![Kinglake Home with kid's dream motocross track](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kinglake family Jade and Ben Spicer and son Ollie sold their sprawling lifestyle property with a $70,000 professionally designed motocross track in July, 2024. Picture: Jason Edwards
Rock climbing walls, epic water slides, miniature golf courses and motocross tracks are among the kid-friendly features that could be set to reinvent keeping up with the Joneses in 2025.
With the pool, tennis court and home theatre now looking so last year, a push to lure youngsters off devices has spurred a rise in boredom busting playspaces once reserved for neighbourhood parks and holiday resorts.
Whether it’s catering for niche sports like skateboarding or rock climbing, homebuyers are increasingly seeking out next-level outdoor features sure to make the neighbours green with envy.
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McGrath national general manager sales Troy Malcolm said the rising popularity of pickleball was the latest trend to pop up on family wishlists.
“A growing number of buyers are asking for either a court or space to include a court in the garden,” Mr Malcolm said.
“It’s difficult to quantify what value these wishlist items add to a property, rather they tend to attract more buyers and sell faster than properties without such ‘must-haves’.”
Ray White head of performance and recognition Bianca Denham said pools remained an in-demand feature for families.
But she said any property with a great recreation space, including playgrounds and in-ground trampolines, always attracted more inspections.
“For those that have the space we are seeing some amazing outdoor areas to entice kids,” Ms Denham said.
“Some of these homes are more like resorts than a standard Australian home with all of the comforts you would expect at a five-star hotel.”
Here’s some of the hottest new backyard features set to make a splash with buyers in 2025.
Summer holidays are sorted at 1 Healy Court, Ormeau.
1. Water slides
Who needs a visit to Wet’n’Wild when you cool off without the crowds on your own private water slide?
Playground designer Paul Giddings and wife Kirsten included a 13m version for their five children at their jaw-dropping Fijian-inspired pool area.
Their 5009sq m haven at 1 Healy Court, Ormeau, also includes a putt-put golf course, basketball key and a 100m bike track.
It’s selling with $3.6m-plus price hopes.
The previous owners of 14 Yellow Gum Drive, Ocean Grove, enjoy the home’s indoor slide.
2. Indoor slides
The previous owners of 14 Yellow Gum Drive, Ocean Grove, went one step further, incorporating an indoor slide into their sprawling family home.
Well-known ‘baby whisperer’ Tizzie Hall set out to create a fun-filled family environment and saw the brightly coloured feature as an imaginative way to link two levels.
Her kids also got to enjoy two secret rooms and a pirate ship playground.
A private pickleball court formed part of the recent sale of 12 Hull Rd, Beecroft.
29 Highpoint Cres, Highton, is selling through Ray White, Lara, with a $1.8m to $1.93m price tag.
3. Basketball/pickleball courts
With basketball among the most popular organised sports in Australia, it’s little wonder half court are popping up all over the country.
Adaptable synthetic playings areas are also gaining popularity, with more lavish versions featuring netting and floodlights.
A pickleball court was part of the attraction for buyers of 12 Hull Rd, Beecroft, which sold for $5.19m in November.
In Highton, the owners of 29 Highpoint Cres are hoping to score a slam dunk with their purpose-built half court.
9 Yarrayne St, Rye, has a colourful half pipe.
344 Mine Rd, Cottles Bridge, has something for everyone.
4. Skateboard ramps
For budding Tony Hawks, the skateboard ramp is surely the coolest backyard feature.
One of the best private half pipes on the block was recently snapped up at 9 Yarrayne St, Rye.
The vendor, artist and book illustrator Trent Downie painted the ramp, which provided hours of entertainment for his children.
There’s another one up for grabs at an epic lifestyle property at 334 Mine Rd, Cottles Bridge.
This $2.96m to $3.25m listing also comes with an Olympic-size trampoline and a rock-climbing wall in the gym.
86 Allison Rd, Mt Eliza, is selling through Whitefox with $4.65m to $5.1m price hopes.
120 Old Maryborough Road, Gympie, take backyard entertainment to the next level.
5. Mini golf
Backyard mini golf courses are fast becoming par for the course among golfing enthusiasts.
The vendors of 86 Allison Rd, Mount Eliza, included one alongside a netted sports zone as part of their recent luxury build.
There’s another cracking example at a next level Gympie property, which also has archery and giant chess.
2 Ribbon Close, Clifton Beach, is listed for sale through LJ Hooker, Cairns Beaches, for $1.25m.
Cricket is taken seriously at 5 Viola Place, Springvale, which sold for $1.44m in October.
6. Cricket nets
For young cricketers inspired by Australia’s Boxing Day Test win, a private net is the stuff of dreams.
The windows will be safe from sixes at 2 Ribbon Close, Clifton Beach, where netting surrounds the home’s synthetic pitch.
Another immaculate backyard yet was a bonus for the new owners of 5 Viola Place, Springvale, NSW, which recently sold for $1.44m.
84 Parr St, Leongatha, recently sold with a rock climbing wall in the living area.
7. Rock climbing walls
An indoor rock climbing wall certainly made for a talking point during the recent sale of 84 Parr St, Leongatha.
It remains to be seen whether the new owners will take advantage of the unusual hallway feature, but Ray White agent Kasey Bowman said it attracted lots of attention.
This 19ha lifestyle property at 121 Balnarring Rd, Balnarring, has a professionally built motocross track, plus equestrian facilities.
8. Motocross tracks
A professional built motocross track gives a 19ha Mornington Peninsula lifestyle property a jump on its competition.
The five-bdroom house at 121 Balnarring Rd, Balnarring, also comes with a clay tennis court, a Cod-filled dam, jetty, equestrian arena and horse trails.
White Fox agent Lloyd Hillard is handling the $5.m to $5.8m sale.
