Bayfield Park

Bayfield Park's playground sits on reclaimed land beside Andersons Bay Inlet in Andersons Bay, Dunedin, and it's the water view that visitors mention first. A large rocktopus climbing feature anchors a well equipped play area that suits toddlers through to primary schoolers, set right alongside a busy multi code sportsground.

Equipment

Slides, climbing frames, tunnels, monkey bars, a spiderweb net, see-saws and swings surround the rocktopus centrepiece, giving a good spread of challenge levels for mixed age groups. The playground sits inside an open park setting that also hosts cricket, soccer, junior soccer and rugby league fields, so there's usually a game to watch between turns on the equipment.

History and Cultural

The park occupies land reclaimed from Andersons Bay Inlet during the mid twentieth century, the same reclamation programme that created the grounds for nearby Bayfield High School. Close to the inlet's southern shore, a memorial stone commemorates the Taranaki Maori prisoners of the New Zealand Wars who were transported to Dunedin and forced to build the causeway across the inlet and much of the city's foreshore roads.

Practical Info

The council's Bayfield Park page lists change facilities, showers and toilets shared with the sportsground, plus evening lights and a picnic area right by the play equipment. Parking sits just off Shore Street, an easy walk from the playground. Soccer fields and nets nearby make an impromptu kickabout easy once everyone's had a turn on the equipment.