Gribblehirst Park Playground

Gribblehirst Park Playground in Sandringham combines a flying fox and a rotating Sky Surfer swing with conventional slides and climbing structures, a well-rounded neighbourhood playground backed by one of Auckland's more storied suburban parks.

Equipment

Alongside the flying fox and Sky Surfer swing, the playground offers standard slides, swings, and climbing equipment spread across the site, giving a reasonable age spread from toddlers to intermediate age children.

History and Cultural

The land was known to Tamaki Maori as Nga Anawai, a water-filled lava swamp formed by eruptions from Maungawhau and Mount Albert, and later called Cabbage Tree Swamp by settlers. Auckland City Council acquired it in 1927 from the Hirst and Gribble families, and the park opened in 1931, with the playground established the same year and upgraded most recently between 1998 and 2007, when the flying fox was added.

The Wider Park

A rose garden sits near Aroha Avenue and a remnant patch of lava rock forest survives within the reserve, both unusual features for a suburban Auckland park. Sports fields, a half basketball court, and the Gribblehirst Community Hub round out the site.

Practical Info

The park is reached from Sandringham Road, Aroha Avenue, and Kenneth Avenue, with good bus links along Sandringham Road for families without a car.