family

Family-fun in Cape Town. Image via Adobe Stock

Fantastic family-friendly spots for kids to play in Cape Town

Looking for something fun to do with the whole family? Cape Town is packed with great places where kids can play to their heart’s content.

family

Family-fun in Cape Town. Image via Adobe Stock

From action-packed obstacle courses and animal antics to tidal pools, trains, and Cape Town’s biggest treehouse, there is no shortage of fun activities to keep your whole family entertained.

The best family-friendly places to visit in Cape Town

Paradise Park, Newlands

Paradise Park in Newlands is an oasis of play with a variety of fun activities for children of all ages.

Tucked away between Claremont and Newlands, the hidden gem has two playgrounds with balancing beams, climbing structures, roundabouts, a wooden plane, and swings, slides, and see-saws.

The main attraction though is a massive treehouse that stretches across several large trees and features several platforms, ladders, and a bridge. Cape Town’s biggest treehouse promises to delight the kids, while a secret wooden fort enveloped by foliage calls for some daring adventures. There is also a small stream in the park, which is great for a dip in the summer and there are plenty of shady spots for relaxing with a picnic.

The Blue Train Park, Mouille Point

Situated in the seaside neighbourhood of Mouille Point with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lion’s Head, the Blue Train Park has been a stalwart for entertaining the little ones for over 60 years. The little blue train chugs its way around the track, passing through a tunnel and gliding past the glistening Atlantic Ocean.

The park also features a cement push-bike track, a dirt bike track, an obstacle course, two eight-metre-long slides, rock-climbing, two jungle gyms, see-saws, a 30-metre zip-line, and an AstroTurf soccer pitch. This is a great spot for a full day of fun in the sun while contributing to a good cause at the same time – all proceeds from the park are donated to the Rotary Charity.

Battery Park

Battery Park is a modern urban park at the V&A Waterfront that offers a wealth of fun for active children. Built to world-class standards, the park features a high-quality skatepark with a bowl with a spine and pump hump, quarter pipes, layback banks, ledges, and rails for skateboarding fans.

There is also a multi-court for netball, basketball, and soccer games, a scooter path, and stand-up paddle-boarding and canoeing in the canal. There are grassy areas for family picnics with beautiful views of Table Mountain.

Green Point Park

The Green Point Park is a wonderful green oasis in the heart of the city with beautifully manicured lawns, lush vegetation, tranquil ponds and lakes, and several interactive educational activities for kids of all ages to enjoy.

The large park has plenty of space to run and play, ride bikes, and explore, and a gated Tot Lot playground has a jungle gym, slides, swings, and tunnels for little ones. A bricked path along the water allows kids to cycle around safely.

It’s a perfect place for a picnic with plenty of shady spots on the grassy lawns, and one of Cape Town’s favourite ice-cream parlours, The Creamery, is just a short walk away.

Freedom Adventure Park

Located in Tokai, the Freedom Adventure Park is a new family-friendly adventure centre for children between the ages of three and 12 that is designed with fun and safety in mind.

The vast indoor playground features multiple climbing walls, a 50 metre-long hi-line indoor rope’s course, a customised trampoline dodgeball arena, a huge foam pit, a hi-dive leap of faith, and nerf wars on selected days.

There are also educationally focused custom-built play pods with architectural design elements that are cool and fun, and a casual café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including wood-burning pizza. There are also private work pods for caregivers needing to work while kids play.