Tucked inside the historic Bella Vista Farm Park, Bella Vista Farm Playground is a nature-themed playground in Sydney's Hills district that swaps primary-coloured plastic for climbing nets, rope and timber. It's the calmer, quieter alternative to the big destination playgrounds — nature play set against heritage farm buildings, with walking paths and wide open grass for a picnic and a run-around.

Why We Love It

• Built for little climbers and adventurers with climbing nets, a rock climber, ladders and linking bridges to scramble up and over — the kind of nature-themed play that rewards a bit of problem-solving.

• Classics for the younger crew too — swings, slides and a spinner to keep toddlers and pre-schoolers busy while the bigger kids tackle the climbing frames.

• Soft-fall rubber where it counts — a mix of cushioned rubber and natural mulch underfoot to soften the inevitable tumbles while keeping that natural, woodsy feel.

• Wide open grassy grounds for a game of catch or a laid-back picnic right beside the equipment, though the playground is unfenced so it best suits kids who'll stay close rather than bolt.

• Usually quieter than the big local playgrounds so weekday and off-peak visits often mean you've got the place to yourselves — a win if mega-playground crowds aren't your thing.

• History on the doorstep with the heritage homestead, farm buildings and walking paths of the wider Bella Vista Farm giving the whole visit an old-world backdrop you can easily stretch into a half-day.