Playgrounds
The playgrounds in Auckland - and all over New Zealand from what I can tell - are outstanding. Each one is different and I’ve seen so many new things to entertain kids here. It is one of our favorite things about the move!
There is real risk on the playground. In the U.S., we found playgrounds to be sterile and unchallenging. The “scariest” thing was a wobbly bridge that didn’t actually pose much of a risk as there weren’t large gaps between the slats in the bridge and there were always big railings on the sides. It’s different in New Zealand. Playgrounds frequently have real danger around. Take this rope climbing structure at one of our favorite parks, Madills Farm. It is high up in the air. There’s no net, no soft landing, and no way to “clip in.” If a kid falls, it could cause real damage.
The attitude towards this risk is refreshing. I’ve heard several parents say, “Well, if they can’t learn how to manage risk on a playground, where are they supposed to learn it?” I think the country’s approach to healthcare plays into this attitude. If a kids falls and breaks an arm, that injury would be covered by ACC. There’s not a huge financial risk for parents if something happens. And there’s not a huge financial risk to the city either as they can’t be sued by someone who got hurt on the play scape.
Orakei Domain Flying Fox
Zip lines are Flying Foxes: One of the most popular playground activities are zip lines, known here as flying foxes. Not every park has one, but many do, including our two favorite at Orakei Domain and the double flying foxes at Tui Glen Reserve. I’ve seen little, little kids go flying by with a parent chasing behind, and I’ve even seen some of those parents take their own turn.
Playgrounds are used by everyone: In the US, there seemed to be an unspoken rule that playgrounds are little kids’ territory. If you were over the age of seven, you were too big to really play. In Auckland, I frequently see older kids, even high-school aged kids, playing at the park. Maybe they’re swinging on the large hammock swings with friends, or perhaps they’re taking a spin on one of the variations of the merry-go-round, but older kids use them too. This also means that parents are more than bystanders watching as their children play. Sure, there are always groups of parents (mainly moms) who are grouped along the perimeter of a any given park, but there are often other parents who are really interacting with their kids and enjoying the playgrounds together.
There are always facilities: How many times did we have to leave a park in Austin because someone needed to use a bathroom, but none were available - or if they were available, there was an equal shot that they were out of order and filthy? That’s not the case in Auckland. The parks all have decent bathrooms that get cleaned, stocked, and maintained regularly. There’s going to be soap and toilet paper in there, and it isn’t going to smell like month old urine. This is really important when making a visit with little people who need to go when they need to go.
