Correction (9 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 9 October 2026.
This page answers a simple question: which Northcote parks have the facilities a family needs for a picnic or a play? It covers six parks and reserves, all in Northcote, and every feature below comes from the Darebin council parks and playgrounds directory.
Each place was checked against two sources, the council directory and OpenStreetMap. We name a feature only when the council lists it. Where an entry does not mention toilets, water or a barbecue, we say the listing does not mention it rather than assume.
Opening hours are not published in these entries, so none are given. Check the council page before you go.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Playground, BBQ and off-lead dogs | Merri Park | Sumner Avenue, Northcote |
| Playground with toilets | Johnson Park | 12 Palmer Street, Northcote |
| Playground, court and fountain | Oldis Gardens | East St, Northcote |
| Playground and picnic table | Batman Park | 79 Elm Street, Northcote |
| BBQ tables and drinking fountain | Baden Morgan Reserve | 9-11 Roberts Street, Northcote |
| Picnic and BBQ with a shared path | McAdam Reserve | 24 Stanley Street, Northcote |
Merri Park — Sumner Avenue, Northcote VIC 3070
The council directory lists BBQ tables and seating, a picnic table, a playground for children, public toilets on site and walking paths. It also lists an area where dogs can be taken off leash. The council’s dog rules say owners must keep a dog on a lead and in control near certain places, so read that page before letting a dog loose.
Distance / grade / surface: The directory lists walking paths but gives no distance, grade or surface, so we do not state one.
Johnson Park — 12 Palmer Street, Northcote VIC 3070
The council directory lists a playground for children, a picnic table and public toilets on site at Johnson Park. It also lists waste and recycling bins, seating and walking paths. The entry does not mention a barbecue or a drinking fountain.
Water and toilets: The council lists public toilets on site; the entry we read does not mention a drinking fountain, so bring water.
Oldis Gardens — East St, Northcote VIC 3070
Oldis Gardens is the only park here where the council lists a basketball or netball court, described as a court with hoops. The directory also lists a playground for children, a picnic table, public toilets, a drinking fountain for drinking or refilling bottles, seating, bins and walking paths. The photo above is illustrative and does not show this park.
Water and toilets: The council lists both a drinking fountain and public toilets on site, which makes this the easiest stop on the page for a long visit.
Batman Park — 79 Elm Street, Northcote VIC 3070
The council directory lists a playground for children, a picnic table, public toilets on site, seating and walking paths at Batman Park. It does not list a barbecue or a drinking fountain in the entry we read.
Start at: Head for the playground and picnic table the council lists; the directory also lists walking paths but gives no route or distance.
Baden Morgan Reserve — 9-11 Roberts Street, Northcote VIC 3070
Baden Morgan Reserve is listed by the council with BBQ tables and seating, a drinking fountain, a playground for children, walking paths, seating and bins. The entry we read does not mention toilets, so plan around that if you are staying a while.
Water and toilets: A drinking fountain is listed; toilets are not mentioned in the council entry, so check the page before you commit.
McAdam Reserve — 24 Stanley Street, Northcote VIC 3070
The council directory lists a picnic table, BBQ tables and seating, a playground for children and walking paths at McAdam Reserve. It also lists a shared path for walking and cycling, plus seating and bins. Toilets and a drinking fountain are not mentioned in that entry.
Weather call: Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast before you leave, since a picnic table and BBQ tables are only useful on a dry day.
Quick answers
Which Northcote parks have a playground?
The Darebin council directory lists a playground for children at all six parks on this page: Merri Park, Johnson Park, Oldis Gardens, Batman Park, Baden Morgan Reserve and McAdam Reserve.
Which Northcote parks have public toilets?
The council lists public toilets on site at Merri Park, Johnson Park, Oldis Gardens and Batman Park. The entries we read for Baden Morgan Reserve and McAdam Reserve do not mention toilets.
Where can you have a barbecue in a Northcote park?
The council lists BBQ tables and seating at Merri Park, Baden Morgan Reserve and McAdam Reserve. The other three entries do not mention a barbecue.
Is there an off-lead dog area in a Northcote park?
The council directory lists an area at Merri Park where dogs can be taken off leash. The other entries on this page do not mention one, and the council’s dog rules say a dog must be on a lead and in control in certain places, so read them first.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 9 October 2026: OpenStreetMap and council pages. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page before you go. The photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of place, not the places on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Merri Park: openstreetmap.org/25404607, darebin.vic.gov.au/Merri-park, darebin.vic.gov.au/Pets-in-parks
- Johnson Park: openstreetmap.org/23000753, darebin.vic.gov.au/Johnson-park
- Oldis Gardens: openstreetmap.org/27703706, darebin.vic.gov.au/Oldis-gardens
- Batman Park: openstreetmap.org/27703190, darebin.vic.gov.au/Batman-park
- Baden Morgan Reserve: openstreetmap.org/27703817, darebin.vic.gov.au/Baden-morgan-reserve
- McAdam Reserve: openstreetmap.org/27703771, darebin.vic.gov.au/Mcadam-reserve
