Unsworth Reserve is a neighbourhood playground at 29 Goldfinch Rise in Unsworth Heights, on Auckland's North Shore, holding a 4.3 rating on Google. The best suburban playgrounds earn their keep on the details: soft-fall surfaces under the equipment, a corner for toddlers set apart from the older kids' circuits, and above all in Auckland real shade, because the summer sun is harsh and metal slides heat up fast. Regulars know to arrive early on fine weekends, before things get busy and hot, with hats and water in the bag. It also pays to check whether the equipment suits under-fives or school-age children before promising anything on the drive over, and a bench with a clear sightline to the climbing frame makes supervising much easier. Tucked into a quiet residential street in Unsworth Heights, it gives families on this side of the Shore an easy outdoor stop close to home.