A playground for every kind of day
Torquay is full of playgrounds. The Surf Coast Shire looks after more than 15 in Torquay and Jan Juc alone, from the big foreshore parks by the beach to small ones tucked into the streets of the newer estates. The foreshore ones are the obvious choice, with the beach, toilets and cafés all close by, but a couple of the best for little kids are within walking distance of our house.
The details below are from the shire's own playground listings in October 2026: who each one suits, and what's there, like shelter, barbecues and toilets. One rule applies at all of them: dogs are never allowed in playgrounds, even when the reserve around them is dog-friendly.
At a glance
| Playground | Where | Suits | From the house |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek Playground | 44 Orungal Court, north Torquay | Toddler and junior | Walk, or 2 min |
| Whites Beach Playground | Whites Beach foreshore | All ages, accessible | Walk, or 2 min |
| The Quay Reserve Playground | 2 Quay Boulevard | Toddler and junior, accessible | About 2 min |
| Djilla Tjarri Play and Skate Zone | Merrijig Drive and Wadawurrung Way | All ages, accessible | About 5 min |
| Torquay Foreshore Play Park | Elephant Walk, The Esplanade | All ages | About 5 min |
| Front Beach Play Park and Cosy Corner | The Esplanade | Toddler and junior | About 5 min |
| Spring Creek Playground | Surf Beach Road | Toddler and junior | About 5 min |
| Spring Valley Park Play Space | 84A Spring Valley Drive | All ages, accessible | About 8 min |
| Jan Juc playgrounds | Sunset Strip, Carnarvon Avenue, Marner Close | Toddlers to all ages | About 10 min |
Close to the house
Deep Creek Playground
At 44 Orungal Court, about 600 m from the house, so it's an easy walk for an early morning or a pre-dinner run around. A toddler and junior playground with a basket swing, seating and picnic tables.
Whites Beach Playground
On the foreshore at Whites Beach, our local beach. An accessible all-ages playground with shelter, seating and picnic tables, plus a barbecue, a drinking fountain and public toilets nearby. Pair it with a walk on the sand and you've got a morning sorted.
The Quay Reserve Playground
At 2 Quay Boulevard, a couple of minutes' drive away. An accessible toddler and junior playground with a basket swing, shelter, seating, picnic tables, a barbecue and a drinking fountain.
On the foreshore
Torquay Foreshore Play Park
On Elephant Walk, by The Esplanade, about five minutes' drive from the house. It suits all ages, with seating, shelter, picnic tables, a drinking fountain and a barbecue. The shire lists a Liberty swing here for wheelchair users, but the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority showed its Liberty Swing as temporarily closed in October 2026.
Front Beach Play Park and Cosy Corner Playground
Two toddler and junior playgrounds along the Front Beach foreshore, both with seating, picnic tables and toilets nearby. The Cosy Corner one, at the sheltered southern end of the beach, has a barbecue too. Our Front Beach guide has the rest of a beach day.
Around town
Djilla Tjarri Play and Skate Zone
On the corner of Merrijig Drive and Wadawurrung Way in Torquay North, about five minutes away. An accessible all-ages playground with shelter, picnic tables, a barbecue, a drinking fountain and toilets, right next to the Djila Tjarri skate park. Good when you've got older kids on scooters and little ones who want the swings.
Spring Creek Playground
On Surf Beach Road, about five minutes away. A toddler and junior playground with shelter, seating, picnic tables, a barbecue and public toilets nearby. The Spring Creek Recreation Reserve, off the Surf Coast Highway, has another one for all ages with a basket swing.
Spring Valley Park Play Space
At 84A Spring Valley Drive, about eight minutes away. An accessible all-ages play space with seating, shelter, a picnic table, a drinking fountain and a barbecue. It's next to Spring Valley Bike Park, which our bike parks guide covers.
Kalkarra Reserve Playground
At 15 Kalkarra Crescent, about ten minutes north of the house. An accessible toddler and junior playground with seating, picnic tables, shelter and toilets. It's in Kalkarra Park, which also has a small BMX track for beginners, so bring the bikes.
Great Ocean Views Reserve and Ocean Acres
Two neighbourhood parks on the west side of town, about seven or eight minutes away. Great Ocean Views Reserve, on Ocean View Crescent, has a toddler and junior playground with shade, a fruit orchard and a kicking space. Ocean Acres Playground, on Ocean Acres Drive, has shelter, picnic tables, a barbecue and toilets nearby.
Jan Juc
Jan Juc Creek Reserve Playground
At 10 Carnarvon Avenue, about ten minutes from the house. A toddler and junior playground with a barbecue, seating, shelter and picnic tables, handy after a morning at Jan Juc beach.
Bob Pettitt Reserve and Seaview Reserve
Bob Pettitt Reserve, at 89 Sunset Strip, has a toddler playground with seating and a barbecue by the pavilion. Seaview Reserve, on Marner Close, has an all-ages playground with shelter, seating and picnic tables.
Tips for a playground morning
The foreshore parks get busy on summer afternoons, and the equipment gets hot in the sun, so go in the morning or after about 4pm. Most have some shelter, but bring hats and sunscreen anyway. The public barbecues are first in, first served, so bring a picnic you don't need to cook in case they're taken.
If the kids have outgrown swings, try the skate parks and bike tracks instead: Djilla Tjarri has both a playground and a skate park side by side, Spring Valley has a jump park for bikes next to its play space, and Kalkarra has a beginners' BMX track beside the playground. Our skate parks guide has the details.
On a wet day, the playgrounds won't help much. Our rainy day guide has the indoor options, and our family holiday guide has more ideas for kids of every age.
Playgrounds FAQ
What's the best playground in Torquay?
For a beach day, the Torquay Foreshore Play Park on Elephant Walk or the Cosy Corner playground at the end of Front Beach. For older kids with scooters, Djilla Tjarri in Torquay North.
Is there a playground near Holyday House?
Yes. Deep Creek Playground is about 600 m away, and Whites Beach Playground is by our local beach.
Are there accessible playgrounds?
The shire lists Whites Beach, Djilla Tjarri, The Quay Reserve and Spring Valley Park as accessible playgrounds.
Can I take the dog?
Not into the playground itself. Dogs are never allowed in Surf Coast playgrounds, even where the reserve around them allows dogs.
For the rest of the day, see the Torquay beaches and things to do in Torquay. Planning a family trip? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 23 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Playgrounds — Surf Coast Shire
- Whites Beach Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- Deep Creek Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- The Quay Reserve Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- Torquay Foreshore Play Park — Surf Coast Shire
- Djilla Tjarri Play and Skate Zone — Surf Coast Shire
- Spring Creek Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- Spring Valley Park - Play Space — Surf Coast Shire
- Kalkarra Reserve Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- Jan Juc Creek Reserve Playground — Surf Coast Shire
- Accessible Beaches — Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority
- Where to walk your dogs — Surf Coast Shire