Circles are the theme here and you will see circles in the playground equipment and the park’s layout.

To get directions to Circle Park in Arundel, click on “View larger map” in the top-left corner of the map below:

First off I have to say that there isn’t much parking. There’s a small side street with a little parking outside the houses.

We got there early when the park was empty, so I managed to find an open spot right across the playground but be prepared to drive around looking for a parking spot. The park is worth the hassle, at least in my opinion.

We entered the park by the swings. There’s a swing for a young child and another for an older child.

Next to the swings is a spinner (my word for it – I don’t know what the accurate name is) and then an area with bumps and decorated with circles. The swing and spinner are under shaded cover, but the circled bumps aren’t – they get very hot so don’t try to walk there without shoes on.

There’s a track inside the park. It’s paved and all flat, making it perfect for bikes, trikes, scooters, skateboards, and pretty much anything with wheels. The track runs in a circle around the centre and branches off to the side. We took the side road to explore.

We soon discovered that this part of the track leads to gates that open on to the Coombabah Lakelands conservation area. The small gate to the right is for pedestrians, and no dogs are allowed in the conservation area.

I’ll definitely be back here to explore and write a blog post about the trail (I’ve already written about the Mangrove boardwalk at Coombabah). I have to do long walks like these on my own as my son gets bored and then cries for me to carry him. Luckily I love hiking and nature trails.

After spending a little time in the nature conservation area, we moved back to the park where we discovered the huge climbing frame.

Next was the jungle gym, which has pretty much all you need for a proper play. It’s all under shaded netting, so it’s nice and cool under there.

Close to the jungle gym is one of those big net swings, which also has a net cover over the top for shade.

The photo below shows the centre of the park. You’ll see the paved track running in a circle around the park and a large area with grass for sports and play. Many people were on their scooters and skateboards going round the track.

This area gets full sun so the grass is rather flat and bare. Bring sunblock and hats if you plan to use this area.

One thing I must say is that there isn’t much place to sit down under shade. There are several steel chairs to sit on that are out in full sun (but you can see what a beating the grass gets in the heat), and there’s one seating area with a table that’s under cover. It is a very nice place to sit, with a view of the conservation area.

There are no toilets at the park. I did see one bin and one tap, which were situated close to the big net swing.

And that’s all I can share about our trip to this park and playground.

Here’s a quick guide to Circle Park in Arundel Springs:

Here’s a link to the Oxenford Community Centre and Playground on Google Maps. Just click on More options in the map below for directions:

When you arrive at the centre, you’ll see a parking lot in front of the community centre building, with quite a bit of parking. The parking lot was quite full when we visited because a playgroup was being held there.

There’s a wonderful programme for young kids that’s run by Communities for Children – Early Years Hubs. These activities run from Monday though Friday, during school terms only.

For the latest timetable of activities and appropriate ages, find Early Years Hubs on Facebook here. Or for more information send an email to office@youthcentre.org.au or give them a call on 5529 8087.

I went in and chatted to the lady running the playgroup. They were busy with the playgroup for 3 to 5 years olds, and they were having a lot of fun with a cooking class. I didn’t take a photo of the group to respect their privacy, but the interior was lovely with wooden floors, chairs and tables, and a kitchen area. Miss Jen was very friendly too.

The kids were playing well together and the mums were chatting away. It seems like a very nice group, especially if you want to meet people and let the little ones socialise.

Here’s the timetable that’s currently running at the Oxenford Community Centre, as of November 2023, to give you an idea of what you can do there with little ones:

Right, that about covers the community centre. Lets move on to the playground and bicycle track!

This is where we spent most of our time.

To the side of the community centre, you’ll see basketball courts, beach volleyball courts with sand, a bike track, a playground, and a paved walking track around the lake. These are all part of council and have nothing to do with the community centre.

Here are some photos of the outdoor facilities at Oxenford Park:

As you can see, there’s a lot to do here.

We started with a walk and bike ride around the lake. There are many birds singing away and swimming on the water, so if you love birds, this is a good place to visit.

I have no idea how far the walk is around the lake, but it took us nearly an hour to complete one loop. That said, we stopped often to look at birds on the water, dogs in the yards, and to pick up treasures like sticks, rocks, seeds, flowers, and the occasional bird dropping. There was another lady walking there who did 3 laps in the time it took us to do 1, if that helps you judge the distance.

As you can see, there is a paved pathway and it’s very flat and smooth all the way around. We had no problem walking and biking the route.

I did hope that there would be a chair to sit on halfway so we could stop to relax, but there was nothing. Once you’re on your way around the lake you’ve got to keep walking until you’re done.

There’s nothing to stop little ones from running into the water, so they need to be watched and kept on the path. There is a sign saying that blue green algae blooms have been found in the lake so you should avoid all contact with the water as it can irritate the eyes and skin.

People were walking dogs there, mostly on leashes. Some dogs were running around in the open areas off the path. One dog was carrying around a huge stick – which really impressed my son!

When we were done, we had a short stop at the undercover sitting area. These are nice – there are two undercover areas with seating and a table, along with some seats without shade. There’s a tap for fresh water, cookers to cook food one, and the view is nice by the lake.

I did get bitten by mosquitoes when we were sitting there so be sure to bring insect repellent if you visit. There are no toilet facilities and nowhere to buy food at the park.

We then moved over to the skate park. My son is not even 2 yet so the skate park was too difficult to ride but he did enjoy climbing onto the ramps and sliding down them (with my help).

At first I thought the playground was closed because the gate is locked when you walk up to it. The open entrance is sort of at the back of the playground, so be sure to walk around the fence until you find the open gate.

The playground is small but nice. It’s undercover with full shade.

There’s something for most ages – from younger toddlers to older ones who like a challenge. There’s a climbing wall, slide, hanging handles, things to ride on, things to twirl around on, and a see saw.

And before we knew it, it was time to go home.

Here’s a quick guide to the Oxenford Community Centre, playground and skate park:

It’s small but big enough for an hour or two of play. Not busy like many other parks. Has shade. And there’s a track for young kids to ride their scooters and bikes.

Before jumping into all the fun, here’s how to get to Celadon Park in Helensvale. Just click on the “View larger map” link in the map below to open the map in a new page and get directions in Google Maps:

Celadon Park Details

ADDRESS: 1 Fern Court, Helensvale, 4212

OPEN HOURS: 24/7

DOGS ALLOWED: Yes, on leash

PRAM AND WEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes

TOILET FACILITIES: No

TAP: Yes

FOOD SOLD THERE: No

PICNIC FACILITIES: Benches under shade

Celadon Park Review

Celadon Park stands alone with four roads around it, so you can park on any of these roads: Fern Court, Celtic Way, or Emerald Drive. The roads aren’t busy at all but there’s no shade so be prepared for a hot car if the sun’s out.

There’s no fence around the park, so little ones need to be watched.

There are so many things I love about this little park but one of its best features is the bicycle track. It’s long enough for the kids to really stretch their legs and short enough for you to follow along with the smaller kids.

Younger kids were on little bikes, like my 20-month-old. Older kids were going around the track on push scooters.

As you can see above, there are road markings and road signs to follow. There’s also a fire station to stop at and explore along the way…

Riders can stop and put in petrol and buy things at the service station! All pretend, of course. The petrol tank has a petrol pump that can be pulled out and looks just like a real petrol pump.

There’s even a section with some bumps in the road for that little extra thrill.

Next to the track is the playground.

There’s a small young toddler play area with a few things to do. This was in the sun when we were there at around 8 am in the morning. It might be in the shade come afternoon time but at least the equipment didn’t feel very hot, even in full morning sun.

And for the older kids there are a few nice things to do – something to climb up and some other equipment to spin around in circles.

A lot of it’s under shade cloth but I think it also depends on what time of day you visit the park.

There are no toilet facilities at Celadon Park and there’s no place to buy food or drinks.

There is a tap if you get thirsty. You’ll need to lift up or help younger kids reach the water. There’s also a button at the foot of the tap that you can press to let water out for thirsty dogs.

There are two wooden tables with benches under shade and one or two benches in the playground that aren’t shaded. It’s the perfect place to have a little something to eat after all that play.

Bins are provided near the benches to clean up when you’re done.

And that’s all from us today. We’ll see you next time!

Long enough to feel like you’ve had time out in nature and short enough for a toddler to enjoy. My little guy is 18 months old now and he loves going here.

Here’s how to get to the Mangrove Boardwalk at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area. Just click on the “More Option” link in the map below to open the map in a new page and get directions in Google Maps:

This is the shortest walk of all the walks in the Coombabaha Lakelands Conservation Area.

Let’s cover al the usual questions people have before I share pictures and more in-depth info about the trail.

Mangrove Boardwalk Details:

ADDRESS: Shelter Road, Coombabah, Queensland, 4216

OPEN HOURS: 6 am to 6 pm

DISTANCE: About 1 km to the bird hide and back

DOGS ALLOWED: No

PRAM AND WEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes

TOILET FACILITIES: No

PICNIC FACILITIES: No

Mangrove Boardwalk Review

The entrance to the trail is in Shelter Road. Gates are open to Shelter Road between 6 am and 6pm.

I usually stop off at the Animal Welfare League first, as it’s in the same road, to drop off any donations that I have.

There’s a small parking area at the entrance, with space for about six cars. If the car park is full, there is more parking along the side of the road but be sure to pull right off the road as there are a lot of big trucks going up and down that road.

Once you park and get out the car, you’ll see the entrance to the trail in front of you, slightly to the right of the parking area.

There’s a sign board at the entrance with a lot of information about the area, the wildlife in the area, and how the trails work in the area. The photo below shows you what this looks like.

Be sure to stop and see what the area has to offer and get an overview of the trails, along with closed off areas as there’s a water treatment plant in the reserve too and you can’t go down certain paths.

The walk starts off with paved road that’s smooth and easy to walk.

My little guy is 18 months old now. I bring the pram with and push him when he doesn’t feel like walking on the trail.

The entire walk is flat, with no big hills or valleys.

And, if you’re lucky, you might even see a kangaroo. We saw this big kangaroo on our way back on the last walk:

About 250m into the walk, you reach the wooded boardwalk and the mangroves. This is a very pretty walk directly to the bird hide.

The boardwalk takes you to a bird hide, where you can watch birds. The birds are quite far away so I suggest bringing binoculars to see them.

The sides of the bird hide are open, so keep an eye on little ones running around. They can easily fall down into the mucky water.

There are no toilet or picnic facilities on this trail, but there are some chairs by the entrance of the bird hide if you need to sit down and catch your breath before making your way back to the car.

And, if you’re lucky, at some point you might even see a koala.

This is the first koala I’ve ever seen in the wild. We were lucky enough to walk past right when it was on the ground making its way to another tree. It got a fright, made a noise as it ran to a tree to race up, and made it very obvious where to find it.

It was quite an exciting visit!

After hearing a lot about it, I’ll be giving an honest review here of what to expect, what to see and do while you’re there, and some housekeeping info that will save you a bit of time and confusion/heartache when you’re there. I’ll put my tips in standout boxes so you can see them quickly and easily.

Below is a link to Bella’s Wonderland on Google maps:

TIP: Google Maps tells you to take the second left when you enter the Southport Trade Centre gate. This is wrong. Take the first left and you’ll see Bella’s on your right a few shops down (look for a big sign on top of the door and the number 48).

Bella’s Wonderland Details

ADDRESS: Unit 48, 3 Jackman Street, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD

PHONE: (07) 5661 5451

OPEN HOURS: Monday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm

AGE GROUP: Toddlers to 11 years old

What it’s like to visit Bella’s Wonderland

When you first get to Bella’s you’re pretty blown away. It’s big, even from the outside. And there’s a carousel with pastel-coloured ponies in the window.

This is no ordinary playground.

Kids are being carried out crying, begging for five more minutes to run around. And the noise level inside is as large as the entrance.

We checked in with reception, which was pretty quick seeing that we’d booked online and signed the waiver online too. We got a stick-on bracelet and were asked to put our socks on.

TIP: The stick-on bracelets should go on your child’s wrist. If they won’t wear the bracelet, you’ll need to wear it to show you’ve paid.

We put our shoes in the cubby units that line the room, and my handbag went with other large bags on top of the cubby units.

TIP: All kids must wear non-slip socks and adults must wear any type of socks when inside Bella’s Wonderland.

I left my handbag and carried a large backpack in with me. I thought I’d need it because I have a toddler but all I really needed was his water bottle. I took way too much in – my advice is pack as light as possible.

TIP: There’s no space for prams inside Bella’s Wonderland. You can bring one in, but you’ll have to park it and leave it in the allocated pram spot by reception.

I asked reception and they said I can leave my backpack on the tables and chairs in the café seating area.

I’m not sure why they suggest this because there’s such limited space in the café and so many people trying to eat there that this just causes more congestion.

If your bags on the café’s tables people think you’re saving the table because your bags are there. But you just don’t know that there IS storage space for your bags inside – see my next tip…

TIP: There is a cubby unit next to the café inside, where you can store backpacks, nappy bags, etc. while you’re playing in the playground.

Not only is there space for your bags but there are also high chairs by the cubby unit if you have little ones eating with you.

I saw many high chairs and many kids, but not a single kid was sitting in a high chair probably because no one knew where to find them!

Let’s hop back to reception for a moment.

When we were there, there was only one way to get in and out – through an open gate to the left of the reception area.

There’s NO lock or covering on this opening. What worries me is that I’ve read reviews where people find kids running around in the parking lot after escaping through this open gate or crawling under the other closed gates.

Please watch your children closely.

Once inside, the pony carousel greets you with a sign that only staff members are allowed to operate it. Well, there were no staff members around to operate it, so I’m not sure if it even works or not or ever runs. Bit of a bummer tight at the start to be honest.

Oh, and the train was also out of order that day. There were signs at reception to let us know. Another bummer.

We moved on to the “sandpit“, which is made up of tiny wooden blocks that really hurt when you walk on them – be careful.

As nice and non-messy as this “sand” is for older kids, my toddler kept trying to put the tiny blocks in his mouth. This is obviously a choking hazard, so any kids under three need to be watched closely.

We probably spent a little too much time in the sandpit because there was so much else to see and do in the two hour timeframe we had. But the little guy enjoyed it very much and probably would have left happy if that’s all he got to do that afternoon.

There’s a café by the sandpit with some seating available.

As I mentioned, seating is limited and this area is very crowded. If I go back, I’ll spend less time on the bottom floor and more time upstairs (which I’ll get to in a bit).

We didn’t eat there so I can’t tell you if the food is good or not. Some people complain about the prices and the fact that the kitchen isn’t always in working order. Others say the food is great and convenient.

I feel that if I only have two hours there I want to explore and be doing things. But it is exhausting and I ran into some friends who were eating just to sit down and have a bit of a rest and time out.

We moved from the sandpit to the big ball pit next to the café. The kids all loved this.

There are two slides leading into the ball pit: One is a very big, high slide and then there’s another narrow, closed, twirly slide that I still managed to get down with a backpack on my back.

Climb up the stairs to the right of the ball pit and you’ll enter a maze of obstacles.

I took some photos to give you an idea of what it looks like inside:

When I was climbing around the maze with my little man there was a young girl crying for her mummy. I tried to help her find her mum, but it’s not easy when I’m watching my own kiddo and a lost child can’t tell me where she last saw her mother.

TIP: Set a meeting point with your child when you arrive so you know where to find each other if you get separated. If your child gets lost they will know where to find you or they can tell an adult where to find you. Alternatively, write your phone number on your child’s arm so people can contact you if you lose your child. Bella’s Wonderland is a maze and kids do get lost here!

After getting sweaty in the first maze, we toddled off up to the next floor. The steps are next to the café, where the high chairs and cubbies sit.

This is another maze and play area. Much LESS crowded than the first area. And just as much fun, if not more so!

I didn’t take many pictures of this area as it’s another maze and obstacle course.

This is what it looks like when you get there:

Try exploring all corners of this area as there’s something quite unique and interesting to do and see in each corner. I won’t spoil all the surprises for you 🙂

The ball pit on this level is a lot of fun.

It sucks up balls then spits them out overhead. The kids really enjoyed packing the balls into the machines then lying in the middle and letting the balls spray all over them.

And this is what you look like when you try to keep up with your 18-month old at Bella’s Wonderland…

And the last and final stop was the third floor.

This is nice (and much, much quieter than downstairs). There’s even music playing.

It’s the perfect place to play “house”. Here you’ll find a kitchen with fancy appliances and wooden food, market stalls, trolleys, a dress-up area, and even a make-up area.

There’s a lady working there and her only job is to run around behind the kids and pack toys away – so the area stays beautifully neat as you can see from my photos.

The dress-up area was gorgeous, and it even has private change areas for the kids.

There were only a few dresses hanging up but I think a lot of dresses were walking around Bella’s as we’d seen little girls swishing and swaying around on other floors in their ball gowns.

I didn’t see any outfits for boys except a Superman outfit, but my little guy was more interested in trolleys and opening and closing the make-up containers than he was in getting dressed up…

I snuck up the stairs and around the corner to find a bunch of party rooms, a lego room, and a reading area. There wasn’t a single person in any of these rooms, which is a pity because it’s done so nicely.

And before we knew it, they announced over the intercom that it was closing time and it was our turn to carry tired, crying kids out of the place.

Bella’s Wonderland sure was an experience.

Am I glad I went? Yes.

Would I go back? If I do, I’ll stick with the quieter second and third floors, avoiding the busiest areas altogether.

I think you need to go at least once to see the playground and enjoy it, but the outing is tiring for everyone so my suggestion is not to plan or do anything too hectic afterwards.

We ended up spending the day at Norries Cove in Cabarita Beach, NSW. It took just under an hour to get there from the Gold Coast and it was a good drive.

Here’s a link to Norries on Google Maps, if you’d like to visit the beach cove and see whales:

There is a parking lot by the beach but it was very busy. I was lucky enough to see a car leaving and take their spot, so you might need to be patient – especially if you’re visiting between May and October when it’s whale watching season.

Whales can be seen at many beaches across NSW and the Gold Coast, but Norries in Cabarita has become a VERY popular spot for people to come together and enjoy looking for whales together.

There’s a nice playground and toilet facilities close to the parking lot, before you get to the beach.

To the right is an open field with some picnic and barbeque facilities, if you want to pack food and make a day trip.

Across from the parking lot is an entrance to the main beach. To the back of the field, to the right, you’ll find the entrance to the pathway that takes you up to the whale lookout point.

This pathway is the Norries Headland Boardwalk, which takes you up to the Norries Headland whale-watching platform.

There are many signs saying no dogs allowed past this point. People did have dogs with them by the playground and in the open area. There are also several taps in the open area where you can drink water or give your dogs something cool to drink.

But it seems no dogs are allowed on the pathway, and I didn’t see any there either.

Within a few hundred metres of the entrance there’s a sign on the right letting you know that the area is a historical Aboriginal midden site. So the area has a wonderful history too.

Here’s what the sign tells us:

That’s on your right side. To the left is the entrance to the small beach called Norries Cove, which makes a great stop on your way back from whale watching.

I wouldn’t stop at the beach first because it’s very windy at the top and I can only imagine how uncomfortable it will be if you’re wet and full of sand trying to climb the stairs and walkway in strong gusts of wind.

You can surf at Norries Cove, if that’s what you enjoy. There were many surfers enjoying the day in the water.

Apparently there are numerous surfing carnivals in the area each year and the annual Greenback Tailor Fishing Competition is hosted on the King’s birthday weekend in June at Cabarita Beach.

Keep following the path and you’ll soon be going up the boardwalk.

There are quite a few steps and no other way to get to the top besides walking, so don’t bring prams, wheelchairs, bicycles, scooters, or anything else you can’t carry.

It takes a few minutes to get to the top but there are some beautiful views and chairs to sit on along the way.

Once you get to the whale-watching platform, there’s a lovely wooden seated area for people to sit on and look for whales.

As I said – it’s very windy so be sure to bring something warm to wear.

We did see whales from the top but they’re very far away. Everyone helps each other spot the whales and lets you know if they see one.

But next time I’ll take a pair of binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens so I can get a better view of those beautiful creatures.

The view is still wonderful and it’s good for the soul to spend time sitting up there just to enjoy it.

After that, we took a short walk around the top of the mountain. To the south is Byron Bay, to the west is Mt Warning / Wollumbin, and to the north is Kingscliff.

We stopped at Norries Cove Beach for a quick swim after. It’s hard to believe it’s the middle of July and still warm enough to swim!

My little guy chased a seagull and a turkey, cause that’s just how he rolls these days.

Then off we went for a late lunch with friends at the Ivory Waterside in Tweed Heads on the way back to Gold Coast. That was a great place with a good menu, good service, and good food. Pity I didn’t take any photos but I’ll do that next time.