I live on the northside of Brisbane and rarely venture over to the southside. However, last year, the children and I visited the park at Old Cleveland Lighthouse located 237 Shore Street North, Cleveland Point.
This picturesque place is situation right out on Cleveland point, and the scenery is stunning. There is a lovely little park right in the middle of the point with a soft sand base, swings, slide and climbing structure. There is also beautiful grass surrounding the park for the kids to play on, and of course, a lighthouse! There is a road (used for visitors to the point) snaking around the entire park, and even though the road wasn’t busy when I was there, I did watch the kids closely.
There is something magical about this park because it feels like an island; everywhere you look, there is water! It’s a perfect place for pretend play because there is so much food for the imagination here.
The historic Cleveland Point Lighthouse was built in 1864. This feature adds just a little more magic to the point, and my children loved it. You can read more about the history of the Old Cleveland Lighthouse here: The Point Cleveland Lighthouse – History.
After playing at the park and exploring the point (which is only a small area) we walked the 10 metres to The Lighthouse Café for a Galati ice-cream. It was a magical afternoon!
Cleveland Point Park
Where: Cleveland Point Park, 237 Shore Street North, Cleveland Point
Facilities: shelters, picnic area, drinking water, electric BBQ, toilets, play equipment, viewing platforms, popular function area, boat ramp, parking and the historic Cleveland Point Lighthouse. (source)
Fun Tips:
- Bring a picnic lunch or twilight cut dinner to the park.
- Eat a Galati ice-cream from the Lighthouse Café, situated right across from the park.
- Eat fish and chips. The Lighthouse Café provides both casual takeaway and dine-in options.
- Run around the lighthouse 10 times.
- Bring plastic toy animal figurines with you, sit under a shady tree on the lush grass and set up a zoo, Dinosaur Park or horse ranch. Add sticks, shells and leaves to the play.
- Make a sandcastle using the sand in the playground.
- Bring a Barbie or doll (you don’t mind getting wet) and paddle in the water.
- Pretend you’re on a desert island looking for treasure. This post tells you how you can make a map out of brown paper: Brown Paper Map for Kids.
