Winston 4-Station Timber Swing Set with Green Slide

Four stations on one timber frame: two swings, a trapeze bar and a 1.8m slide. The Winston is the swing set we point people to when they want something that will still be getting used in five years rather than something that will be outgrown in two.

The build

• High-temperature treated pine – the treatment is what keeps it standing up to Australian summers and winters
• UV-stabilised metal and plastic fittings, so the bright parts don't chalk out after a season in the sun
• Assembled size 360cm long × 155cm wide × 202cm high
• Anchor kits included for soil or concrete – use them, they're not optional on a swing set

Why four stations matters

Two swings means siblings or a friend can play at the same time, which in practice is the difference between a swing set that gets used and one that gets argued over. The trapeze bar gives older kids something to progress to once the swings stop being a challenge, and the seats are height-adjustable and interchangeable, so you can run toddler seats early on and swap to standard belt seats later.

Space and assembly

Allow clear space of about two metres behind and in front of the swing arc and a metre past the end of the slide. Assembly is a half-day for two people with a drill; laying all the timber out and sorting the hardware before you start saves more time than anything else.

Other options

If you want fewer stations and a smaller footprint, the Forde 3-Station and Holt 2-Station are the same idea scaled down. If you'd rather have a cubby house attached, see the Kensington. Metal frames like the Lynx cost less and need no painting, but they don't look like part of the garden the way timber does.