thoughts on this back yard

Im going to landscape this backyard. its in a middle ring suburb but I want to do it as cheap as possible

Its a large area (backyard)(600m2 aprox)on a gentle sloping block

The first photo is the direct back of the house with a gravel area next to a deck-so was thinking of just paving over this and around the deck

The second photo is the right hand side of the yard - I was thinking of leaving it grassed half way down (turf this later) then build a retaining wall with a row of hedges along the top and then excavate and level the bottom half and pave right down to the boundary fence where you can see the trees.

the third photo shows the left hand side boundary fence which is falling down- so I'm going to rip all this out and run a new fence down the side- but as I do this- my neighbour is going to lend me his bobcat for free- so I have the opportunity to use this while the fence is down and I can excavate my back yard to the design I want and then return the bobcat and after build the fence- if you get what I mean! So thought I could level off the bottom half of the yard- use the bobcat to rip up all the yard and then pave with free/second hand pavers

I would also have some steps leading from the gravel top down the middle to the bottom half to the paved area and on the right hand side build some vege gardens.

I haven't paved before, but I imagine the area needs to be level?

any opinions would be good

 

Yep, I wouldn't get too carried away, as wylie said just tidy it up...
Maybe scatter some stepping slabs though the gravel
stepping slabs - Google Search

A gazebo/bbq area would look nice down the back corner

Guessing there's a leach drain next to the deck, long healthy growth, great spot for a veggie garden

 

Have you used a bobcat? They're good at making mess of nice grass, then you'll be up for turfing the lot.

Get some top soil and grass seed for around the clothes line. Job done

 

Looks pretty good to me. Just needs a tidy up, get the weeds out of the gravel, oil the deck and get rid of the pile of stuff at the back.
I would just throw some extra seeds on the lawn. Turf is super expensive, and if its tenanted they won't look after the grass anyway

 

A half basketball court

Throw a net down the middle and you'll have badminton too

Here's one I prepared earlier.

Cheers

Jamie

 

woah Jamie thats actually rather charming
how much does something like that cost

 

About $15k

 

That's surprisingly affordable! I thought it would be more. I was quoted similar just to concrete my driveway.

 

Yeah it wasn't too bad.

I have a tradie mate that coordinated it all - he arranged the bobcat, mini mix trucks, concreter. He also installed the hoop system.

I imported the flooring (snap sports) from the states as well as the Goalrilla hoop system.

It turned out to be an awesome outdoor play area for the kids - they love it.

 

Does that flooring sit on top of a slab just loose?

 

Yep - it's so heavy that there's not much movement.

 

and is it there in place of concrete because you are a girly man and afraid of skinning your knee?