Pukekura Park's children's playground sits beside Brooklands Zoo within the wider 52 hectare botanic park, a compact space redesigned in 2013 with input from local primary schools. It suits primary aged children best, built around a large climbing frame, flying fox and rope slide, with a waterwheel kids operate themselves adding a hands on touch adults tend to enjoy as much as the children.
Equipment
The playground includes a giant, wave shaped climbing structure, a large climbing frame, flying fox, rope slide, wooden towers with slides, a waterwheel and channel children can operate, tunnels through a grass mound, mini trampolines, and swings with infant bays. A replica of Don Driver's Cats sculpture, first installed at the 1960 paddling pool, was restored during the 2013 revamp and gives the space a distinctive character.
Access and Inclusion
Sealed paths link every attraction and run from entrances on Fillis Street, Liardet Street, Brooklands Park Drive and Rogan Street, and the Fernery and Display Houses nearby are reachable by wheelchair or stroller via Horton Walk. The whole park is smokefree.
History and Cultural
The playground has stood beside the zoo since 1953, when a formal play area replaced simple swings that had hung from macrocarpa trees since 1922. Pukekura Park itself holds both an International Green Flag Award and 5 Star Garden of National Significance status, one of only a handful of New Zealand parks to carry both, with a history stretching back to 1876 when the grounds were still swampland used as a militia rifle range.
Practical Info
Brooklands Zoo beside the playground, established in 1965, does not charge admission and includes walk through aviaries, otters and a farmyard. A teahouse serves food daily and wooden rowboats are for hire on the lake in summer.
