Todd Park, Cummins Street
What is it? A children's playground with a Bush feel in Unanderra.
Who should go? Best for families with primary school-aged children.
Today I took my son Jake, aged 10 and a pal to Todd Park in Unanderra. They had been the last time his friend came to hang out and Jake was keen to go again.
We drove and parked on Cummins Street right beside the park. I set up our picnic on the covered, shaded picnic bench, while the boys went to play on the equipment.
Monkey Bars and Zip Lines
Despite being a fairly small park compared to the likes of the new (in 2022) park at Cringilla, this little park hidden in the suburb packs a big punch, with lots of varied and challenging equipment.
This includes monkey bars that require a leap and grab to get started, High walkways and slides, a fireman's pole, a little climbing wall and a zip slide (grab a stick to pull it over to the platform). For imaginative play and a bit of shade, there is a hut where many a child has sold pretend ice cream.
Look for the Path behind the See Saw
It wasn't long before I heard the shout I had been expecting "Can we go into the bush?" This is the real bonus of this little park. It is surrounded by gum trees and has a really relaxing bush feel. Just beyond the see-saw, to the left of the tree is a path, which leads behind a line of trees to a creek, which runs parallel to the park.
The boys headed for the trees and instantly disappeared out of sight "into the bush". Crossing the creek, which alternates between as deep as a few inches to practically dry as it runs along, they came to a dirt path.
The Bush Path
With the high fences of houses' backyards on one side and the bushes on the other, it feels like a secret path to an unknown adventure. But it actually goes about 40 metres in either direction before petering out in high grass at one end and the boundary of a school at the other. It's perfect fun for boys who want to adventure and Mums who want to keep them within shouting distance.
Todd Park Swings
After an energetic play with runs up and down the path the boys were back for a swing, then some food. We bought our lunch, which was hand cut chips and Chicken Cocktails at the excellent Unanderra Fish and Chips (entry on Tannery Street). I remembered to bring a tablecloth to pretty up the well used wooden table, and water bottles. There is a tap there if you need it but there are no toilets at this park.
One last play please!
After making a collection of found feathers (lots of Sulpher crested Cockatoos, a couple of Magpie Larks and native Mynas) and discovering a branch of the most delicious citrus smelling gum leaves it was time to go, with promises we would come back again next time.
