Bonython Park

A couple of weeks back, we had the pleasure of visiting this unique part of Bonython park. Well, it’s not actually part of the park, but very near to it. The SAPOL Road safety park.
So on this saturday where it’s fine and shine, we brought the kids to have a workout there. It’s actually a very last minute arrangement, on friday I made the decision to go, invited a friend to bring along her kid, and went straight out to buy a bike for my elder daughter. I figured it’s a good chance to teach her how to ride too. She’s 4, she’ll enjoy that ! And what about the 2 year old? Ah, no fear, we’ll chuck the Little Tikes Coupe into the car too.
And so, we arrived.
The park is not hard to find if you know where to look. It’s near the pond to the right when you are driving into the carpark.
I’ve heard that they will switch on the traffic signals during weekends, but not sure if I’m just bad luck or they’ve since stopped doing it, the traffic lights are not switched on when we were there. But no worries, the tracks and all are still usable. It’s not a big place, fairly small and contained if I’m honest, but it’s enough for the kids to ride and play safely.
I managed to teach the clever little girl how to cycle, and now she’s willing to hop on and ride. :) Hopefully in a few months or years time, we can take out the trainer wheels. haha.
And myself? I had a tedious day, pushing the coupe around the park while my wife and the friend chit chat away. It’s worth it though. Even the 2 year old had enjoyed it.
A couple of hours went past rather quickly. The ladies wanted to switch their chatting place, so we swap out and went down to the Bonython park itself.
Bugger. Worse. Now gotta follow the little gals around the swings and the slides. And the many man made hills. More tedious than the previous 2 hours!!! @@!
Whoever said to come to the park??? hmmm… oh. Me.

What an awesome park! The hamster wheel was a huge hit with the kids we took on excursion. So much to do and so much room to play. Definitely will be going back for more in the holidays :-)

The Torrens river bank along Bonython Park is a top spot to breath in some great outdoors, as long as there’s not a music festival going on, in which case you’ll be breathing in dust as Lawrence H. mentioned and I’ll attest to!
Access the convenient (limited lugging of BBQ stuff) and free parking from Port Road.
BBQs, toilets, totem pole, playgrounds… one of these things is not like the others… Totem pole! Located 50m or so east of the kiosk and worth a squiz. Dating from the 70s, she’s in nice shape, who would have thunkin’ that Western Red Cedar would hold up so well to the Adelaide heat. Carved by William Jeffrey (not Jeffery, the sign is wrong) a Tsimshian chief. A focal point for Canadians in the city – the The Australia Canada Association met there last month for a Christmas pancake lunch!
An underrated, centrally located park.

This park has many footprints buried beneath the dirt from pilgrimages to town during the peak nightlife, and many back throughout the early hours.
Luckily I’ve never had the misfortune to fall into any body of water here, although I can’t say the same for many of my friends. When will they learn that water + alcohol = one wet drunk idiot.
This park is the home of music festivals such as Soundwave and Stereosonic, last years Soundwave was extremely dusty to the point it felt like a hurricane of dirt sweeping across the park. I was coughing up soil for the new two weeks.

This is the largest single park of the Adelaide Parklands and runs for 17 hectares.
The park features a charming lake, which model boat enthusiasts seem to have taken a liking to, and two playgrounds in the southern end.
Bonython Park is also a bonnie place for a family barbie, or ride along the bike path as it meanders along the River Torrens
It’s a great place for sports nuts, with playing fields and netball courts — and there’s a golf course nearby.
The park attracts thousands of people each year and also hosts many events, including Australian and international circuses.
Wildlife lovers will adore this park, which has an abundance of native water rats, pelicans and black swans.