Whether you’re a local family looking for somewhere new to explore or visitors passing through Northland with kids in tow, Whangarei and the surrounding district has a fantastic range of playgrounds to keep little ones happy. From purpose-built destination parks with all-day appeal to hidden gems tucked away in scenic reserves, there’s something for every age and energy level. Here’s our guide to the best playgrounds in the Whangarei district.
Destination Playgrounds
These are the big ones. Worth a special trip, with enough to keep the kids entertained for hours.
Pohe Island Destination Playground
If you only visit one playground in Whangarei, make it Pohe Island. Opened in 2021, this is the district’s flagship playground and it really does deliver. A towering 7-metre climbing structure anchors the space, with flying foxes, an inclusive carousel, a wheelchair-accessible trampoline, sandpit play, and equipment designed with input from local children and Maori culture woven throughout. It sits right alongside the Hatea Loop walkway, so you can combine a play session with a walk or cycle along the river. There are toilets, ample car parking, and plenty of seating for the grown-ups.
Town Basin Playground
The Town Basin playground has been a Whangarei family staple for years and it’s easy to see why. Centrally located right on the waterfront, it’s surrounded by cafes, shops, public toilets, and the popular Hatea Loop track. The playground itself has a great range of equipment including a water play area, making it a perfect warm weather destination. It’s on the unfenced side given the proximity to the car park and river, so it’s worth keeping a close eye on younger ones, but that hasn’t stopped families from making it one of the most visited playgrounds in town.
Great Local Playgrounds
Mair Park
Tucked away at the entrance to the beautiful Mair Park and Parihaka Reserve on Rurumoki Street, this playground is a wonderful spot for families who like to combine play with the outdoors. The equipment suits older children best, with plenty of room to run around, and a pushchair-friendly path leads down to the Hatea River where kids love feeding the ducks. It’s a natural starting point for a walk up Mount Parihaka or out to Whangarei Falls, making it a great half-day destination.
Onerahi Playground
The Beach Road playground in Onerahi is a firm favourite with local families and well worth a visit if you’re heading out that way. The playground sits right on the shores of the Whangarei Harbour with public toilets and a boat ramp nearby. At low tide the beach is great for exploring, with crabs, shells and all sorts keeping young ones entertained long after they’ve finished on the equipment. A lovely spot for a relaxed family afternoon.
Kensington Park
Close to the inner city on Kensington Avenue, Kensington Park playground is a solid all-rounder that caters well for different ages. You’ll find a range of swings, a double slide, and equipment designed to support fine motor skills development. There’s a fenced basketball and tennis court next door which is great for older kids, plus public toilets and a picnic table. The playground is unfenced and adjacent to a busy road, so supervision is important, but it’s a popular and well-maintained spot.
Mander Park
Located near the Whangarei CBD on the corner of State Highway 1 and Central Avenue, Mander Park has had some solid upgrades over the years with input from children in its design. It caters for all age groups from toddlers through to school-aged kids with varied climbing equipment, swings, and a seesaw. Public toilets, benches, and a picnic table are close by, and the large grass area is great for a summer picnic. Not fenced, but well set back from the main road.
Kamo Sports Park
Out at the southern end of the Kamo Sports Park off Three Mile Bush Road (also accessible from Butler Place), this is a well-loved community playground in the heart of the Kamo area. It offers good climbing equipment, a double swing, and a seesaw, with plenty of grass for kids to burn off extra energy on the adjacent sports fields. Public toilets are available and it’s at the end of a quiet street, making it a relaxed and safe environment for families.
Raumanga Scenic Reserve Playground
This is a bit of a hidden gem. The playground at Raumanga Scenic Reserve opened in late 2024 following a community-driven development and includes some genuinely thoughtful inclusive design, with a wheelchair-compatible seesaw among the highlights. There are slides, swings, exercise equipment, a basketball half-court, toilets, and a drinking fountain. Best of all, the reserve is the starting point for the walk through to Raumanga Falls, making it a great combination outing for active families.
Laurie Hall Park
Right in the heart of the Whangarei CBD, Laurie Hall is a handy option if you’re in town and need to let the kids stretch their legs. The playground is geared more towards older children with a focus on climbing challenges and some swing sets, plus shade sails for summer. There are no public toilets on site, but several benches and a nice grassy area make it a pleasant spot to take a break between shopping trips or errands in town.
Potter Park, Tikipunga
Potter Park on the corner of Corks Road and Vinegar Hill Road in Tikipunga is a well-set-up community playground that’s popular with families in the north of the city. A highlight for younger kids is the toddler bike track, which is a fun and unusual feature you don’t see at many parks. Shade sails, seating, and toilets make it a comfortable spot to spend some time, and there’s enough equipment to keep a range of ages happy.
Whangarei Heads Playgrounds
Heading out to Whangarei Heads for the day? These playgrounds are well worth factoring into your trip.
McLeod Bay
On the foreshore at McLeod Bay along Whangarei Heads Road, this beautifully situated playground overlooks the harbour and offers great views across the water. It’s well designed for pre-schoolers and school-aged children with climbing challenges, a slide, and swings, plus a picnic table to enjoy the setting. Toilets are a short walk away. A lovely spot to stop and play on your way in or out to the Heads.
Taurikura
Continuing further along Whangarei Heads Road, the playground at Taurikura sits right alongside a sheltered sandy beach and is a brilliant bonus stop on any beach day in the area. With Mount Manaia as your backdrop and calm harbour water for paddling, it’s a gorgeous setting. There are tennis courts and public toilets nearby too. It won’t necessarily draw you out there on its own, but if you’re already heading to the Heads it’s well worth the stop to wear out any remaining energy.
Out of Town: Ngunguru, Ruakaka and Waipu
Ngunguru
A little further afield heading out towards the Tutukaka Coast, the Ngunguru playground on Kopipi Crescent is one of the most popular with families in the area. It’s fully fenced (a real bonus for parents of younger children), with shade sails donated through community fundraising and a good range of play equipment to suit different ages. Public toilets are on site and local shops are within walking distance for a post-play ice cream or fish and chips.
Ruakaka
The playground at the corner of Peter Snell Road and Tiki Place in Ruakaka is a well-appointed community park with a solid range of equipment including a large modular play unit, swings, a rocktopus roundabout, and a seesaw. Right next door is a concrete skatepark, which makes it a great spot for families with a mix of ages. A handy stop if you’re heading to Ruakaka Beach or passing through on the way down the coast.
Waipu – Waihoihoi River Park
Waipu’s Waihoihoi River Park has been given a great upgrade as part of the Whangarei District Council’s Waipu Activity Zone project. The result is one of the better community playgrounds in the district, with a recently renewed playground, a skatepark, a wheelchair swing, a basketball half-court, and public toilets. It’s a brilliant stop for families passing through Waipu on the way to Waipu Cove or the Cave, and well worth building into any visit to this part of the district.
Neighbourhood Parks Worth Knowing About
Not every playground needs to be a destination. Whangarei has a good network of smaller neighbourhood parks that are perfect for a quick run-around close to home. A few worth knowing about include:
Panorama Drive, Riverside – A small but pretty park with views over the Whangarei Harbour towards Whangarei Heads and Mount Manaia. Limited equipment but a lovely spot if you’re heading up to or from Parahaki Lookout.
Te Paka Crescent Park – A tidy neighbourhood park that serves the local community well for a quick play.
There are over 36 playgrounds spread across the Whangarei district in total. You can find your nearest one using the Whangarei District Council’s playground map.
Know a great playground we’ve missed? Get in touch and let us know.
Booking a Park or Reserve
Did you know you can book a playground, public garden, beach, park or reserve for private events? Whether it’s a birthday party, a small gathering, or a community event, the Whangarei District Council makes it straightforward to reserve a space. Find out more and submit your booking request on the Whangarei District Council website.
Smoke Free and Vape Free
All Whangarei District Council playgrounds, sports fields, and neighbourhood parks are smoke free and vape free areas. This policy is in place to protect the health of tamariki and the wider community, so please be mindful when visiting any of the parks on this list.
