ALL HANDS ON DECK

Seafarers and landlubbers alike are drawn to this amazing playspace with its pirate ship centrepiece.

Always a popular location for families and visitors to the Gold Coast area, Palm Beach Parklands recently underwent a major renovation to upgrade its facilities and provide more offerings to visitors. One such offering is a new playground designed for kids of all ages and abilities. And, shaped like a pirate ship, it’s hard to miss!

Playground specialist WillPlay, in collaboration with Zone Landscape Architects and Boyds Bay Group, took on the challenge of transforming this treasured recreation space and succeeded in producing a truly unique and spectacular playscape.

Designed and manufactured in Australia by WillPlay, this custom-built adventure playspace features a giant play structure shaped like a pirate ship - complete with hidden cargo holds and cannons. Offering myriad play opportunities, scallywags of all ages can go below decks to engage in imaginative play, or climb the ropes to the main deck to check the horizon for marauders.

For the truly adventurous, the two ‘masts’ of the ship host crows nest cubbies sitting 10 metres in the air, which can be scaled to see the amazing views afforded by its waterside location. Players can travel between the cubbies via a rope tunnel, or get back to the action on deck by taking the tube slide down to the ground before starting the climb all
over again.

For those that prefer dry land, swinging across the seas from the deck of the ship is done via a single-post cableway, which flies over softfall surfacing that looks like rippling waves.

To continue the fun, landlubbers have a choice of cantilever swings, spinning orbs and climbing nets to explore. With a wealth of equipment to scamper over, walk along, spin around or climb up, parkgoers won’t lack for things to do.

Natural tactile elements like timber and sandstone, as well as the giant sandpit surrounding the ship, add additional sensory input to the play zone. Lush tropical plantings help provide shade, and contribute to the desert island vibe, while park shelters keep parents and carers comfortable as they supervise their little pirates at play. There’s even a treasure map to follow that will help them to discover what’s hidden beneath the sand!

Designed to stand the test of time, Palm Beach Pirate Park is built to handle the corrosive nature of the coastal conditions and often erratic tropical weather. Truly a destination playspace, this innovative and imaginative playground will keep kids occupied for hours in fun and engaging activities as they swashbuckle their way through countless oceanic adventures.

PROJECT PARTICULARS

Client City of Gold Coast

Location Palm Beach Parklands, Queensland

Landscape Architect Zone Landscape Architecture

Landscape Contractor Boyds Bay Group

Play Equipment Design & Manufacture WillPlay