$2 Happy Meals. Being able to buy those redskins lollies for 5 cents. Doing stupid back flips into the neighbour's pool because we didn't need adult supervision when swimming.
A lot of things may have been better when we were young but public parks have changed for good since the last time I could fit my arse into one of those child secure swings.
Lower Moora Park at Shorncliff is an example of what I'm talking about.
For the younger kids there's a giant sand pit with colourful rockers that spring back and forth. It's the perfect setting for an impromptu game of quicksand using the rocking animals as magical seahorses to escape. Why seahorses - because it's been proven that seahorses are cooler than dragons.
There are also these interconnected huts with slides, ladders and bridges. I see a young girl holing up in one of these huts with a tea set, pretending it's her house and having hissy fits when the other kids trample through it. I see it as a perfect cubby house for older kids. I see a game of Mr Wolf trying to get into the hut. This is what I mean when I say this park is fabulously fun. Some playgrounds consists of just swings, slides and fort-like contraptions. Other playgrounds like Lower Moora Park provide a whole set design for kids to make up a myriad of games.
This is a great picnic space having shady tables, BBQs and a million dollar view of the sea. There's also a nearby cafe for coffee and cakes.
Shorncliff may be a bit far to drive if you live on the South side but there's at least half a day's fun guaranteed.
NB: Parking can be difficult and the park is not fenced read more