Best playgrounds in Ashburton

Mid-Canterbury's flattest town splits along the Ashburton River, and its playgrounds fall into two camps either side of the water. On the Tinwald bank, Tinwald Domain keeps it simple, swings, a slide and a junior structure on bark inside a much larger reserve, while George Glassey Park down the road builds around a tower slide and a rocktopus climbing piece, and Harland Street Park stays toddler-scale with an infant swing seat and a see saw. Cross into Allenton and Argyle Park swaps the toddler gear for a rope and spinning climbing zone backing onto the sports pitches used for school cross country. The nor'wester decides most afternoons; when it's up, the sheltered neighbourhood reserves beat the open domains.

Ashburton Domain, the district's big day out, is mid-refresh this year, a seven-week upgrade that kept the fort, tractor and double basket swing but relocated the elephant frame and rocking horse and added a seesaw, slide and twister, with a bike skills park going in alongside. West toward the foothills, Methven Domain doubles as the ski-town stopover, its rope climbing frame suited to primary-age kids before or after a Mt Hutt day. South on the plains, the Hinds playground on Peters Street packs a flying fox and an eagles nest swing into a fenced junior area, a solid setup for a small rural town. Parking is easy everywhere outside school pick-up.