The Eastern Suburbs mixes serious urban density with some of Sydney's best open spaces. Here's where to find the good playgrounds.
Centennial Park — Paddington/Randwick
Best for: All ages
The dominant park in the Eastern Suburbs and one of the best in Sydney. Centennial Park is 189 hectares and has multiple playgrounds scattered throughout — the Kensington playground near the Lachlan Swamps is one of the better ones, with decent equipment and plenty of surrounding space.
The cycling circuit around the park is excellent for kids on bikes — mostly flat, car-free, and about 3.8km for the full loop. Add duck ponds, walking paths, and BBQ areas, and you can spend a full day here easily.
Address: Oxford Street, Paddington (multiple entry points) Entry: Free (parking fees apply) Facilities: Toilets, café, BBQs, multiple playgrounds, cycling circuit, duck ponds
Coogee Beach Park — Coogee
Best for: Ages 2–10, beach combination
A grassed park directly behind Coogee Beach with playground equipment, open lawns, and picnic tables. The location is the selling point — you get the playground and then the beach (or vice versa) without moving the car.
Coogee is a good beach for families: calmer than Bondi, with a natural rock pool at the southern end (Wylie's Baths, entry fee) and the Giles Baths free ocean pool at the northern end.
Address: Arden Street, Coogee Entry: Free Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables, nearby beach and ocean pool
Maroubra Beach Park — Maroubra
Best for: Ages 2–10, beach combination
Similar setup to Coogee — a foreshore park with playground equipment directly behind the beach. Maroubra is a bit less crowded than Coogee on most days, and the Mahon Pool ocean rock pool at the northern end is free.
Address: Marine Parade, Maroubra Entry: Free Facilities: Toilets, BBQs, beach access, free ocean pool nearby
Marks Park — Bondi (Tamarama Headland)
Best for: Ages 3+, coastal setting
A small headland park between Bondi and Tamarama on the coastal walk. Less about equipment and more about the setting — the views are excellent, and kids who've been on the coastal walk appreciate having somewhere to stop and run around.
Entry: Free
Randwick City Park — Randwick
Best for: Ages 2–10
A neighbourhood park near Randwick's town centre with good modern playground equipment and open lawn areas. Easy to access and well-maintained.
Address: Frances Street, Randwick Facilities: Toilets, open lawns
Gunyama Park — Zetland (Alexandria area)
Best for: Ages 2–12
Gunyama Park is a large newer park in the Green Square urban renewal area with an excellent playground and a free outdoor aquatic area (separate from the paid indoor pool). The water play section is popular in summer and the playground equipment is some of the newest in the inner east.
Address: Joynton Avenue, Zetland Entry: Free (playground and outdoor water area) Facilities: Toilets, outdoor water play, adjacent paid aquatic centre
Tips for Eastern Suburbs parks
- Centennial Park is the standout for a longer half-day visit — bring bikes and make the loop.
- Beach parks work well in a morning (playground first, beach after).
- Parking near beaches gets very busy by 10am on weekends — use the train or bus to Coogee/Maroubra instead.
Updated May 2026. Know a great Eastern Suburbs playground we've missed? Let us know.