If your kids love planes, head to plane-themed Rathmines Park playground on the shores of Lake Macquarie.
This park is a very important historical site as it was the home to the RAAF Catalina Flying Boat Base with 14 Catalinas and almost 3000 officers at its peak making it the largest flying boat base in Australia. As a result, there’s lots of plane themed play equipment including a plane that kids can climb into and over and a little plane wobbly.
There’s also 4 signs around the perimeter of the park that indicate the actual size of the Catalina flying boat. It was huge!
What’s terrific about this park is that it caters to different age groups. It has baby swings and stairs that toddlers can climb up as well a huge climbing structure, a flying saucer swing and a mega flying fox for older kids.
All this and amazing views of the lake. I recommend making a day of it and packing a picnic to enjoy the view. If you feel like cooking, there’s also a covered seating area behind the park with a BBQ. There’s plenty of grass to kick around a ball and the wide paths are perfect for scooters and bikes.
If you feel like a free and fun family activity, bring your frisbees and play a round of Disc Golf at Styles Park in Rathmines. To access the Rathmines disc golf course, you’ll need to enter via 2 Overhill Road. This puts you right outside the entrance to Styles Point Reserve.
Address: Rathmines Park is on Stilling Street in Rathmines, south of Toronto
Public Toilets: Toilets are nearby at the entrance of the parking lot
Water Fountain: Yes
Picnic Facilities: Covered picnic shelter behind playground and some around park
BBQ: Yes
Café Nearby: No. Nearest at Rathmines shops
Festival: Every year in November, there is a commemoration of this WWII RAAF Base in Rathmines Park. The Rathmines Catalina Festival is a family-friendly event which includes aviation displays, entertainment, amusement rides and markets.
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