Nature Play is challenging the traditional playground equipment for a diverse playground experience. Nature Play Playgrounds feature running water, sand, logs, natural landscapes, trees to climb and may even feature a creek. They encourage creative play, spark imagination and we LOVE them!
We are so lucky that Adelaide has embraced the Nature Play trend & you can now find tons of natural play areas all across Adelaide & South Australia. Have a look below for some of the fantastic nature playgrounds to choose from.
Maybe the Leckie Playground in Mount Torrens up in the Adelaide Hills is your go-to? If you live down south, be sure to check out the newly developed Wilfred Taylor Reserve in Morphett Vale for lots of nature play fun. If you’re heading into regional South Australia, stop in at the Hermit Street Nature Play Space in Roxby Downs. Whether you are north, south, east, or west of Adelaide, you’ll find some cracking nature play areas nearby.
Find it at: Piccadilly Road, Crafers Crafers Primary School received a $150,000 “Fund My Neighbourhood” grant at the end of 2017 to help build a brand new nature playground for both the school and the wider community to enjoy. This playground is a work in progress, but it’s still definitely worth a visit to check out the new play areas that have been built, as well as play on the older existing equipment that I assume will...
Read More
Find it at: The Esplanade, Point Turton The playground section of the park includes nature themed play equipment including: Hill slide Toddler slides Timber frame swings Nest swing Lots of wooden climbing and balancing logs and structures Wooden play “kitchen” Water pump Sand play Another great feature of this park is the bike track built into the hill above the park. Kids will love cutting laps around this track, and you can then...
Read More
Find it at: River Road, Noarlunga Downs Head south this Spring to the Onkaparinga River National Park. The parks are located 35km south of Adelaide. Access to the Recreation Park from River Road, Noarlunga Downs and from Commercial and Sauerbiers Roads, Seaford Meadows. A kaleidoscope of nature’s best with diverse hiking trails to the op of the cliff tops or down to permanent rock pools teeming with life. You’ll see rugged ridge tops and...
Read More
Find it at: Oval Terrace, Plympton This play space was Stage 1 of the $7 MILLION upgrade of Plympton’s Weigall Oval This is another great example of mixing nature based play elements (water play, rocks and balancing logs) with playground favourites (slides, swings, flying fox) There’s wooden structures to climb, ropes to balance on, water to splash in, sand to build in. The natural elements are really inviting and the kids were having a...
Read More
Find it at: Cnr of Blackwood Park Blvd and Champion Way, Craigburn Farm Welcome to Adelaide’s newest playground literally living up to its name Tree Tops. Based around the existing trees in the new Blackwood Park Estate this play space is an adventure haven. As soon as you arrive you see this amazing tall red climbing structure nestled among the trees. As we got closer I was nervous for the kids already up the top but they we just LOVING...
Read More
Find it at: Esplanade, Seacliff Although the playground is scheduled for an “official” opening on September 9th, the fences came down today for all the little ones to enjoy the newly completed playground in Seacliff. Shadesails and more plants will be added in September. The playground is in the same location as previously, although it includes part of the hillside now, spreading further than before. Yippee Angus Neil Reserve is...
Read More
*** July 2020 Update*** Find it at: 120B Hendrie St, Park Holme After being closed for maintenance, the Marion Council have advised that Hendrie Street is open for business again….just in time for the July school holidays! Livvi’s Place has been specially designed in close consultation with the community to ensure no-one is left out, including those with disabilities, and is located at Hendrie Street Reserve, behind the Marion Outdoor...
Read More
This is a newly renovated (July 2018) park for all ages. 4 swings (2 little kids and 2 older kids), balancing, climbing nets and climbing wall, monkey bars, firemans pole and flying fox.There’s also exercise equipment for big kids and adults. Nature play elements including hard and loose surface paths and a water play area including a water gate, water pumps, channel, sand sieve and wooden bridge that will be great fun in...
Read More
The recently completed Gully Road North Reserve Playground at Seacliff Park is so good! It’s a terrific location, with a beautiful winding creek bed of Gilbertson Gully to follow on one side, and the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park on the other! There is still some work to be done on the grass next to the playground, but the basketball ring and playground are able to be used. What are it’s features? Large climbing...
Read More
Situated on Linear Park amongst the walking track this playground has a lovely local vibe and is an awesome spot for the kids to explore and play. The play area includes equipment and nature play and has a nice balance of the two blended together. It includes water and sand play along with a small flowing creek with rocks and logs which allows the kids to get in to nature play. The playground also includes swings ( which includes a baby swing )...
Read More
Situated on the grassed area behind the Karawatha Community Hall this new Nature play space at Baden Terrace has literally JUST opened. When we visited a week or so ago the fence and bunting were still up. Today the bunting is still up but the fence has been removed and playground is OPEN to use. Featuring a lovely combination of nature play and equipment this play space is all about being back to nature. It has large rocks for the kids to jump...
Read More
Para Wirra is the last of the Adelaide parks to have the upgrades completed; new camp ground, Gawler View picnic area and nature play forest. The park has free vehicle entry for all of May so it’s a great time for families to visit. There are over 100 species of birds living in the park, including the cheeky emus you’ll see patrolling the picnic grounds. You can see kangaroos grazing at dawn and dusk, and on a warm day bearded dragons and...
Read More
Find it at: Symon Cres, Craigburn Farm The new Oak Tree Adventure Playground at Blackwood Park is part of a larger X-Terrain Park that includes an incredible running/walking/riding trail, creek, lake and the soon-to-be-completed “Tree Top Park” climbing structure. There are fitness circuits and exercise stations around the trail, but it’s nice just to relax in the beautiful landscape too! My kids were very excited when we...
Read More
Find it at: Alexandra Street, Prospect This is a little hidden gem nestled in the quiet suburb of Prospect .This playground is fabulous spot for kids to get lost amongst nature. Surrounded by big beautiful trees and shrubs this park allows kids to utilise the play equipment and encourages imaginative play amongst the nature which includes a pebble dry creek and art bridge. Amongst the nature and play equipment you will also find with some...
Read More
Find it at: Falcon Ave, Mile End This little park nestled in the quiet suburb of Mile end is located on the sight of the former Thebarton Neighbourhood House and is a peaceful little local nature play area. As soon as you arrive at the park you are greeted by a large tortoise and wombat nestled in the sand play area which straight away brings a smile to the kids faces. Huge steel sculptures along with wooden posts are also amongst the mix that...
Read More
Find it at: Sixth Ave, Ascot Park Just in time for school holidays we managed a sneak peek of this newly developed nature playground.The Marion council have done a great job of this space which sits adjacent to the Scouts Association. The nature based area is a fabulous spot for toddlers and young kids to run around and be creative with this awesome little sensory play area. Featuring a sand play and water play area along with natural logs and...
Read More
Find it at: Comet Ave, Netley Designed and inspired by the kids at Netley Kindergarten, this new little nature playground is nestled in the quiet suburb of Netley and adds a new dimension to the modern day playground. A fabulous area for kids to get in touch with nature by playing with the sand, climbing wooden bridges, or getting lost in the cave. This space is literally back to basics. These are just a few of the obstacles the children face...
Read More
Find it at: Windebanks Road, Aberfoyle Park Its Aberfoyle Park’s turn for a new Nature themed playground! There’s been some controversy around the newly re-vamped Thalassa Park Playground in Aberfoyle Park. Many residents to the area haven’t been impressed by the new nature themed playground, feeling that a lot has been missed in the $320,000 improvements. Being locals we had to go and check it out for ourselves and here’s our findings....
Read More
Gorgeous leafy playground located in Prospect suitable for all ages. This playground has a lovely vibe about it with some great play equipment in a “magical” garden theme. This playground allows the children to play on the equipment, explore the garden and nature areas, build sandcastles in the sandpit, splash in the small water play area, kick a ball on the lawn or just relax on a blanket. The playground is fully fenced but also offers lots of...
Read More
Laratinga Wetlands is located in the Adelaide Hills suburb of Mt Barker, just off Bald Hills Road. The wetland’s environmental and recreational qualities attract many visitors and has won several awards, including the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award. It’s a great place to spend a day walking the wheelchair accessible and pram friendly trails, riding bikes, having picnic, bird watching or just...
Read More
There are many things we love about Clonlea Park on Murray Road in Gawler. Since its revamp in 2015 there is something for everyone. The new skate park is a major hit with a lot of kids both young and old. There is also a small playground near there to keep the little ones happy while the big ones skate. The main playground is so much fun, complete with rope climbing tower. Clonlea Park is full of different walking trails, perfect to get in...
Read More
Find it at: Trevor Terrace, Blackwood One of three new playgrounds from Mitcham Council is now open at Ossie Goldsworthy Reserve in Blackwood We’ll be getting there asap to check it out for ourselves but what we know so far is the park has a big adventure and nature play theme with undercover picnic area, benches and seating Timber parkour challenge including monkey bars and platform slide Tactile pole with fairy door Sandpit with water...
Read More
Find it at: Shakespeare Ave, Tranmere After an arvo walk around Morialta Falls this afternoon we drove past The Gums Reserve and had to stop and check it out. It’s a huge big great grassy space surrounded by beautiful great big old gum trees and has Sunday picnic written all over it. The park features a fully fenced toddler playground with wheelchair access, a basketball court and some workout equipment, but kids will get the most fun...
Read More
Find it at: Corner of Bridge and Smith Roads, Salisbury East. Cobbler Creek Recreation Park is a great, updated recreation park with a large new playground and over 17km of fantastic mountain/BMX paths for riders of all abilities. We took the youngsters there recently and they had a ball on the playground as well as riding the junior tracks, with the 4 year old even having a great time on the intermediate track. Cobbler Creek Recreation Park...
Read More
Find it at: Trimmy Terrace, Unley The City of Unley consulted with the “playground experts” to help them upgrade the Unley Oval playground. During community consultation with local residents, the City of Unley specifically sought suggestions from children in the area about what they would like to see incorporated into the improved playground, atop the northern mound at Unley Oval, known as the ‘Hilltop Playground’. 93 children from...
Read More
Find it at: corner of Bundeys Road and MacKinnon Parade, North Adelaide The North Adelaide Playspace is on the corner of Bundeys Road and Mackinnon Parade, North Adelaide at Tidlangga Park 9. Also incorporating a pocket orchard in the making, we think this is a great inner city initiative. With a focus on natural elements, most of the play equipment is made of wood, ropes, real tree logs, large climbing rocks etc and landscaping incorporates...
Read More
Find it at: 9 Stonyfell Rd, Wattle Park Bell Yett Reserve in Wattle Park is a small playground but great space for imaginative play. My kids thrive on that sort of space! The very recently updated playground is a great little park located off Stonyfell Road. The playground equipment is small but well designed and includes slides, climbing nets and two wooden forts. The most impressive part of this playground however is the way it is set...
Read More
Find it at: 43 Jervois Street, South Plympton Jervois Street Playground in South Plympton is up there with Morialta and Glenunga as one of our favourite playgrounds in Adelaide. Some of the Jervois Street Reserve highlights are: Fully fenced junior playground with lots to keep the little ones happy including double slides, a ‘bird’s nest’ swing, regular and baby swing, sandpit and a water play feature with pump action water...
Read More
Find it at: Located on the corner of East Terrace and Wood Street, the Edwardstown Oval Playground is located in the South West corner of the oval complex. If your kids love nature play they’ll LOVE the Edwardstown Oval Soldiers Memorial Playground with something for kids of all ages! This wonderful, fully fenced new playground has a water play pump/feature, large sandpit with digger and swings including an enclosed baby swing & lie...
Read More
Find it at: Mosley Square Glenelg The Glenelg Foreshore Playground is SO good and we have absolutely loved visiting (along with most of Adelaide!) over the past few years since it opened. With the recent seasonal addition of the Giant Wheel, from about October to April, it makes for a brilliant day out! It’s a great mixture of beach surrounds, fun for young and old kids, and the move towards ‘nature play’ areas. Highlights...
Read More
