Colorful playground with blue slide, climbing structures, and shade sail over blue safety surfacing, surrounded by tall trees and safety bollards.

    Michaela Howie Playground

    4.4·91 reviews·Google

    Description

    Michaela Howie Playground is a fully fenced beachfront playground in Ted Jackson Reserve at the southern end of Dee Why Beach, reopened in 2025 after a $550k nautical-themed makeover. With a play boat, a fishing rod and a friendly dolphin set against ocean and rock-pool views, it's a charming spot to let little seafarers loose while you soak up the sea breeze.

    Why We Love It

    • Fully fenced with two gates so you can relax with toddlers and runners instead of hovering at the edges.

    • Beachy imaginative play with a boat to captain, a fishing rod and a dolphin to ride, alongside slides, platforms and climbing frames with a fireman's pole.

    • Two swing sets including toddler seats so the littlest ones aren't left out of the fun.

    • Shade sails and tree cover over the equipment, with soft-fall rubber and artificial turf underfoot — a 2025 upgrade built for the Aussie sun.

    • New bench seating for parents, plus BBQs and picnic tables in the surrounding reserve for an easy lunch stop.

    • Right on the Dee Why beachfront with cafes, restaurants and the ocean pool a short stroll away.

    Good To Know

    Shade: Shade sails + tree shade
    Fenced
    Cafe/ Dining Nearby
    Seating available
    Parking available
    Close to public transport
    Toilets
    BBQs available

    Tips

    • Best for ages 3-8: the play structures suit preschoolers and primary kids, while the toddler swings welcome the littlest visitors.

    • Part of Ted Jackson Reserve: the playground sits in the grassy beachfront Ted Jackson Reserve, with BBQs, picnic tables and the rock pool close by.

    • Pack for sun: the new shade sails help, but bring hats, sunscreen and water for the open beachfront setting.

    • A local memorial: the playground is named for Michaela Howie, a Dee Why toddler who died in 2003, with a plaque on a sandstone plinth.

    • Windy days: it sits right on the beachfront, so the sea breeze can pick up — bring a layer.

    • Make a morning of it: the ocean pool, cafes and promenade are all a short walk away.

    Parking Options

    Dee Why Beachfront Car Park (Pay & Display)
    $5/hr or $8 all day (Mon-Fri); $25 all day weekends
    Pay 'n' display in the Dee Why beachfront car parks; free with a Northern Beaches Council resident sticker. Limited spaces adjacent to the playground, plus a large car park at nearby James Meehan Reserve. Designated disabled spaces available.

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    Price (Per Person)

    Free entry

    Opening Hours

    Monday-Sunday
    Open 24 hours

    Contact

    1300 434 434
    Ted Jackson Reserve, The Strand, Dee Why NSW 2099
    Visit Website

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