Bay town center. You can park along the street nearby. This little park is proof that sometimes the simple local playgrounds are the best for toddlers – easy, calm, and just plain fun.
(Pssst, also in Redland Bay: check out Neville Stafford Park on Banana Street for a waterfront playground option. It’s an unfenced bayfront park with a basic playground and gorgeous views of the bay – perfect for a stroller walk and play, especially if you fancy a ferry-watching with your little one.)
From pirate ships to fairy forests, the Redland Bay area has an incredible variety of toddler-friendly playgrounds waiting to be explored. These outdoor parks cater to what parents care about most: safe play equipment, shaded spots to beat the Queensland sun, soft surfaces for those inevitable tumbles, fences (where we need them), nearby amenities, and plenty of engaging fun to keep our little scholars busy and happy. The best part? Watching your child’s face light up as they conquer a new slide or dig up “dinosaur bones” in the sand – those moments are priceless.
So pack the sunscreen, strap on those tiny sandals, and head out to enjoy the best playgrounds in Redland Bay for toddlers. We’d love to hear from you: Which playground is your family’s favourite? Did we miss a great toddler spot in or around Redland Bay? Let us know on socials @littlescholarsearlylearning!
If you’re after the best childcare in Redland Bay, look no further than Little Scholars. We have two beautiful centres in the heart of Redland Bay – Little Scholars Redland Bay and Little Scholars Redland Bay South. Contact us or book a tour today to ensure your little one gets the best start to life that they can.
Families who live in South East Queensland, a truly beautiful part of the world, are fortunate to enjoy pleasant weather most of the time. But, like anywhere, we get our (small) share of rainy or cooler days. And while one or two days of weather-related downtime can be welcome, our corner of the Earth can sometimes see days on end of rain, something we’re not quite used to, which mean our little ones may be bouncing off the walls if we don’t find some weather-appropriate things to do for them.
Since Little Scholars is in the business of small humans, we’ve gathered some activity ideas for parents we know children will love in any weather!
Images and information courtesy of the organisations listed in this article. You can find their websites by clicking on each title.
With its plethora of beaches and hiking trails, most people associate the Gold Coast with sunshine and heat, a near-perfect holiday destination, but what can families do if it’s cool, cloudy or raining? The answer is, there’s still plenty to do!
We’ve selected some of the most fun, unique indoor activities families with young children can do on the Gold Coast, the Redlands and in the state capitol, Brisbane.
This creative hub offers plenty of rainy day entertainment options. Wander through five levels of thought provoking and inspiring displays, exhibits and artworks at the incredible HOTA Gallery. There’s a Children’s Gallery on Level 1 where little ones can do craft activities and interact with creative displays.
The Gold Coast Motor Museum in Upper Coomera is a fantastic option for rainy days, featuring over 80 cars and memorabilia. Opened in October 2020 by brothers Carl and Grant Amor, the museum is a tribute to their parents’ love for cars. Located in the scenic Gold Coast hinterland, adjacent to Stanley’s Barn Restaurant & Bar, it’s a perfect destination for family fun and nostalgia.
Only closed Mondays and Tuesdays, children under 13 enter for free, and they’ll love exploring the eclectic range of vehicles spanning the years 1900 to 1988.
Looking to entertain your children and use up some of that endless energy? EMF Junior caters for children ages two to 13, with massive ball bits, slides, tunnels, climbing apparatuses, giant blocks and more. There is a separate zoned toddler area that caters to their specific abilities and needs.
Parents can also book their children in for the creche at Nerang and supervised drop and shop sessions at Pacific Fair, which comes in particularly handy for parents who need a bit of time to themselves!
A classic rainy day activity! But the 13 locations of Gold Coast City Libraries are not your grandmother’s library! They offer a ton of benefits besides an incredible array of books!
Join your library for fun times as the friendly librarians help build pre-literacy, communication, language and social skills for your babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
Baby Rhyme Time – Giggle, coo and cuddle with favourite rhymes and songs. Ideal for children from birth to two years.
Toddler Time – Sing, move and groove, learn new words and make new friends. Ideal for toddlers aged two to four years.
Storytime – Listen, laugh and roar with favourite stories old and new. Ideal for children from three to five years.
These are offered seven days a week across all locations. For your closest library’s schedule, or to find nearest availability for these programs when they suit your schedule, click this link.
Grab the family and head over to Paradise Resort Gold Coast for an experience rare to the southern hemisphere – ice skating!
Planet Chill is suitable for anyone over three years, and to make it a little easier for beginners to stay on their feet, Planet Chill has fibreglass penguins to help make your ‘icecapades’ more bump-free.
Your family will be gliding to popular music, a disco ball and under-ice lighting to light up your session.
IMAGINATOR is a multisensory, walk-through experience that houses a series of immersive art installations that celebrate imagination, technology and play.
There are 15 immersive, one-of-a-kind experiences under one roof that have been created by a talented team of architects, audio-visual artists, futurists, renderers and sound designers. The rooms feature multi-sensory installations like AI projections, sensor-triggered LED waves, giant silk parachute canopies, cosmic gardens, an anti-gravity sunset, an electronic hall of mirrors, a digital wishing well and a whole heap more.
Suitable for all ages, and is generally safe for people with sensory sensitivities, epilepsy or neurodiverse persons.
Marvel at hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts and get hands-on with unbelievable interactives at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Surfers Paradise. Play your way through! Shatter your senses in the Vortex Tunnel, where illusions and a colourful light show transport visitors into a mind-bending dimension, or let curiosity be your guide in the Funplex, filled with hands-on interactives.
Families can add on fun by purchasing an experience at the Ripley’s Mirror Maze Surfers Paradise
Charming Redland Bay has a real country feel despite being a growing bayside residential community. For its residents, the conservation areas and places for sport lead the activities, but that doesn’t mean rainy days mean families need to stay home.
The IndigiScapes Centre is Redland City Council’s environment education centre. Situated on 14.5 hectares of serene natural bushland, IndigiScapes offers native botanical gardens, a native nursery, bush trails, a nature playground. But while a lot of its appeal is focused on the outdoors, it does have an indoor environment that visitors can access in less desirable weather.
The Discovery Centre is full of information, displays and hands-on learning opportunities for visitors of all ages! With interactive environmental education areas, microscopes, lookout window, and touch screen activities, everyone will love learning more about the natural world.
After exploring the Discovery Centre, you may have worked up a hearty appetite, so check out the IndigiCafe and enjoy local cuisine with a bushtucker twist while overlooking beautiful Coolnwynpin Creek tributary on Redlands Coast. You’ll love the food so much, you’ll want to take some of the bush flavours and spices home with you.
Check out the Redland Museum! Step inside the Museum and discover a treasure trove of historic artefacts and fascinating stories about the people, places and events that helped to shape the Redlands Coast.
The museum even has a toy hall of fame, where children can see unusual toys from the past, play with the interactive model railway, wind the handle and make calls on 100 year old telephones and see a collection of 100 dolls in handmade costumes.
They can also climb aboard and ‘drive’ the Redlander railmotor and even see how children learned at school in the past.
Open seven days a week from 10am to 3.30pm, the museum is great for families. Admission prices are $10 adults, $6 concession, children are FREE.
This award-winning gallery offers ‘Family Sundays at the Gallery’ once per month at RAG, Cleveland. These sessions offer families a chance to create together exploring a variety of techniques themed to compliment the gallery’s latest exhibitions. It is a great chance to connect with each other while enjoying some hands on creative fun. The gallery also offers a Parents and Prams session one Wednesday a month as an opportunity to explore the latest exhibitions, socialise and get arty.
Called a ‘hidden gem’ on Tripadvisor, we’re bringing this charming museum out of hiding to share with our families. The museum represents the 65,000 years or so of Aboriginal history, the British invasion and colonisation and a complex shared history of less than 200 years.
If your little artist wants to try something new, why not visit Colour My Pot, a pottery painting and clay studio that provides a fun and creative environment where people of all ages can come together and make memories and some beautiful art.
Colour My Pot also caters to children for birthday parties and school holiday activities.
If families are looking for something completely different to do, or have a locomotive-obsessed little ones, check out the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway in Ipswich!
Experience a ride on vintage steam trains from the early 1900s and learn about Queensland’s railway history as you travel along historic tracks. Enjoy beautiful countryside views and grab a bite to eat or drink onboard. Check their website for dates and times.
Queens Park Environmental Education Centre offers locals, visitors (and especially families) the chance to learn more about Ipswich’s unique natural environment, waterways, and sustainability themes at no cost. Located in the heart of the city’s beloved Queens Park, children can get hands-on with this delightful, interactive, playful learning environment.
The Centre has many environmental education exhibits that showcase Ipswich’s unique natural environment, waterways, and sustainability themes. The interactive displays connect visitors with nature in the home and around the city. Families will love visiting the giant fig ‘growing’ inside the centre and explore the variety of ecosystems and wonderful wildlife that can be found in the Ipswich area.
Did you know Ipswich has Australia’s only public library dedicated to children? It features a specially designed catalogue with over 35,000 books just for children, and unique multi-reality interactive experiences.
The Ipswich Children’s Library is designed to be an interactive and engaging space for children. It features various zones with elements that encourage exploration and active participation. Highlights include a series of colourful tubes where children can send fabric pieces flying through the air, large interactive screens, and colouring tables where children can scan and watch their decorated fish swim on a screen. The library also offers cosy reading nooks, a gaming touch screen with STEAM-based puzzles, and a unique Reading Tree with a cushioned tunnel for reading. The space is filled with natural light, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Nicholas Street Precinct and landscaped gardens.
The library is open seven days a week and hosts regular, child-focussed programs and events and special tech adventures just for little ones!
Head over to Carindale to exert some of your little ones’ boundless energy where you’ll find this active adventure-play centre specially designed for pre-school children, offering fun, active-play experiences that help develop a positive relationship with physical activity.
Hologram Zoo is a family-friendly entertainment centre that operates like a traditional zoo, but with a twist – all the animals are holographic projections created using laser light technology. Suitable for children aged three and above, there are different country based shows like Africa, North Pole, Asia, and Australia. The zoo even allows guests to travel back in time and visit the dinosaurs.
Area 51 Brisbane is Australia’s largest indoor playground, occupying an incredible total space of 10,000 square metres of endless fun for all ages.
For babies to small toddlers there’s Astrotots Wonderland and Cosmo’s Inflatable Wonderland. For children aged three to four, they can explore Mini Rovers, which includes Trampoline Park, Cosmo’s Inflatable Wonderland and Gizmo’s Galaxy. Children ages five and up can explore Universe, which includes High Ropes, Bouldering, Trampoline Park, Gizmo’s Galaxy, Mega Slides, Parkour X or Ninja Park.
Adults are very welcome to supervise for free or play for the price of a ticket.
Area 51 also has four different eateries, including iDumplings, Night Market, Mollis and the Area 51 Cafe.
At Little Scholars, with locations across South East Queensland, we understand that rainy days are opportunities for unique and engaging learning experiences. Our early learning service is dedicated to providing the highest quality early education and care, making every day, rainy or sunny, a chance for exploration, learning and fun.
Our beautiful campuses, best of the best resources and sector-leading curriculum, including play-based programs underpinned by the Early Years Learning Framework, ensure that your child won’t miss a beat in their development, even when it’s pouring outside.
Our team of dedicated educators tailors activities to the individual needs and interests of each child, making every day an adventure in learning. We cherish the deep, nurturing relationships our educators build with each child and celebrate the friendships they form with their peers.
Why not see for yourself how we transform rainy days into super fun learning experiences? Book a tour today and join our Little Scholars family!
At Little Scholars School of Early Learning, we’re dedicated to shaping bright futures and instilling a lifelong passion for learning. With our strategically located childcare centres in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, we provide tailored educational experiences designed to foster your child’s holistic development.
Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!
Let us hold your hand and help looking for a child care centre. Leave your details with us and we’ll be in contact to arrange a time for a ‘Campus Tour’ and we will answer any questions you might have!
