What is the Train Park in Hobart?

Caldew Park in West Hobart has a train that children can climb on, so it is known as the Train Park. Check the listing for details and facilities.

Which playground has a view of the water?

Several do, including Long Beach Reserve and Dru Point. Check the listing for what is nearby and how to get there.

Are the playgrounds fenced?

A few are, but most sit open to a road or reserve. Check the listing, and stay close if your child likes to run.

What if it rains while we are at the playground?

Showers can pass quickly, so a short wait under a tree or shelter often works. Wet equipment is slippery, so take care.

Free playgrounds worth the drive in Hobart

Hobart's best playgrounds reward a drive, and many have a story of their own. Caldew Park in West Hobart is known as the Train Park, with a real train to climb on, which is the kind of detail that children remember for years. Arthur Circus at Battery Point is a small, charming green ringed by old cottages, and Long Beach Reserve at Sandy Bay pairs play equipment with sand and water. Tynwald Park at New Norfolk, Dru Point Bicentennial Park at Margate and Flyway Island Park at Midway Point give families a reason to head out of town, and John Turnbull Park, John Doggett Park, Fern Tree Park and Giblins Reserve cover the suburbs and the mountain's edge. Hobart is a hilly city, so many playgrounds sit on slopes, with views over the water and the occasional steep path. Shade is not always plentiful, but the weather is usually cool enough that it matters less than in warmer cities. Wind and rain are the bigger challenge. Pack a beanie and a spare jumper, and choose a park with something to do when the clouds roll in. The best days combine a playground with a walk, a picnic or a stop at the water.

Our picks

Caldew Park (The Train Park) West Hobart
Caldew Park, commonly known as The Train Park, is a City of Hobart park on the corner of Hill and Warwick Streets, West Hobart.

★ 4.7 (492)
Dru Point Bicentennial Park Margate
Dru Point Bicentennial Park is a Kingborough Council park at Margate.

All-abilities · ★ 4.6 (481)
Tynwald Park New Norfolk
Tynwald Park is a Derwent Valley Council park and oval on the Lyell Highway at New Norfolk.

★ 4.5 (457)
Fern Tree Park Fern Tree
Fern Tree Park on Huon Road, Fern Tree, is a City of Hobart park with a nature-based playground featuring inlaid Tasmanian animal engravings.

★ 4.6 (151)
Arthur Circus Park Battery Point
Arthur Circus Park is a small City of Hobart community park and playground in the centre of Arthur Circus, the heritage-listed circle of cottages in Battery Point.

★ 4.5 (162)
John Turnbull Park Lenah Valley
John Turnbull Park is a large City of Hobart park at the corner of Creek and Lenah Valley Roads, Lenah Valley.

★ 4.5 (129)

Before you go

Best for which ages

Toddlers and pre-schoolers enjoy smaller, enclosed parks such as Arthur Circus, while primary-age children love bigger structures and the train at Caldew Park. Teens may prefer a park with a view or a beach nearby. The listing has the details.

What to bring

Warm layers and a rain jacket, because the weather changes fast. Snacks, water and a picnic rug. A hat and sunscreen in summer. A spare set of clothes helps if there is sand or water close by. A towel for wet slides and a flask for the parent on the bench make winter visits easier.

Parking and facilities

Many parks have street parking or a small car park, and some have toilets and picnic tables. Facilities vary, so check the listing. Parks on hills may require a short walk from the car, so be ready to carry gear.

Prams and accessibility

Some parks have flat, paved paths, but many are on slopes or have uneven ground. If you need step-free access, check the listing before you go and choose a flatter site. A carrier helps with babies. Steep paths between the car and the swings can be a challenge, so a carrier is a good backup for babies.

Best time of year

Summer is the most comfortable and the busiest. Autumn is calm and golden. Winter days can be cold and wet, but crisp, sunny mornings are lovely, and parks are quiet. Spring is windy, so bring a jacket. Weekday afternoons after school are the busiest, so mornings leave more room for everyone.

Playgrounds and adventure parks

The destination playgrounds and nature play spaces worth a trip across town.

Caldew Park (The Train Park) West Hobart
Caldew Park, commonly known as The Train Park, is a City of Hobart park on the corner of Hill and Warwick Streets, West Hobart.

★ 4.7 (492)
Dru Point Bicentennial Park Margate
Dru Point Bicentennial Park is a Kingborough Council park at Margate.

All-abilities · ★ 4.6 (481)
Tynwald Park New Norfolk
Tynwald Park is a Derwent Valley Council park and oval on the Lyell Highway at New Norfolk.

★ 4.5 (457)
Fern Tree Park Fern Tree
Fern Tree Park on Huon Road, Fern Tree, is a City of Hobart park with a nature-based playground featuring inlaid Tasmanian animal engravings.

★ 4.6 (151)
Arthur Circus Park Battery Point
Arthur Circus Park is a small City of Hobart community park and playground in the centre of Arthur Circus, the heritage-listed circle of cottages in Battery Point.

★ 4.5 (162)
John Turnbull Park Lenah Valley
John Turnbull Park is a large City of Hobart park at the corner of Creek and Lenah Valley Roads, Lenah Valley.

★ 4.5 (129)
Long Beach Reserve Playground Sandy Bay
Long Beach Reserve on Long Point Road, Sandy Bay, is a City of Hobart beachside park with a very large, fenced, boat-themed playground beside Little Sandy Bay.

All-abilities
John Doggett Park West Hobart
John Doggett Park is a City of Hobart community park on Lochner Street, West Hobart, serving the wider West Hobart area.

★ 4.6 (37)
Flyway Island Park Midway Point
Flyway Island Park is a Sorell Council park at Midway Point.

★ 4.5 (49)
Giblins Reserve Goodwood
Giblins Reserve in Goodwood is a Glenorchy City Council regional playspace for children and families of all ages and abilities, on the waterfront.

All-abilities · ★ 4.3 (182)
Mount Nelson Oval And Playground Mount Nelson
Mount Nelson Playground is a City of Hobart community playground at 555 Nelson Road, Mount Nelson, next to Mount Nelson Oval.

★ 4.4 (85)
Marieville Esplanade Playground Sandy Bay
Marieville Esplanade is a City of Hobart community park and playground on the shore of the River Derwent, listed by the council at Marieville Esplanade, Battery Point…
Princes Park Battery Point
Princes Park in Battery Point is a City of Hobart regional park and playground, known as the 'boat park', at the corner of Castray Esplanade and Salamanca Place.
Tolmans Hill Park Tolmans Hill
Tolmans Hill Park is a City of Hobart park at 13 Woodcutters Road, Tolmans Hill, surrounded by native bushland off Old Proctors Road.

★ 4.5 (27)
South Hobart Playground South Hobart
South Hobart Playground is a well-maintained local park situated in the leafy suburb of South Hobart, just a short drive from Hobart's CBD.

★ 4.5 (26)
Aberdeen Street Playground Glebe
Aberdeen Street Playground is a City of Hobart playground at 30 Aberdeen Street, Queens Domain, located between the Glebe and the Domain Tennis Centre.

★ 4.3 (21)
West Hobart Oval West Hobart
West Hobart Oval at 19 Lansdowne Crescent, West Hobart, is a City of Hobart sportsground and playground beside Lansdowne Crescent Primary School.
St Andrews Park Hobart
St Andrews Park is a City of Hobart local park and playground at the corner of Patrick and Church Streets, North Hobart.

★ 4.2 (30)
Napoleon Street Park Battery Point
Napoleon Street Park is a small City of Hobart local park and playground at 42-44 Napoleon Street, Battery Point, next to the Battery Point Slipyards and the Patent Slip.

★ 3.9 (26)
Cascade Gardens South Hobart
Cascade Gardens is a City of Hobart park in South Hobart, below the Cascade Brewery and beside the Hobart Rivulet, shaded by mature trees.
Wellesley Park Playground and Reserve South Hobart
Wellesley Park Playground and Reserve is a City of Hobart park at 134 Wentworth Street, South Hobart.
Parliament Street Reserve Sandy Bay
Parliament Street Reserve is a City of Hobart park at 11 Parliament Street, Sandy Bay, described by the council as a park with a BBQ and playground.
Molle and Goulburn Street Park Hobart
Molle and Goulburn Street Park is a small City of Hobart park at 86 Molle Street, Hobart, which the council describes as a local park on the entrance into West Hobart.

All parks and playgrounds in Hobart, free and paid

Questions parents ask

What is the Train Park in Hobart?: Caldew Park in West Hobart has a train that children can climb on, so it is known as the Train Park. Check the listing for details and facilities.
Which playground has a view of the water?: Several do, including Long Beach Reserve and Dru Point. Check the listing for what is nearby and how to get there.
Are the playgrounds fenced?: A few are, but most sit open to a road or reserve. Check the listing, and stay close if your child likes to run.
What if it rains while we are at the playground?: Showers can pass quickly, so a short wait under a tree or shelter often works. Wet equipment is slippery, so take care.