Blaxland Riverside Park

Blaxland Riverside Park at Sydney Olympic Park is an absolute powerhouse of a playground and comfortably one of the best in New South Wales. Spread across three hectares along the Parramatta River foreshore, this is the kind of place where you pack lunch, bring spare clothes, and settle in for the entire day.

The standout feature is the extraordinary 12-metre treehouse structure. This multi-level timber climbing tower is connected by rope bridges, tunnels, and elevated walkways that give kids a real sense of adventure. The views from the top are brilliant, and there are multiple slide exits including tube slides and open slides to get back down. Older kids will spend ages exploring every nook of this structure.

The double flying fox is another huge drawcard — two parallel cables let kids race each other, which always generates excited squealing. There are also enormous climbing nets, spinning equipment, swings for all ages including accessible basket swings, and a dedicated toddler play area with smaller equipment scaled for under-fives. The toddler zone has its own mini climbing frames, gentle slides, and sensory play panels that keep the littlest ones happily occupied.

Now, the water play. Blaxland has the largest water play area in New South Wales, featuring 170 water jets that create an incredible splash ground. The jets are set into the ground and operate in different patterns and sequences, so kids are constantly surprised and delighted. The water play runs from 10am to 4pm during warmer months and is absolutely spectacular on a hot day. Plan your visit around these hours if water play is a priority — and trust me, for most kids it will be. Bring towels, bathers, and dry clothes.

The playground is not fenced, which is worth noting given the proximity to the river. The parklands are expansive and open, so you will want to keep an eye on younger children who might wander. However, the river bank is set back from the main play areas and there is a decent buffer of grass and pathways.

Shade structures cover parts of the playground, and the treehouse itself provides shade underneath. The water play area has some shade sails, though you will still want sun protection during peak UV hours. There are plenty of mature trees around the broader park providing natural shade for picnic setups.

Parking is free and plentiful at Sydney Olympic Park, with car parks right near the playground entrance. Public transport access is good too — Olympic Park station is a reasonable walk, and there are bus services that drop you closer. On weekends the park can get busy, so arriving before 10am secures a better parking spot and more space on the equipment.

Facilities here are excellent. There are 26 free electric BBQs scattered through the park, clean toilet blocks near the playground, drinking fountains, and a cafe on site for coffee and snacks. The BBQ areas have sheltered picnic tables making this a fantastic spot for birthday parties and family gatherings. Many families bring their own picnic setups and make a full day of it.

Blaxland Riverside Park is accessible with paved pathways connecting all areas, and many of the play elements have been designed with inclusive access in mind, including the basket swings and ground-level sensory play stations.

The best time to visit is a warm weekday during school term when you can practically have the place to yourself. School holidays and sunny weekends draw big crowds, particularly around the water play. Even on busy days, the sheer size of the park means it never feels unpleasantly packed.

This is genuinely a destination playground — one of those rare places where both the toddler and the ten-year-old are equally thrilled. Allow at least three hours, though a full day is easily done.