This hidden playpark is home to Cape Town’s biggest tree house

Paradise Park in Newlands is the backyard you wish you had

Last updated: Thursday, 8 January 2026

Paradise Park is one of those places you only hear about from locals. Hidden between Newlands and Claremont, it’s made up of a giant tree house, scattered play areas, a stream and tall trees that feels closer to a forest clearing than a formal city park.

It’s the perfect park for a walk and after-school play. Image: @jamiecette on Instagram

GIANT TREE HOUSE KIDS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF

The park’s standout feature is its impressive wooden tree house that stretches widely across seven large trees. With platforms, ladders and a bridge to walk across, it’s designed for climbing, exploring and imaginative play.

Surrounding it are jungle gyms, high slides, carousels, climbing frames, and a see-saw. A short walk away, the park opens up to two more play areas. One even has an outdoor gym with machines like an air walker, cross trainer, monkey bars, and sit-up benches.

PICNIC ALONG A STREAM

Paradise Park isn’t manicured or fancy, and that’s part of its charm. Instead of neat flowerbeds and paved walkways, you’ll find large grassy lawns that invite you to picnic, twigs and leaves scattered across rough footpaths, and charmingly unruly trees.

Kids are welcome to splash around in the small stream that runs through the park, so be sure to bring towels and extra clothes.

WHERE TO PARK

The park has more than one entrance. You can enter from Paradise Road, where you’ll come across one of the smaller play areas immediately.

Entering from Ravensburg Avenue, you’ll have to walk deeper into the park and cross the stream to arrive at the tree house and the additional play areas beyond it.

There’s plenty of nearby street parking. If it gets busy, you can try parking at the Shell Garage opposite the park. Security guards patrol 24/7, making it a very safe place to go as a family or even on your own if you walk the dogs or go for a run.

It’s the kind of place where kids roam freely, dogs get walked (on leash), and locals greet each other as they pass by.

SPEND TIME AT PARADISE PARK

Paradise Park is open: Daily
Find it: Paradise Road, Newlands

By Khadeeja Adams

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MORE FAMILY FUN

There are plenty of other picnic spots in and around Cape Town. 

Find more free and cheap things to do with your family. 

Here’s how you can stay active without a gym contract. 

Make plans using 7+ things to do this week(end) guide.

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