By Justin Atkinson, 16 May 2024
On this text episode of Welly Weeknight Walkies, we will rank half the playgrounds of Tawa (there's so many!). We were lucky enough to have a local guide, Charlotte, to show us around. Buckle up and put your playground design hats on!
Judges: Justin, Henry, Iliya, Charlotte, Lochlainn, Yaz
8. 'Unnamed' playground - 2/10
Dreadful. Small and forgettable. Cool spinny blocks though. It has no official name, so it shall remain an abstract nameless.
7. Raroa Park Play Area - 4/10
Below average. Compact and nice climbing frames, with a dodgy location across a large pitch-black field. (NB: 11/10 if you include Charlotte's amazing heated up hot chocolate and marshmallows).
6. Taylor Park Play Area - 5/10
As mid as you can get. Weird climby thing and decent slide, but no spinny things or good swings.
5. Tui Park Play Area - 5.5/10
Solid for the 20 seconds we were there, as in a rush to get the last Kapiti train of the night.
4. Coronation Park Play Area - 7/10
Decent. Compact and entertaining, with an epic spiderweb swing. Best part was the telescope pointed at a kindergarten.
3. Lyndhurst Park Play Area - 8/10
Amazing spinny things, a cool design, and a good mini replica of the Oriental Bay t-frame. (NB: watch out for the thunderous rugby scrum at the adjacent park!).
2. Chipmunks Playland and Cafe Tawa - 10/10
Nuff said. Awesome drinks bar, a ball annihilation pit, and an incredible labyrinthine maze. Only downside was being locked out :/
Honourable mentions:
- Willowbank Reserve, Victory Crescent Park, Duncan Park, Wall Park, Pikitanga Close, Larsen Park, Brasenose Place Play Areas (either ran out of time or too far away, future part 2 anybody?)
- Redwood Station's Woof Woof Ruff (got lost on the way to Taylor Park and stumbled upon this)
- The coin-operated DIY Dog Wash ($2 for a 10min pop)
1. Grasslees Reserve Play Area - 100000000000000/10
Absolutely mental. Enormous with so many cool features. Has a great slide, and a cute sandpit with a digger great for flicking sand at people. Bonus points for location next to a park and Tawa Pool. But best thing is THE MOUSE WHEEL. We spent ages trying to spin Lochlainn around 360° like a hampster. So much fun!
