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: Morialta Conservation Park, Woodforde The eagle has landed at Morialta Playground… in a 7 metre tall nest – and your kids can climb it! Yep, the Morialta Conservation Park playground is AWESOME! Best suited to kids aged 5-15years, it is great to see a play area perfect for older families. With over 100 car parks and walking trails to guide you, it makes a visit to the park even easier to navigate for families. The...
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Adelaide is home to some amazing playgrounds, but sometimes, your kids may have a really intense love for a very specific theme. Most kids do at some point, whether it be dinosaurs, pirates, trains or just wanting to run around and get so damn dirty that you think you may get arrested for stealing sand. Whatever your kid is into, we have scoured the archives and compiled a list of some of Adelaide’s Best Themed Playgrounds for you to...
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Glenthorne Nature Play Space Find it at: Majors Road, O’Halloran Hill Located within Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, this multi-million dollar nature playground has quickly become a favourite for Adelaide families, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. Opened in 2022, this incredible play space combines adventure, imagination, inclusive design and nature play in one huge family-friendly destination. What we love most about...
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Find it at: Beasley Avenue, Gawler (Parking on Chignell Circuit) Opened in August 2024, Reid Reserve is a nature themed playground nestled in the beautiful reserve up north in Gawler. Reid Reserve caters to all age groups, offering an array of features including; a flying fox nest swing slide accessible roundabout standard swings There is also a shaded picnic area and a half-basketball court. Built by the talented Climbing Tree team, this is a...
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Find it at: Cnr of Blackwood Park Blvd and Champion Way, Craigburn Farm Based around the existing trees in the 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 it. I watched the kids climb the rope stair case or strategically weave in and out of the...
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Find it at: Mount Barker Rd, Bridgewater This stunning playground is just about everything we love about a day out in our beautiful Adelaide Hills. Coffee, stunning scenery and a fab playground for all ages. Located just below the Bridgewater Mill, the playground is fenced along the road and edges but NOT on the creek bed, which in my opinion is great because it allows kids to take there shoes off and go for a good explore in the creek bed....
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Find it at: Bower Road, Port Adelaide Yitpi Yartapuultiku, meaning ‘Soul of Port Adelaide’ in Kaurna language opened in mid 2025, with visitors able to immerse themselves in Aboriginal culture and the stunning natural environment. The centre itself is open Monday to Friday 10am- 4pm and Sat to Sun 10am-2pm, with toilets located inside including a parent room. There is also a cafe located inside the centre which is closed on Mondays,...
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Find it at: Belair National Park, SA Updated at the end 2025, Belair Adventure Playground has had a massive upgrade while also keeping some of their existing gems such as the play tunnels and famous fort. The old metal-framed play equipment is no longer, making way for a fresh, fun-filled upgrade that’s all about better play, safer fun, and less maintenance. Think three epic slides, a climbing rope pyramid, monkey bars, three swings, a...
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Find it at: Solandra Cr, Modbury North Pack up the change of clothes kids, we are going to sand and water play nirvana! Solandra Reserve out at Modbury North has had a fab upgrade, with the space transformed into a brilliant community facility. Featuring the already mentioned sand and water play features (undercover too we might add!), chuck in a great little pump track and a range of equipment to suit the big kids and little ones, this one...
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Find it at: Port Rd, Adelaide What a beautiful playground for kids of all ages! Renovated back in late 2012, the Bonython Park Playground has a some very cool features not found in the typical suburban park. Some of the best equipment includes two 25m flying fox lines fun for kids of all ages and an extensive water play area complete with pumps, gates and a watermill. Kids love playing and experimenting with water and this...
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Find it at: Heritage Street, Keith Don Moseley Park received an extensive playground redevelopment late 2025. This nature-themed upgrade includes water play, a flying fox, sandpit, huge 4.2m tall towers, slides, swings, cubby houses and so much more. The best news? The famous ‘train’ roller coaster has remained part of this playground! If you are heading to the states South East or on a road trip to Melbourne or any where along...
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Find it at: Shearwater Place, Wynn Vale Shearwater Park Playground was updated mid 2025. This playground is a great mix of nature and play, with sand and water elements that make it even more fun and engaging. There is also a wooden boat and a fun rocking car in the play area, which kids will love! They can let their imaginations run wild—setting off on adventures and make-believe journeys. Shearwater Park is also located alongside Wynn Vale...
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Find it at: Corner of Bridge and Smith Roads, Salisbury East. Cobbler Creek Recreation Park is a fabulous recreation park with a large 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. The ‘Kites and Kestrels’...
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Find it at: Minda Farm Reserve. Between Symon Crescent and Gartrell Boulevard Craigburn Farm 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 epic Blackwood Treetop Playground 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...
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Find it at: Corner of Bundeys Road and MacKinnon Parade, North Adelaide There are two main playground areas within the North Adelaide Playspace both with similar equipment but one lower to the ground and therefore better for 1-4 year olds, while the slightly bigger equipment is well suited to ages 4-10. Each playground section has HEAPS of options for climbing including lots of different wood and rope sections, log balance beams, wooden...
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Find it at: Livestrong Pathway, Hindmarsh (along the River Torrens) We all already know that Bonython Park is AWESOME – between the playground & the newly re-opened Café Bonython, we honestly thought it couldn’t get any better. But lo & behold, it does get better! Introducing the Bunyip Trail! It’s a Children’s Trail that you can access by heading west along the river from the playground & follows the story...
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Find it at: 2 Barossa Valley Way, Lyndoch The redevelopment of Lyndoch Recreation Park, known as the Barossa Park Project includes the upgrade of the existing oval to meet AFL standards, a recreation green/second oval supporting relocation of athletics and a new multi-purpose building comprising a 300-seat event space, commercial kitchen, clubroom, change facilities and gym. New netball courts, playground and family garden, shelters and...
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Find it at: Esplanade, Seacliff Located opposite the tranquil beach that runs between Seacliff and Brighton, Angus Neill Reserve is ideal for large gatherings. There’s plenty of parking available around the park and it is extremely well-maintained. During the warmer months, you can see kids setting up slip ‘n’ slides on the weekends and sliding down the spacious grassy knoll. Things we love about this park 2 x Undercover BBQ...
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Find it at: Wheatsheaf Road, Morphett Vale The amazing $2.2 million nature playspace, located on the corner of Wheatsheaf and States Roads at Morphett Vale, has been designed for people of all ages to get outdoors and engage with nature. Nature themes are featured as a tribute to the site’s importance for Kaurna people, and the site’s history as a working farm from the 1840s to 1960s. Stunning public art by local Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and...
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Find it at: Corner Old Belair Road and Norman Walk, Mitcham This ripper was upgraded in December 2018 and we absolutely love it! The new playground updates are a credit to Nature Play Design and the City of Mitcham with a great mix of the nature play elements alongside more traditional equipment. On the larger side of the park (the Northern side) there is the highlight of the new upgrade to Mitcham Reserve with a double story ‘elf...
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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...
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Find it at: Heron Way, Hallett Cove This is a great playground with amazing views over the ocean. The reserve includes a 5-way swing, tunnel slide, water and sand play, nature play, fitness equipment, shade sales, toilet, seating, shelter and BBQ facilities. The playground is unfenced, and there is a drop down to the rocky beach that parents with fast moving smaller children will need to be mindful of. There is parking close to the playground,...
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Find it at: Moseley Square Glenelg The Glenelg Foreshore Playground is SO good and we have absolutely loved visiting (along with most of Adelaide!) since it opened. With the 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 include: water play area into the...
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Find it at: Addiscombe Pl, Unley Park Calling all Mini Ninjas. Heywood Park in Unley is the place to be. In addition to the 2 separate play areas this play space has awesome Mini Ninja course designed for ages 10 – 14. We love how the council have created this space with a natural flare in mind so the kids balance and climb on logs and stumps, run up and over mounds, and use rocks as stepping stones. The ninja course is actually designed...
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Find it at: Gullly Road, Seacliff Park The 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...
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Find it at: Mimosa Drive, Vale Park This beautiful nature playground opened in 2022, built by the talented LCS Landscapes team. Featuring plenty of nature themed equipment for the kids to explore and play, there is also BBQs, toilets, seating, lovely grassed area, drinking fountain and bottle refuelling and a bike path loop that is perfect for the little ones. We love the hidden clue hunt they have installed here, with a number of coded signs...
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Find it at: Frederick Reserve, West Lakes This 2024 built nature playground out at West Lakes is a well crafted suburban size play space, with swings, a small fort and slide, plus an array of nature equipment for climbing and balancing. Plenty of natural shade has transformed this previously barren reserve into a beautiful space for local families. No toilets but you will find a seated shade spot to watch the kids run around and get some...
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Find it at: Gulf Parade, Maslin Beach Located on the cliff face offering a spectacular 180-degree sea-view, this one is one of the most scenic playgrounds around. The reserve’s large, grassed lawn area is perfect for family activities and from the cliff point you can take pleasure in watching the sun set over one of Adelaide’s prettiest beaches, or study the many rock layers in the ancient cliff-face. Barbecues, shelters, public toilets and a...
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Opened in 2023, this incredible playground on the Eyre Peninsula is a must-visit, celebrating Barngarla storytelling with stunning First Nations artwork woven into its design. Families will find endless fun in the creative play spaces, from water and sand play to accessible play equipment and exciting climbing structures like the tunnel slide and ropes. With ocean views, picnic spots, free BBQs, and a nearby jetty, it’s the perfect spot for a...
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Find it at: Oval Terrace, Plympton 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 ball. There’s a good mix of toddler and older kids equipment with a small...
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