Patterson Park, Metung

Splash parks in Gippsland, Australia

Patterson Park in the heart of Metung village incorporates a large splash pad that is flanked by two artificial meandering streams, all bordered by a long, curved dry wooden deck on one side, and a non-slip path and lawn area on the other. This little park makes the most of every inch of space, and packs a huge amount of features for its size, but somehow still remains well balanced, open and seamlessly integrated into the surrounding village atmosphere. It is a great example of how a well designed park can breathe new life into a small country town. Above: The splash pad at the Metung Splash Park (Order this image)

The splash pad has various gentle to moderate water jets and sprinklers of various heights, with plenty of room to move in and around the individual jets. The splash pad has a marine animal theme, with different sea creatures stencilled into the concrete floor.

The pad is looped by the artificial stream, which children can follow upstream in both directions to the small water curtains from which the water originates. To activate the water features, look for one of the three green buttons mounted on the wall next to each water curtain, and behind the splash pad. Above: The artificial stream and start button at Metung Splash Park (Order this image)

I could easily spend a few hours here due to the range of activities on offer and the relaxed environment. The horizontal layout means that it is easy to supervise your kids in each of the three different water features at the same time, and for the mathematically minded like myself, the park has a certain symmetry that is visually appealing. There are barbecues on the decks on both flanks, a large lawn area with shady trees for a picnic, a large sandpit and rope/tree climbing area, and there is even a basketball ring hidden in the back left corner. When you sit on the lawn or deck, the park still feels connected to the surrounding village, where you can watch people coming and going about their laid back country or holiday routines.

Being this close to the lakes and sea side, the only drawback are the sea breezes, which can pick up in the afternoon. This can make it a little cold if you are wet, so try and visit in the morning or on still days, or bring lots of warm towels. Before you head out, make sure to read the water safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. The marker indicates the approximate location of the park. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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