1 / 2Hammond Park Playground
📍 Riverlea, Waikato
Hammond Park features natural timber play equipment beside the Waikato River, with 4km of walking and cycling tracks through bush and farmland. A sandy beach near the car park suits digging and paddling. Free entry, pram accessible.
Beautiful place for a stroll. There's a 1km walkway which follows the river and then branches up to another 1km walkway/cycleway along a lovely stream and goes through some farmland. We parked at Hammond Park and managed a total of 4km (return) through beautiful surroundings. There's also a small "beach" near the parking area with real sand which is lovely to walk along or bring children to play in the sand and get their feet wet.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Reviewers highlight the sand beach as a favourite — real sand, shallow water, easy to supervise. The natural play equipment draws older kids who enjoy climbing on timber and rope. The river and bush walking tracks extend the visit well beyond playground time, with picnic spots along the way. A genuine outdoor adventure within Hamilton.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →28 Google reviews
Nancy Valentine
4 weeks ago
“Beautiful place for a stroll. There's a 1km walkway which follows the river and then branches up to another 1km walkway/cycleway along a lovely stream and goes through some farmland. We parked at Hammond Park and managed a total of 4km (return) through beautiful surroundings. There's also a small "beach" near the parking area with real sand which is lovely to walk along or bring children to play in the sand and get their feet wet.”
Ashez BlisS
3 years ago
“Amazing little playground and also has a great bush walk 😊😊 kids loved it plenty of spots to have a picnic lunch”
Sue Lourie
3 years ago
“Lovely little playground in a beautiful setting. So nice to have equipment made from natural materials.”
Shaun Shorty
10 months ago
“Great walk with the dog she loved the river”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Hammond Park Playground sits on the Waikato River in Riverlea. The play area uses natural materials — timber logs, rope, and carved features — and connects to walking and cycling tracks that follow the river for 1km before branching into bush and farmland. The full out-and-back covers around 4km. A sandy beach near the car park gives toddlers a place to dig and wade. Pram accessible. Free entry.
