Kawaroa Park

Destination Kawaroa is the largest playground in New Plymouth, a multi zone build strung along the Coastal Walkway with a fort, a pump track, a splash pad and a sculpted hill for climbing and rolling. It suits a wide span, from toddlers in the infant swing bays to teenagers on the tall slides and BMX track, and reads as a genuine half day destination rather than a quick neighbourhood stop.

Equipment

Stage One centres on a multi level fort with tall slides, reached across artificial turf and bark surfacing. Alongside it sit a BMX pump track for bikes and scooters, an outdoor exercise zone with fitness equipment, and a sculpted hill for climbing and rolling. The standout is the water play area, with ground level jets and water guns that turn the site into a splash pad through summer. Younger children get their own infant swing bays, spring toys and a log scramble, plus climbing nets and balance equipment scaled to their size.

Access and Inclusion

The playground was purpose built for inclusive play. A wheelchair accessible carousel and adaptive swings sit alongside ramped access to the bigger structures, with poured rubber surfacing through the key zones. A Changing Places facility with a hoist and adult change table is on site, and off street parking sits directly beside the playground.

History and Cultural

Kawaroa is the Maori name for the site, meaning the place of the long path, and the play equipment weaves in learning hotspots tied to the history of Ngati Te Whiti, the local mana whenua, and to the ecology of the coastal reef the park looks over. The playground opened in December 2024 as the first stage of a wider plan for the site.

Practical Info

The playground sits directly on the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway and next to Ngamotu Beach, with the town's swimming pool, which charges entry, also close by. A smokefree policy applies and dogs are not permitted within the playground area.