Prices from Amazon AU, updated daily. Swipe or use the arrows for more.
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Quick summary8 picks
- Entry PickGoplus 5-in-1 Swing Set about$210
- HONEY JOY Kids Swing Set about$210
- HONEY JOY 4-in-1 Swing Set about$220
- HONEY JOY 5-in-1 Kids Swing Set with… about$350
- OLAKIDS 330KG Swing Set about$390
- HONEY JOY 8-in-1 Outdoor Swing Set about$400
- Backyard Discovery Aurora Cedar Wood Play… about$849
- Most PremiumBackyard Discovery Buckley Hill about$849
Metal A-frames or a timber play centre
Backyard swing sets on Amazon AU split into two kinds. Most are powder coated steel A-frames: two pairs of angled legs, a top beam with swing hooks, and attachments like a slide, a glider, gym rings or a monkey bar bolted on. The other kind is a timber play centre, a raised fort with a slide and swings hung off a beam, and those cost a lot more because there's far more timber in them. Five of the six picks are steel frames, and one is a Backyard Discovery cedar play centre.
The steel picks come from HONEY JOY (three of them, sold by Baby Joy AU), OLAKIDS, sold by OLAKIDS-AU, and Goplus, sold by Goplus AU, whose part number starts with AU. The cedar play centre is sold by Backyard Discovery Australia, the brand's local storefront. Prices run from $209.95 to $849 at time of writing. I've left out baby swings, hammocks, tree swings, flying foxes and the indoor toddler climbers, which are different products with different limits.
A steel frame is lighter, quicker to build and easier to move when you mow, but its powder coat and its joints are where it wears. A cedar play centre is heavier and slower to build, and it lasts as long as its timber is looked after. If your kids are small and you want swings plus a fort, the cedar one is the more complete play space. If they're older and mostly want to swing hard, a heavy steel A-frame with a stated high weight limit suits them better.
Frame strength and what the listings leave out
The thing I'd most like to compare across these listings is tube diameter and wall thickness, and none of the six states it. That's the number that decides how much a steel frame flexes and how long its joints last, so you're left comparing stated weight limits instead. The OLAKIDS frame states 330kg in total, the HONEY JOY A-frame stand and 8-in-1 both state 300kg, and the other listings give per-seat limits rather than a total.
Joints matter as much as tubes. An A-frame takes its load through the bolts where the legs meet the top beam, and every swing stroke works those joints back and forth. The OLAKIDS listing mentions a reinforced inner pipe joint and locking nuts, and the HONEY JOY listings mention reinforced crossbars and centre supports. Locking nuts are the detail I'd look for, because plain nuts on a swing frame work loose over a summer of use.
The cedar play centre carries its load differently. Its swing beam sits on timber posts and the fort, and timber flexes and settles rather than working loose at a bolt the way steel joints do. Backyard Discovery says the Aurora is engineered to meet or exceed EN-71, the European toy standard. None of the six listings states AS/NZS ISO 8124, the Australian and New Zealand toy standard whose fourth part covers domestic swings and slides, so treat the stated limits as the seller's figures.
Weight limits and real age ranges
Read per-seat limits, not just the headline figure. The Goplus says each seat holds up to 75kg and no more than four kids play at once. The HONEY JOY 8-in-1 says 50kg per seat, up to seven children, ages 3 to 12. The HONEY JOY 5-in-1 with trampoline gives 60kg per swing and 150kg on the trampoline, and it's recommended for ages 8 and up. The OLAKIDS says ages 3 to 10. Those numbers vary more than the photos suggest.
The age range is often the more honest limit. A swing set rated 3 to 10 is built and sized for kids that age, and a twelve year old swinging hard on it puts loads through the frame the designers didn't plan for, even under the stated weight. Seat height matters too. The HONEY JOY 8-in-1 adjusts its swing heights from 88 to 128cm, and the 5-in-1 adjusts its ropes from 110 to 180cm, which is what lets a set grow with a child.
The HONEY JOY A-frame stand is the odd one out: it's a 300kg frame sold for kids and adults, according to its listing, with four hooks for two swings. That makes it the pick for a family where parents want to swing too, or for hanging a different swing later, like a saucer or a platform swing. No swing set is a climbing frame for adults, though, so keep grown-ups off slides, monkey bars and gliders.
Anchoring and stopping the frame walking
A steel A-frame that isn't anchored walks. Every high swing pulls one pair of legs up a little and drops it again, and over an afternoon the frame shuffles across the lawn or rocks onto two legs. Every steel pick comes with ground stakes: four on the OLAKIDS and the HONEY JOY stand, six on the Goplus and eight on the HONEY JOY 8-in-1, while the 5-in-1 with trampoline includes stakes but doesn't say how many.
The supplied stakes are usually short and suit firm lawn. In sandy coastal soil or after rain they pull out easily, so longer auger-style ground anchors through the same feet are a sensible upgrade, and I'd fit them from day one on a set with only four stakes. Check them every few weeks by pulling up hard on each leg. A frame that lifts at a corner when a child swings needs more anchoring before anything else.
The cedar play centre is far heavier, about 66kg in Amazon's item data against roughly 25 to 45kg for the steel frames, so it doesn't walk the same way. It still needs a level base and anchoring to the ground in windy spots, and its listing doesn't set out an anchoring kit. Ask Backyard Discovery Australia what it was designed to be fixed down with before you order, and allow for anchors in the budget.
Where it goes and what's under it
Leave much more space than the frame itself takes up. A swing travels well past the front and back of the frame, so a clear zone of about two metres in front and behind the swing beam, and a metre or more beside the legs, is a sensible minimum. The OLAKIDS is about 441cm long in Amazon's item data and the HONEY JOY 8-in-1 about 445cm with all its attachments, so measure the yard with the clear zone added before you order.
What's under the swings matters more than the frame. Grass wears into a bare, hard dish under each swing within a summer, and that's where falls land. A layer of soft-fall mulch or rubber matting under the swings and the end of the slide is worth the effort, and it also stops the bare patch turning into a puddle after rain. Keep the set away from fences, clotheslines, paths and the pool fence, and off concrete or pavers entirely.
Sun is the other thing to plan around. Plastic slides and seats in full afternoon sun get hot enough to sting on a summer day, and UV fades and hardens them over a few years. A spot with afternoon shade helps, and so does facing the slide south or east where you can. The cedar play centre's canopy roof shades the deck, and the HONEY JOY 5-in-1 has a protective roof over its trampoline.
Ropes, chains, seats and hooks
The parts that wear out are the ones that move. Swing ropes fray at the hooks and the seat, chains wear at the links that rub, and carabiners and S-hooks thin where they ride on the frame. The HONEY JOY A-frame stand connects with four carabiners or a lanyard, according to its listing, and the cedar play centre uses rope chains on its belt swings, which the listing says don't nip fingers. Check every connection at the start of each season.
UV is hard on seats and ropes. The plastic belt and U-shaped seats, the Oxford fabric saucer swings and any rope all weaken in Australian sun, and a seat that's gone chalky or a rope that's gone stiff and pale is due for replacing. Replacement seats and ropes are common parts, so swap them early rather than waiting for one to fail. Bring saucer swings and fabric seats into the shed over winter if you can.
Metal hooks on a steel frame wear a groove into whatever hangs from them, and the frame's powder coat wears off at the hook too, which lets rust start right where the load is. A dab of grease on each hook keeps the noise down and slows the wear. If a hook or bolt shows a deep groove or a crack, replace it before anyone swings again, because that's the point the whole swing hangs from.
Assembly, bolts and rust
Steel swing sets arrive flat-packed with a bag of bolts, and they're a two-adult job, mostly because the A-frame legs need holding while the top beam goes on. The Goplus listing says the frame goes together in a few minutes, which I'd take with a grain of salt for any set with a slide and a climbing net. The OLAKIDS points to an installation video as well as the manual. Lay every part out on a tarp and count it against the parts list before you start.
The cedar play centre is a bigger build. The Aurora's pieces come pre-cut, pre-drilled and pre-stained, with guided instructions in the BILT app, and it's still most of a weekend for two people. Tighten every bolt again a week after it's built, because timber settles, and again at the start of each season. Steel frames need the same check, since swinging works nuts loose even when they're tight on day one.
Rust starts wherever the powder coat is broken: drilled holes, scratches from assembly tools and the inside of the leg tubes where water sits. Touch up any scratch with a matching rust-proof paint as soon as you see it, and fit the plastic end caps the kit supplies so rain doesn't fill the tubes. On the coast, salt air speeds all of this up, so give a steel frame a hose down and a look over a few times a year.
Phones, smartwatches and the swing
This is the part an electronics workshop actually sees. Swings fling things out of pockets, and phones are the most common thing they fling. A phone in a back pocket on a swing at full height lands screen-first on whatever's underneath, and the bare, hard patch under a well-used swing is the worst place for it. Our Erina phone repair workshop sees a run of cracked screens every school holidays from exactly that.
Kids' smartwatches take a beating on monkey bars and gym rings too, knocked against steel tubes at every swing. A watch with a cracked screen or a dented case usually still works until rain gets in through the crack. Our kids smartwatch guide covers the tougher options, and a simple rule that watches come off for the monkey bars saves most of them.
Tablets and speakers left on the slide or the fort deck are the other one, because a swing set has no roof over most of it and dew settles on everything overnight. Bring screens inside at dinner time, and keep chargers and extension leads out of the backyard play area altogether, because a lead across the lawn is a trip hazard as well as a damp connection. If you're building out the backyard over summer, our cubby house picks and jumping castle guide cover the same ground for those.
The 6 picks, $210 to $849
Prices are Amazon AU at time of writing (2026-11-14) and move week to week. Ranks are Amazon AU category sales ranks in Gym Sets & Swings, checked the same day, with the overall Amazon AU rank alongside.
Goplus 5-in-1 Kids Swing Set with Saucer Swing, Belt Swing, Climbing Net and Ladder
ASIN B0H37DVGH4 • $209.95 • Sold by Goplus AU on Amazon AU
The Goplus 5-in-1 is the lowest-priced full swing set of the six picks, and it's a sensible first set for younger kids. Amazon AU lists it at $209.95 from Goplus AU, and it ranks #130 in Amazon AU's Gym Sets & Swings category and #42,246 overall on the site. Its part number is AUGP10248PN, and the AU at the front is a useful sign the listing was set up for the Australian store. It's a powder coated steel A-frame with two swings, a basketball hoop, a climbing ladder and a climbing net. Two different swing seats is a nice touch for siblings, because a younger child often prefers the saucer and an older one the belt seat.
The swings are a 65cm saucer swing in Oxford fabric and a PE belt swing, both on length-adjustable ropes, and the listing says each seat holds up to 75kg, the highest per-seat figure of the picks that state one. It says no more than four children should play at once. Six ground stakes come in the box, which is more than the four on two of the other steel picks. Amazon's item data puts it at about 294 by 138cm and 176cm high, and about 26kg, so it suits a smaller yard. The steel pipes are powder coated, according to the listing, which is the finish to keep an eye on at drilled holes and scratches.
The listing says it assembles in a few minutes, which I'd stretch to an hour or two with two people for the net and ladder. It doesn't state an age range or a total weight limit, so ask Goplus AU if that matters to you. Peg every stake, check the rope knots at the seats each month and bring the saucer swing in over winter, because fabric weakens fastest in sun and rain. Touch up any scratched powder coat as soon as you see it, so rust doesn't get a start at the joints.
Honest caveats: The listing doesn't state an age range or a total weight limit, only 75kg per seat and four kids at once. At about 176cm high it's a lower frame, so older kids outgrow it. Tube size and wall thickness aren't stated.
Best for: Younger kids and smaller yards that want two swings, a net and a ladder from a local seller, at the lowest price of the full sets.
Price: $209.95 (Goplus AU) • Frame: Powder coated steel A-frame • Swings: 65cm saucer swing, PE belt swing • Extras: Climbing net, ladder, basketball hoop • Limits: 75kg per seat, up to 4 kids • Stakes: 6 ground stakes • Size: About 294 x 138 x 176cm (item data) • Part number: AUGP10248PN • Rank: #130 in Gym Sets & Swings, #42,246 overall on Amazon AU
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HONEY JOY Heavy Duty A-Frame Swing Stand, 300kg, with Two Swings and Ground Stakes
ASIN B0BN67HGHZ • $209.95 • Sold by Baby Joy AU on Amazon AU
The HONEY JOY A-frame swing stand is the pick for families who just want swings, and it's the second best-ranked of the six. Amazon AU lists it at $209.95 from Baby Joy AU, and it ranks #35 in Amazon AU's Gym Sets & Swings category and #12,194 overall. It's a heavy duty steel A-frame with a reinforced centre structure and beam supports, and the listing gives a 300kg capacity for kids and adults. There are no slides or bars bolted on, which is what keeps it simple to build and hard to outgrow. It's also the frame I'd pick to hang a different swing later, because the listing is written around swapping swings rather than a fixed set of attachments.
It measures 250 by 185cm and 180cm high, according to the listing, and the top beam carries four hooks for two swings at once. The swings hang from four carabiners or a lanyard, both included. The title lists a two-pack of swings, while the features describe the frame and say it fits most swings, including saucer swings, aerial yoga hammocks, platform swings and hanging chairs, so check the photos for the seats you're getting. Four ground stakes and four anti-slip foot pads come with it, and it weighs about 25kg in item data. The foot pads mean it can stand inside on a hard floor as well, according to the listing, which suits a big garage on a wet weekend.
Four stakes is the fewest of the steel picks, so I'd add longer ground anchors from the start, especially if adults will swing on it too. The listing doesn't state a part number or what the seats are made of. Grease the carabiners where they ride on the hooks, check them for wear each season, and replace any that have thinned at the contact point, because that's where the whole swing hangs. Check the top beam bolts every month or so while it's in heavy use, and keep a spare carabiner or two in the shed.
Honest caveats: Only four ground stakes are listed, the fewest of the steel picks, so add longer anchors if adults will use it. The features don't describe the swing seats in the title's two-pack, so check the photos. There's no slide or climbing attachment, and tube size isn't stated.
Best for: Families who want a strong two-swing frame that parents can use too, or a stand for a saucer or platform swing.
Price: $209.95 (Baby Joy AU) • Frame: Heavy duty steel A-frame • Capacity: 300kg • Hooks: 4 hooks for 2 swings • Connectors: 4 carabiners or lanyard, included • Stakes: 4 ground stakes, 4 anti-slip pads • Size: 250 x 185 x 180cm • Weight: About 25kg (item data) • Rank: #35 in Gym Sets & Swings, #12,194 overall on Amazon AU
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HONEY JOY 5-in-1 Kids Swing Set with Trampoline, Roof, Slide and Basketball Hoop
ASIN B0GQGXF6M7 • $349.95 • Sold by Baby Joy AU on Amazon AU
The HONEY JOY 5-in-1 with trampoline is the swing set of the six picks built for older kids, with a stated recommendation of ages 8 and up. Amazon AU lists it at $349.95 from Baby Joy AU, and it ranks #92 in Amazon AU's Gym Sets & Swings category and #28,965 overall. Its model code is JOY23517. It combines a powder coated steel A-frame with two belt swings, a basketball hoop and a 100 by 100cm trampoline with its own slide, ladder and protective roof, and the listing says up to five children can play together. Putting a trampoline on the same frame as the swings saves yard space if both were on the list.
The trampoline uses springs, a PP mat and 600D Oxford cloth with foam padding, and the listing describes a no-gap design with handles and mesh around it. The two swing seats are soft EVA, and the ropes adjust from 110 to 180cm, the widest rope range of the picks that state one. The stated limits are 60kg per swing and 150kg on the trampoline. Amazon's item data puts it at about 332 by 215cm and 239cm high, the tallest steel frame of the picks, and about 45.5kg. The listing says all the tools needed are included, which saves hunting for spanners halfway through. Plan on most of an afternoon with two adults, because the trampoline springs take time.
The 8 and up rating is worth taking literally, because the trampoline and swing heights are sized for bigger kids. The listing says ground stakes are included but doesn't say how many, so count them and add more if needed. Check the trampoline springs and padding at the start of each season, keep the mat out of full sun where you can, and replace a torn pad before anyone bounces again. One child at a time on the trampoline is the sensible rule on a mat that size, and the swings and hoop keep the others busy while they wait.
Honest caveats: It's recommended for ages 8 and up, so it doesn't suit toddlers or younger siblings. The number of ground stakes isn't stated, so count them on arrival. The trampoline is small at 100 by 100cm, so it's for one child at a time, and its springs and padding need checking each season.
Best for: Kids aged 8 and up who want swings, a small trampoline and a hoop in one frame.
Price: $349.95 (Baby Joy AU) • Frame: Powder coated steel A-frame • Swings: 2 EVA belt swings, ropes 110 to 180cm • Trampoline: 100 x 100cm, roof, slide, ladder • Limits: Ages 8+, 60kg per swing, 150kg trampoline • Size: About 332 x 215 x 239cm (item data) • Weight: About 45.5kg (item data) • Model: JOY23517 • Rank: #92 in Gym Sets & Swings, #28,965 overall on Amazon AU
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OLAKIDS 330kg Heavy Duty A-Frame Swing Set with Monkey Bar, Slide, Glider and Rings
ASIN B0BHHSPNFZ • $389.99 • Sold by OLAKIDS-AU on Amazon AU
The OLAKIDS 330kg swing set is the best-ranked of the six picks, and it's the one I'd start with for most families with a bit of yard and kids from 3 to 10. Amazon AU lists it at $389.99 from OLAKIDS-AU, and it ranks #24 in Amazon AU's Gym Sets & Swings category and #10,405 overall. Its model code is BH032. It's a powder coated steel A-frame with a slide, two swings, a glider, trapeze rings, a monkey bar and a basketball hoop, which covers most of what kids want from a backyard set. The listing says it fits playgrounds, porches and gardens, and its triangular A-frame is pitched as resisting deformation. For a mid-priced set, that's a lot of play on one frame from a local seller.
The listing gives a 330kg total weight capacity, the highest stated total of the six, for kids aged 3 to 10. It mentions a reinforced inner pipe joint and locking nuts, which are the details I'd look for on a frame that takes this many attachments. The steel tubes are weather resistant with a powder coat finish, according to the listing. Amazon's item data puts it at about 441 by 177cm and 225cm high, and about 43.5kg. The listing also points to an installation video alongside the manual, which helps on a set with this many parts, and it says every accessory is in the package.
Four ground stakes is light for a frame this long with a monkey bar on it, so I'd add longer anchors at each leg from day one. The listing doesn't state per-seat limits. Re-tighten every bolt a week after assembly and again each season, touch up scratched powder coat straight away, and check the glider's pivot points, because a glider puts more back-and-forth load through its hooks than a plain swing does. Grease the swing hooks at the same time, and swap any seat or rope that's gone stiff and pale in the sun.
Honest caveats: Only four ground stakes are listed for a 441cm frame, so add longer anchors at each leg. The listing doesn't state per-seat limits or tube size. At about 441cm long, it needs a lot of clear space around it, plus a clear zone in front of and behind the swings.
Best for: Families with kids aged 3 to 10 who want a monkey bar, glider and slide on a well-ranked 330kg frame.
Price: $389.99 (OLAKIDS-AU) • Frame: Powder coated steel A-frame • Attachments: Slide, 2 swings, glider, trapeze rings, monkey bar, hoop • Capacity: 330kg total • Ages: 3 to 10 • Stakes: 4 ground stakes • Size: About 441 x 177 x 225cm (item data) • Model: BH032 • Rank: #24 in Gym Sets & Swings, #10,405 overall on Amazon AU
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HONEY JOY 8-in-1 Outdoor Swing Set, 300kg, with Glider, Slide, Monkey Bar and Rings
ASIN B0G2XQNLW6 • $399.95 • Sold by Baby Joy AU on Amazon AU
The HONEY JOY 8-in-1 is the swing set with the most activities of the six picks, and it's the one for a group of kids or a big family. Amazon AU lists it at $399.95 from Baby Joy AU, and it ranks #88 in Amazon AU's Gym Sets & Swings category and #27,629 overall. That rank is shared with a red listing of the same set. Its model code is JOY24218, which is worth noting for spare parts. The eight activities are a U-shaped swing, a saucer swing, a basketball hoop, soccer goals, a slide, two gym rings, a monkey bar and a two-person glider.
The listing gives a 300kg capacity for the frame, 50kg per swing seat and up to seven children at once, ages 3 to 12, the widest age range of the picks that state one. Swing heights adjust from 88 to 128cm. The saucer swing is Oxford fabric, and the U-shaped seat and slide are PE. It comes with eight ground stakes, the most of the six picks, and reinforced crossbars. Amazon's item data puts it at about 445 by 225cm and 180cm high, the longest pick, and about 43.5kg. It's the set I'd buy for a family with several kids of different ages, because there's enough on it that nobody waits long for a turn, and the soccer goals give the youngest something to do on the ground.
Seven kids on one frame is a lot of moving load, so check the bolts and stakes more often than you would on a smaller set, every few weeks in summer. The listing doesn't state tube size or per-attachment limits for the glider and rings. Bring the saucer swing in over winter, grease the hooks, and check the slide's mounting bolts, which take a knock every time a child lands at the bottom. A layer of soft-fall under the slide end and the swings is worth more on this set than on any other pick, simply because of how many kids use it at once.
Honest caveats: At about 445cm long, it needs the most space of the picks. The 50kg per-seat limit is lower than the Goplus's 75kg. Its sales rank is shared with a red listing of the same set, and tube size isn't stated.
Best for: Big families and groups of kids aged 3 to 12 who want the most activities on one 300kg frame.
Price: $399.95 (Baby Joy AU) • Frame: Steel A-frame, reinforced crossbars • Activities: U swing, saucer swing, glider, slide, rings, monkey bar, hoop, goals • Limits: 300kg frame, 50kg per seat, up to 7 kids, ages 3 to 12 • Swing height: 88 to 128cm • Stakes: 8 ground stakes • Size: About 445 x 225 x 180cm (item data) • Model: JOY24218 • Rank: #88 in Gym Sets & Swings, #27,629 overall, listing shared with red version (Amazon AU)
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Backyard Discovery Aurora Cedar Wood Play Centre Swing Set with Slide and Fort
ASIN B0F61B2FJC • $849.00 • Sold by Backyard Discovery Australia on Amazon AU
The Backyard Discovery Aurora is the timber play centre of the six picks and the highest-priced, a starter swing set with a raised fort for younger kids. Amazon AU lists it at $849 from Backyard Discovery Australia, and it ranks #68 in Amazon AU's Gym Sets & Swings category and #20,997 overall. Its part number is 2400283COM. It's built from 100% cedar, which the listing says gives strength and natural resistance to decay, and it comes pre-stained light brown, with a note that stain colour may vary. The listing calls it an ideal starter play centre for young children just starting active outdoor play, so it's sized for preschool and early primary kids rather than tweens. Think of it as a cubby with swings attached.
The raised play deck has a brightly coloured canopy roof for shade and mesh panels so parents can see in. Two classic belt swings hang on rope chains that the listing says are gentle on little hands and don't nip fingers, and a 1.8m wave slide runs off the deck. The listing says it's designed for up to five kids and engineered to meet or exceed EN-71, for residential use only. It's the one pick of the six with a stated warranty, a 5-year guarantee. Amazon's item data puts it at about 312 by 272cm and 234cm high, and about 66kg, the heaviest of the six by a long way.
Pieces come pre-cut, pre-drilled and pre-stained, with guided instructions in the BILT app, and it's still most of a weekend for two adults. Level the ground first, plan anchors, and re-stain the timber every year or two before it goes grey. Check the rope chains and the swing beam bolts each season, keep the bottom of the posts off wet soil, and register the guarantee as soon as it's built. Keep the parts list and the BILT instructions somewhere you'll find them, because a swing beam bracket or a rope chain is the part you'll most likely need again.
Honest caveats: It's the highest-priced pick and the slowest to build, most of a weekend for two adults. The listing doesn't state an age range, weight limits or an anchoring kit. Cedar needs re-staining every year or two to keep its colour and resist weathering, and soft timber dents easily.
Best for: Families with young kids who want a cedar fort, slide and two swings with a 5-year guarantee.
Price: $849 (Backyard Discovery Australia) • Material: 100% cedar, pre-stained • Play: Raised deck with canopy, 1.8m wave slide, 2 belt swings • Capacity: Up to 5 kids • Standard stated: EN-71 (European) • Warranty: 5-year guarantee • Size: About 312 x 272 x 234cm (item data) • Part number: 2400283COM • Rank: #68 in Gym Sets & Swings, #20,997 overall on Amazon AU
View on Amazon AUSide-by-side comparison
| Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Goplus 5-in-1 Swing Set | ~$210 | |
| HONEY JOY Kids Swing Set | ~$210 | |
| HONEY JOY 4-in-1 Swing Set | ~$220 | |
| HONEY JOY 5-in-1 Kids Swing Set with… | ~$350 | |
| OLAKIDS 330KG Swing Set | ~$390 | |
| HONEY JOY 8-in-1 Outdoor Swing Set | ~$400 | |
| Backyard Discovery Aurora Cedar Wood Play… | ~$849 | |
| Backyard Discovery Buckley Hill | ~$849 |
What we see fail in the workshop: phones and watches off the swing
Swing sets themselves don't come into an electronics workshop, but the things that fly off them do. A summer of backyard play brings in a steady run of phones and kids' watches with the same kinds of damage, and most of it is avoidable. These are the three I'd plan around, because each costs more to fix than a good set of ground anchors.
Phones flung from a back pocket
A phone in a back pocket on a swing at full height comes out at the top of the arc and lands wherever it lands, usually screen-first on the hard, bare patch under the swing. Cracked screens and bent frames are the usual result, and a cracked screen lets moisture in over the following weeks. Have kids and adults empty their pockets before they swing. If a screen does crack, tape over it and bring it in before the crack spreads or the touch stops working.
Smartwatches on monkey bars
Kids' smartwatches get knocked against steel tubes on monkey bars, gym rings and gliders, and the screen or the case corner usually takes it. A watch with a cracked screen or a dented case until the first rain or a wash gets moisture in through the crack, and then it stops charging or the screen fades. A rule that watches come off for climbing saves most of them, and a cracked one should come off the wrist and stay dry until it's looked at.
Tablets and speakers left on the slide
A tablet or speaker left on the fort deck or at the bottom of the slide overnight sits in the dew, and by morning there's moisture in the charging port. Plugging it in while the port is damp is what starts corrosion on the contacts and the board. Bring screens and speakers inside at dinner time, and if one has spent a night outside, let it dry for a day before charging, or bring it in and we'll check the port.
Decision tree: which one should you actually buy?
- Want a well-ranked frame with a monkey bar and glider? → The OLAKIDS 330kg swing set at $389.99 is the best-ranked of the six picks, for kids aged 3 to 10, with a slide, two swings, a glider, rings and a monkey bar.
- Just want two strong swings that parents can use too? → The HONEY JOY A-frame swing stand at $209.95 is a 300kg frame for kids and adults, with four hooks for two swings.
- Buying a first swing set for younger kids in a smaller yard? → The Goplus 5-in-1 at $209.95 has a saucer swing, a belt swing, a net and a ladder, with 75kg per seat and six stakes.
- Got kids aged 8 and up who want more than swings? → The HONEY JOY 5-in-1 at $349.95 adds a small roofed trampoline and a hoop, with ropes that adjust from 110 to 180cm.
- Want a cedar fort and slide with a warranty? → The Backyard Discovery Aurora at $849 has a raised deck with a canopy, a 1.8m wave slide, two swings and a 5-year guarantee.
- Phone came off the swing and cracked? → Tape over the crack and keep it dry. Bring it into our Erina workshop and we'll tell you what it needs before you spend anything.
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a backyard swing set need?
More than the frame. A swing travels well past the front and back of the beam, so allow a clear zone of about two metres in front and behind the swings and a metre or more beside the legs. The OLAKIDS is about 441cm long and the HONEY JOY 8-in-1 about 445cm in Amazon's item data, before you add that clearance. Keep it away from fences, clotheslines, paths and the pool fence, and off concrete or pavers.
Do metal swing sets need to be anchored?
Yes. An unanchored steel A-frame walks across the lawn and can lift onto two legs when kids swing high. Every steel pick comes with ground stakes, from four on the OLAKIDS and the HONEY JOY stand to eight on the HONEY JOY 8-in-1. In sandy or soft soil, longer auger-style anchors through the same feet hold far better, and I'd fit them from day one on any set with only four stakes. Pull up hard on each leg every few weeks to check.
What weight limit should a kids swing set have?
Check both the total and the per-seat figure. The OLAKIDS states 330kg in total and the HONEY JOY stand and 8-in-1 state 300kg. Per seat, the Goplus gives 75kg, the HONEY JOY 5-in-1 60kg and the 8-in-1 50kg. The age range is often the more realistic limit, because a set rated 3 to 10 is sized and built for kids that age, even if an older child is under the stated weight.
What should go under a swing set?
Something softer than bare ground. Grass under each swing wears into a hard, bare dish within a summer, and that's where falls land. A layer of soft-fall mulch or rubber matting under the swings and the end of the slide helps, and it stops the bare patch turning into a puddle after rain. Never put a swing set on concrete or pavers, and keep the clear zone free of edging, rocks and garden beds.
How often should swing ropes and seats be replaced?
When they show wear, which in Australian sun is often every few years. Check every rope, chain, carabiner and hook at the start of each season. A seat that's gone chalky or brittle, a rope that's stiff, pale or fraying at the hook, or a carabiner with a worn groove is due for replacing, and those parts are common and easy to swap. Bring fabric saucer swings inside over winter to slow the wear.
Is a cedar play centre better than a metal swing set?
It's a different thing. The Backyard Discovery Aurora gives younger kids a raised fort, a slide and two swings in 100% cedar with a 5-year guarantee, and its weight keeps it from walking. It costs more, takes most of a weekend to build and needs re-staining every year or two. A steel A-frame is lighter, quicker to build and suits older kids who mostly want to swing hard, but its powder coat and joints need watching.
Related buying guides
Phone came off the swing?
Phones that fly out of a pocket at the top of a swing usually land screen-first, and a cracked screen lets moisture in over the following weeks until the touch or display starts playing up. Tape over the crack, keep it dry and bring it into our Erina workshop. We'll check it and tell you what it needs before you spend anything.
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