Palm Beach Parklands is home to the much-loved Pirate Park, built around a giant custom pirate ship beside Currumbin Creek. After a roughly one-and-a-half-million-dollar upgrade it has a seven-metre crow’s nest tower, mega and themed slides, a flying fox, a suspension bridge, climbing nets, telescopes and cannons.

The setting is half the appeal: the playground sits right by the creek with a swimming area, so a play and a paddle go together. The dog-friendly Dune Cafe opens early from around 6:30am, and there are barbecues, shaded picnic gazebos and toilets.

Parking is free but time-limited, so it suits a focused visit rather than a whole day parked in one spot.