The playground, which opened four weeks ago, also hosted Southland’s pop-up portable pump track, Tunatuna.
The area’s revamp included redeveloped modern shower/toilet facilities which cost more than $620,000.
Dunedin’s Tom and Pauline Rietveld enjoyed building sandcastles on the beach and giving their Southland grandchildren Angus Zeestraten, and Dallas Zeestraten, their ‘‘undivided attention’’.
The couple were taking two days’ break from their Otago poultry farm.
Mrs Rietveld said she was impressed with how the playground and facilities had been improved.
‘‘We were so impressed when we came down here with our grandson — the amenities and just being able to walk so close to the beach from your car.
‘‘It ticks all the boxes and make it very user-friendly for grandparents.’’
‘‘You bring a bucket and spade and just do your thing.
‘‘It’s a bit of a glorified sandpit really.’’
Noeline Cardno, originally from Dunedin, also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren Louie and Catie Cardno, from Queenstown, at the beach in front of the revamped playground.
It was the first Christmas she had spent in New Zealand since 2017 after moving to Hobart 45 years ago.
She enjoyed re-connecting with extended family.
The two grandchildren also shared their Christmas holiday with their Canadian grandparents who had travelled to New Zealand for the holiday season.
- Toni McDonald
