Given Grove Playground

Twin flying foxes running side by side are the defining feature of Given Grove Playground, and the setup is exactly as fun as it sounds: two riders launching from the same platform at the same moment, racing to the end. It is a setup that tends to attract a queue on summer holidays, and for good reason. The playground sits on Given Grove in Pauanui, the purpose-built beachside township on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, about 45 minutes south of Thames and less than two hours from Auckland or Hamilton.

Pauanui was developed from 1967 as a planned holiday town by the Hopper brothers, designed around meandering parks, pedestrian walkways, and streets oriented toward the natural landscape. The township stretches between a three-kilometre white-sand surf beach on the ocean side and the calmer waters of the Tairua Harbour on the other, giving it a hemmed-in, pocket-paradise feeling that suits families well. During summer the resident population of around 800 swells dramatically, with the beach, harbour, walkways, and this playground all seeing plenty of use. Given Grove itself is a quiet residential street in the heart of the township, a short walk from the beach.

The playground was replaced with new equipment by Thames-Coromandel District Council as part of a community upgrade, with the twin flying foxes the centrepiece of the refreshed site. Alongside the dual flying foxes you will find slides, climbing frames, and swings, covering most of the standard playground bases for younger children. The site is shaded by trees, which helps on the hot Coromandel days that peak in January and February, and there is a picnic area that invites parents and carers to sit and stay rather than just supervise from the edge. The overall layout is compact but well considered, making good use of a greenspace that feels embedded in the neighbourhood rather than bolted onto it.

The playground suits toddlers through primary-school age, with the flying foxes particularly popular with children aged five and up who have the confidence to launch. For younger children the swings and lower-level equipment are the safer bet. The site is unfenced, which is consistent with the relaxed residential setting, so younger children will need supervision. Shade from the surrounding trees is reasonable, though not complete.

There are no toilets at the playground itself, but public facilities are available nearby in the township. Street parking is available on Given Grove. The playground pairs naturally with the Pauanui beach, a ten-minute walk away, making it an easy half-day combination: playground in the morning, beach in the afternoon, or vice versa. A second flying fox is available at Gallagher Park elsewhere in Pauanui, making the township genuinely well served for this kind of equipment.

The playground is well-regarded by holidaying families who describe it as impressive for the size of the community, the kind of quality play space that makes Pauanui feel like a proper family destination rather than just a beach stop. On busy summer days the twin flying foxes generate a cheerful, competitive energy that tends to draw people in off the street.