Best playgrounds in Artarmon
Last updatedThomson Park is the pick for young children in Artarmon, with a fully fenced playground that has a flying fox and basket swing. Artarmon Reserve has the largest play area, with climbing walls and trampolines. Cleland Park, Elsie Wearn Park and Wickham Park each suit smaller visits, so the best choice depends on your kids and whether you need a fence.
Quick picks
- Best fenced playground: Thomson Park, with a fully fenced play area for young children.
- Best for big kids: Artarmon Reserve, with ground trampolines, climbing walls and zip lines.
- Best for a park with a BBQ: Cleland Park, where the play area sits beside a BBQ and toilets.
- Best for the littlest kids: Elsie Wearn Park, which has swings, slides and a train to ride.
Thomson Park: fully fenced with a flying fox and basket swing
- Fully fenced
- Toilets
- Parking
Thomson Park has a fully enclosed play space, so toddlers stay inside the fence while you sit close by. Older kids can try a flying fox, a basket swing and a spinner, and there is a sandpit with stone balancing walls. Public toilets are in the park. Parking is street-only with time limits, but Artarmon train station is reached by a pedestrian path.
Artarmon Reserve: the biggest play area, with trampolines and zip lines
- Toilets
- BBQ
- Parking
For older children, Artarmon Reserve is the big one: a 9.86 hectare reserve with ground trampolines, a rock climbing wall, zip lines and spinning platforms. Toddlers have their own swings and a spring horse, and the gear suits every age group. The BBQ and toilets are elsewhere in the reserve, and a parking lot sits inside it. Artarmon station is 520 metres west.
Cleland Park: a play area with a BBQ and toilets
- Toilets
- BBQ
- Parking
Cleland Park puts its play area alongside a BBQ, picnic tables and toilets. A carpark for about twenty cars is on site. The six lit tennis courts beside the play area keep older siblings busy while the little ones swing. Unlike Thomson Park, Cleland Park has no known fence around its play area, so keep an eye on toddlers. The BBQ and picnic tables suit a longer stay than a quick play.
Elsie Wearn Park: a small fenced playground for toddlers
- Fully fenced
Elsie Wearn Park is tiny, and its fenced children's playground is the main draw. Swings, slides, a rocker and a train fill the enclosure. Artarmon station sits roughly 320 metres northwest, and Wickham Park is 0.3 km away. Compared with Artarmon Reserve's bigger play area, this one suits shorter visits and younger children. The fence gives the play area a clear edge, so a parent with a toddler who wanders has an easier time of it. Expect a short visit rather than an all-afternoon one.
Wickham Park: a water pump and a renewed playground
- BBQ
- Water play
Splashing is the draw at Wickham Park, where a water pump sits beside the swings and rocker. Willoughby City Council renewed the playground in 2022. A BBQ is in the same reserve, though not at the playground itself. Access is by the Artarmon Pathways, including the path from Buller Road. The park is a small council reserve on White Street, so it suits a short local visit.
How the playgrounds compare
By area
Every playground in and near Artarmon
The table lists every playground we know in and around Artarmon, with the features that matter most for kids side by side.
| Park | Fenced | Toilets | BBQ | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Thomson Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 2.Artarmon Reserve | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3.Cleland Park | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4.Elsie Wearn Park | ✓ | – | – | – |
| 5.Wickham Park | – | – | ✓ | – |
| 6.Artarmon Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| 7.Jersey Road Reserve | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Artarmon | ||||
| Helen Street Reserve · Lane Cove North | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Naremburn Park · Naremburn | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Sutherland Park · Chatswood | – | – | ✓ | – |
| Henderson Park · Willoughby | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
Each park was judged on what matters at a playground: the fence, the equipment, the ages it suits, shade, toilets nearby, parking and a BBQ. Each known feature adds to a park's score, so better-documented parks rank higher. Gaps show as dashes in the table, and a dash doesn't mean the feature is missing.
FAQ
Is there a fenced playground in Artarmon?
Yes, Thomson Park has a fully fenced playground with a flying fox, basket swing and sandpit. Elsie Wearn Park also has a fenced children's playground, which is smaller and aimed at younger children.
Which Artarmon playground has the most equipment?
Artarmon Reserve has the largest set of equipment, with ground trampolines, climbing walls, flying foxes and zip lines. Thomson Park has a comparable spread of equipment and is fenced, which makes it a good choice for younger kids.
Is there a playground with toilets in Artarmon?
Toilets are on hand at Cleland Park, next to the play area, and the park also has a BBQ. Thomson Park has a toilet block too.