Packer Park

This is an exceptional park from Glen Eira City Council. There are so many good things about it that it's hard to know where to start!

Firstly, the placement of the playground is marvellous: it is right next to some wetlands and has been built around two mature gum trees that provide wonderful shade and a beautiful backdrop.

The theme, most appropriately, is wetlands creatures like frogs and lizards, with a huge gecko gracing the path leading onto the equipment, and some stepping stones in the form of eggs and tadpoles that lead up to a frog to climb on.

The main pathway leads up to the upper decking, which is accessible to mobility impaired children. From the top decking kids can play noughts and crosses and look through telescopes before choosing the best means to get down again: perhaps the fireman's pole, one of many slides or the multitude of different 'climbers'. There is plenty to do under the decking as well, with shop-front play, tunnels to crawl through, more tic-tac-toe and spring riders to bounce on.

Next to the main structure is a wonderful 'spider's web' of rope to climb on, and there is a snake boardwalk with bells to stomp on.

Small tables with fixed stools are dotted throughout the play area, and on the other side of the tadpoles is an area with several tables and a barbecue that are covered by a couple of huge sails.

There is a velodrome and a walking/cycling path around the oval so bring the bikes as well as the kids and the picnic to this fabulous park.