St Ives Showground Playground

We have visited St Ives Showground Regional Playground dozens of times since it opened in December 2020, and it remains our absolute favourite fenced playground in Sydney. Purpose-built by Ku-ring-gai Council as the largest playground in the entire local government area, it was designed from the ground up to be inclusive for children of all abilities while being genuinely exciting and engaging for every single visitor who walks through the gate.

The playground features multiple slides including enclosed tube slides launched from elevated platforms, extensive flying foxes that send children soaring across the space, and comprehensive swing sets for every age group from toddlers to tweens. Dedicated nature play areas incorporate logs, timber structures, boulders, a stone sculpture, and native plantings that encourage imaginative and sensory exploration throughout the seasons. Some equipment features windmills and timber animal sculptures that reflect the showground's agricultural history — a lovely design touch that gives this playground a distinct character and sense of place you simply will not find elsewhere.

The fully fenced perimeter with see-through fencing to a minimum height of 1.2 metres is the standout feature for parents. Gates are adult-operated and the entire playground is visible from multiple vantage points, allowing parents to genuinely relax on benches while children explore independently and at their own pace. For families with runners or children who need secure boundaries, this fencing makes St Ives Showground one of the most stress-free playground experiences on the North Shore and arguably in all of greater Sydney.

Equipment is arranged in distinct zones for different age groups, which works brilliantly for families with children of mixed ages. Very young children have low-level sensory and climbing elements scaled to their size, while children aged 5 to 12 can tackle challenging climbing structures, elevated walkways, and more adventurous equipment. Quiet sensory spaces are incorporated into the design for children who become overstimulated during busy periods — these shaded alcoves with comfortable seating and gentle play elements provide a retreat without needing to leave the secure enclosure. This thoughtful inclusive design philosophy is evident throughout every corner of the playground and reflects genuine consultation with disability and accessibility experts.

The amenities block contains Ku-ring-gai's first Changing Places cubicle — a fully accessible bathroom designed for people with complex care needs, featuring an adult-sized height-adjustable change table, ceiling hoist, and sufficient space for a carer to assist. Standard accessible toilets and baby change facilities are also available. Parents and carers have comfortable seating, picnic tables and shelters, a bubbler and tap, rubbish bins, bike racks, and information signs conveniently placed throughout the precinct.

Shade is a generous mix of shade sails over key equipment and natural tree cover from the surrounding bushland setting. The site is well shaded by existing mature trees with play areas integrated among them, and additional trees have been planted to maintain the established forest character of the location over time. The broader Showground grounds provide ample space for picnics, ball games, kite flying, and general running around on wide open grassed areas that extend well beyond the fenced playground.

Free parking within the Showground is plentiful and rarely fills up except during major community events and festivals. Accessible parking spots with paved pathways provide easy links between the car park and the playground entrance. The Showground is set within beautiful semi-rural bushland surroundings on Mona Vale Road that make the drive from other parts of Sydney genuinely worthwhile, and the journey through the leafy North Shore streets is pleasant in itself.

St Ives Showground is the definitive fenced destination playground for the North Shore and Hills District. Whether you have a curious toddler, a child with additional needs, or an adventurous eight-year-old looking for a challenge, this playground caters to everyone with genuine care, quality equipment, and a beautiful bushland setting. It is an absolute must-visit for families across Sydney who value both safety and excitement in equal measure.