Laguna Park is the one Palm Beach parents name first, and the playground inside it is signed Sophie Purcell Playground. It is fully fenced with self-closing gates, which is the whole appeal: you can sit down while a toddler and a big kid run in opposite directions.

There is a lot packed in. The main structure is a blue beach-themed tower with tunnel and open slides, bridges, cargo nets and a rope pyramid climber with a red cap. A separate tan and red pirate ship has its own slide, gangplank and porthole panels for smaller children. Around them sit a spinning disc, swings, springer rockers, low bars and a pedal-power monorail, with a sealed path threading through the whole playground for balance bikes and scooters.

Colourful shade sails cover most of the equipment and mature figs shade the picnic side, so it holds up in the middle of the day. Barbecues, picnic shelters, tables, a drinking fountain and a newer toilet block with a disability toilet sit alongside, and the park runs down to Tallebudgera Creek where there are more shelters and benches on the water.