Toot toot! Thomas the Tank Engine has nothing on Melbourne and it's playgrounds for train fans. Plenty to keep kids of all ages entertained here!
The cream of the crop when it comes to Melbourne train playgrounds, Bayswater Park contains a full-sized red steam engine for everybody's enjoyment - not something you see every day!
Complete with railway platform, covered seats and even a Fat Controller to oversee proceedings (albeit a wooden one), and ticket window, kids (ok and adults) can replicate an entire imaginary trip without ever leaving the park.
Nearby is a smaller wooden train with two carriages, climbing structures with ramps, slides, firemans pole, sandpit, swings, musical equipment - basically a fully-equipped playground for young and old.
Train Street Park is exactly what it sounds like - a train-themed playground right next to a train station on Train Street. A really cute train-themed set of play equipment is there, alongside other fun park stuff, including places to stop and have a picnic. Best of all, it's fully fenced in case your little train passengers have a real trip planned!
Windsor siding houses a wooden train with carriage enclosed in its playground area. A fabulous mulit-level climbing structure to play on with pulleys and scoops to get busy with is nearby, as is another structure with slides, balance beams, ladders, money bars, flying fox and swings.
Hidden away from the busy streets is a wooden train with a small table and chairs inside, perfect for a picnic lunch with a difference.
A very cool Willy Wonka-themed train with fun play area underneath lives at Eildon Street Park in Doncaster, with surrounding playground equipment. Best suited for babies and toddlers, it's quite a small area and everything is easy for littles to access, and brightly coloured.
Among the myths, tales and legends Fairy Park is known for (it's a fun and vibrant step back into medieval history!) is a huge model train set and train museum at the hilltop Castle. The museum houses a rare collection of Markilin model trains, perfect for little enthusiasts!