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: Poltawa Terrace, Broadview Broadview Oval is a fabulous community space, which includes equipment and facilities for the whole family including: Playground Electric BBQ Cycle Track Tennis Clubs Oval Dog Park Kiosk (open Monday to Friday 8am-11am and 4pm-8pm, weekends for football games). This area is only an off-leash area for dogs between 5am and 8am, and 5pm and 9pm. The fenced off dog park is off-leash all of the time. We love...
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Find it at: Main Street in Myponga Myponga Nature Playground opened in mid 2018 and was a very welcome addition to the local area. This is another nature themed playground from the folks at Nature Play Landscaping who are behind some of our other favourite playgrounds including the new one at Point Turton The park has lots of wooden and rope climbing features, swings, wooden monkey bars/climbing ladder and a nice big sandpit. A beautiful spot...
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Find it at: The Parade & West Terrace, Kensington Gardens Hidden away in the inner Eastern suburbs is this the awesome Burnside Adventure Playground. Despite being a multi-award winning park and just off The Parade, I’ve been surprised to find how many locals don’t even know about this place with things to do for families of all ages and interests! It s a firm fave for us and our two boys under 5, plus our friends with toddlers...
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When was the last time you said to your kids “go climb that tree?”or “get down from that tree!” Likely, it may have been a while. Tree climbing adventures have seemed to have disappeared off the after school hit list radar. Close your eyes … and remember back to your favourite tree to climb as a kid. Do your kids have one? When tree climbing, assess the risks like you do a playground and let them learn as we did...
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Find it at: Princes Highway, Littlehampton Completed in 2024 and built to service new families moving into nearby developments, The Glebe is a beautiful open space with a minimalist nature playground, magnificent climbing tree, sand play and bike track. Its a dog exercise area too, so prepare for a number of dogs off lead, however the playground itself is free from dogs and is fully fenced. Plenty of nature, plenty of quiet and a lot of open...
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Find it at: Beasley Avenue, Gawler (Parking on Chignell Circuit) Opening 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: 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...
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Find it at: Brooker Terrace, Hilton West Torrens Memorial Gardens are one of the city’s beautiful green spaces and are situated off Brooker Terrace next to the Cowandilla (Hamra) Library, and featured a great upgrade in 2018.There are heaps of climbing and swinging options for those with little people who love to climb as much as ours do! We love the unique bridge which links the two sides of the playspace, allowing...
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Find it at: Just off Wonambi Road What happens when 3 local Mums decide that it’s about time their kids had a brand new playground…? They just go and get one built (with some help)! Enter the Naracoorte Caves Fossil Hunters Nature Playground! With the help of the local community and backing of the local CWA Limestone Ladies group, 3 Naracoorte Mums raised enough votes to WIN a $150,000 State Government Fund My Neighbourhood Grant to...
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Find it at: Woodswallow Drive, Happy Valley Upgraded in 2024, this picturesque backstreet playground in the heart of Happy Valley is a ripper for the locals. With a huge flying fox, tube slide and tower plus some gorgeous nature play equipment which fits in nicely with the nature backdrop. No toilets here but shaded seating and half court basketball is on offer, as well as some grassed area.
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Find it at: Barrage Road, Goolwa Another one to add to the Nature Playground list! This $600,000 project was opened in late 2015 and is located in a beautiful big waterside park, right near the yacht club in Goolwa. On the weekend or in the school holidays you can often see people taking their boats out or having races on the water nearby. It’s location is the first point I’d make. It’s a gorgeous spot but it is right near the...
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Find it at: Greenhill Road, Hazelwood Park Hazelwood Park Playground is a beauty for families of all ages and abilities. Upgraded in 2010 (and given a bit more TLC in early 2024), this shady park with plenty to do was one of the first (and still one of our fave) parks with a nature play feel. Set in the corner of the huge reserve there is plenty of space, plenty of shade and plenty of play equipment. In the summer the Burnside Outdoor Pool is...
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Find it at: Leonard Norman Drive, Waikerie Opened in December 2018 the Waikerie Water and Nature Play Park was the idea of local couple Clive and Donna Mathews who received a $150,000 Fund My Neighbourhood grant from the SA Government and also raised a further $100,000+ from the local Rotary Club, Council and Go Fund me campaign. (how good is that!). The playground also now includes an accessible roundabout for wheelchairs and an accessible...
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Marshmallow Park on Glen Osmond Road, in the Adelaide Parklands is a firm favourite with our families from the 2 year old to the 10 year old. With its huge new renovation, there is now heaps more to explore at this site – also known as Pelzer Park or Pityarilla Activity Hub! The renovation includes some brilliant new nature play features, alongside more traditional swings, slides and climbing frames. There is a great water feature hill...
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Find it at: Pine Reserve, Aberfoyle Park The picturesque spot down south has had an upgrade in 2023, and doesn’t it look sensational! There are no toilets sadly but plenty of shade, water fountains and park benches. There is play equipment for all ages including an array of ninja course style ropes and climbing equipment. Keeping with the pine theme, the equipment is primarily wood and rope based. I spent so much time here as a kid and...
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Find it at: Maxwell Road, Para Hills West Well isn’t this a little bit sensational! The new playground at The Paddocks Reserve is OPEN and we must say, this is one of the best new playgrounds we have come across in a while, with some pretty spectacular pieces of equipment to keep the kids busy for ages! With access best via Maxwell Road, there is so much to talk about here its hard to know where to start. We have to start off with the...
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Find it at: Mary Lee Street, Two Wells Well isn’t this one totally worth the drive out north! The new playground, Freedom Park, within the Liberty at Two Wells development, is the latest milestone in a $1.2 billion residential precinct way out north. We absolutely loved it when we took the drive to check it out, with our intrepid playground reviewers claiming it as one of the best playgrounds they have visited. High praise indeed! Lots of...
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It’s no secret that here at Kids In Adelaide we love somewhere free. Well, the Adelaide Botanic Garden surely has to be the ultimate FREE spot to enjoy with your kids! It’s a great place to pop in just for an hour or to spend a full day. Plus it’s even better now that the Tram line runs from the Adelaide Train Station straight down to the Botanic Garden gate. So forget about parking, jump onto the Tram & enjoy what the...
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Find it at: Miravale The fences are down at the Miravale housing development playground at Angle Vale! With some touches on their fantastic play space in the heart of the development, still being done but the locals are loving it! With a great tower and tube slide the centre piece, rock climbing wall, gym equipment, pump track, basketball court and with nature play and a whole range of other equipment for the kids to play on, this will be a...
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Find it at: Glover St, Kersbrook Located behind the football oval, this fantastic facility opened in April 2021 and is yet another beautiful playground that has opened in the Adelaide Hills in 2021 (we really are building a great Hills Playground trail!). There are no toilets here that we could see, unless they were hidden behind the club rooms. The spacious playspace includes a huge flying fox, a cool sand play area, lots of nature play...
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Find it at: Mail Road, Harrogate This is definitely one to check out in winter for that added adventure! Opened in mid 2021, this hidden gem in the heart of Harrogate has been transformed thanks to a $140k investment from Council. In response to the township plan and bushfire recovery efforts, the Harrogate Recreational Reserve has received a much needed facelift. Upgrades include a modern shelter housing a new barbecue, undercover seating and...
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Find it at: Oval Road, Mount Torrens Put together by the talented team at Climbing Tree Consultancy (seriously they do some of the best playgrounds in SA), The Leckie Playground at Mt Torrens playground is another beauty. With plenty of natural shade, the lovely oval next door, bench seating, a picnic table, water play and some ripping nature play equipment for the kids to explore, this is a real winner. There aren’t any toilets however...
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Find it at: George Street, Marion The City of Marion have opened up yet another fabulous playground (they are really setting the standard aren’t they), this time a spacious playground at George Street. With an in-ground trampoline, swing, sandpit, water pump and 2 historical-themed cubby houses, including a village store and a workers cottage, this one is really cool. There’s also a miniature fire pole, slide and logs to jump on and an...
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Find it at: Hope Valley, SA Fantastic news with the announcement that from December 13 2020, we will be able to walk, cycle and explore Hope Valley Reservoir for the first time in 150 years (give or take a year or two). Construction is about to commence, with first cab off the rank being a network of walking and cycling trails which will take you from the reservoir and link with existing paths alongside the O-Bahn busway. The fabulous new...
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Find it at: Yanyarrie Avenue, Edwardstown A beautiful brand new playground opened in May 2021, nestled snugly in the backstreets of Edwardstown, you will find City of Marion designed (Talented Jason Avery at work here again) ripping spot to relax and take a moment out of your busy day. With a huge nest swing, a really cool climbing boulder and some in-ground tramps, you won’t find a tremendous amount of equipment, but what they have done...
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Find it at: South Parklands, Lightsview A fabulous adventure playground has been added to the Lightsview development, which is well worth the trip! Opened in April 2021, the nature play themed park includes water play, a huge number of logs and balancing beams to test out kids and parents alike! Throw in a climbing hill with slide, a basketball court, sand play area, in-ground trampolines, swings and even more slides, we love this park for...
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Find it at: Central Avenue, Hallett Cove A fabulous new addition to the City of Marion’s range of playspaces opened up in March 2021, with the brand spanking new playground at Central Avenue Reserve. Using the site’s slope to the fullest advantage, the highlight here is a super quick flying fox which takes kids (and parents!) from the rock-climb inspired slide playground and basketball court, right down to the sand play and shelter...
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Find it at: Shepherds Hill Road, Blackwood Huge news for the new year with work finished on a new nature play space at the Wittunga Botanic Garden!The play space is a fun way for children to learn about the environment and has been designed with help from local primary school students. We popped down for a visit after the opening (to be honest we have been popping in to watch the build progress as well!) and we had a ball! We loved exploring...
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Find it at: Brooklyn Drive, Hallett Cove The Brooklyn Drive Reserve playground is open and after rigorous testing by a KiA crew, it has been given the tick of approval. Not a huge space, but a great spot for locals, this timber themed playground has enough to keep most ages entertained while you take 5 during your probably hectic schedule! There is a swing (plus a toddler swing), as well as monkey bars (to be fair they are fairly low hanging so...
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Find it at: Wongabirrie Park – Wirrabara in the mid North Located on the banks of the Rocky River (which is great for exploring or yabbying when wet) is Wongabarrie Park up at Wirrabara. Where is that? Head to Pt Pirie and sort of turn right and you are about on the mark. The playground is a fantastic facility for the locals and travellers alike, with toilets a large rotunda (great for parties) and BBQ areas aplenty. Right next to the...
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