Buggbuddys guide to playgrounds with nature play in Perth! The ultimate guide to the best nature playgrounds and parks in Perth! Kids love burning off energy at parks and playgrounds, and Perth’s got some of the best in the world. Best of all, they’re all FREE!
Why do we love nature playgrounds?
Nature play gets kids back in touch with nature. It provides important learning opportunities as well as a chance to get grubby and build or play with natural materials. In other words, a chance to delight in water play or let kids can get hands-on in mud kitchens or work together at sand tables with their friends.
We’ve also added details of where playgrounds are close to local coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. Therefore you can grab a bite to eat before or after your play, or grab a takeaway coffee on the way. Don’t forget your reusable coffee mug! 😉 Get out into nature play today and make some precious memories with your kids today!
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Calling all climbers! The recently revamped play space at Flinders Park in Hillarys is ideal for kids who love a challenge. The playground reopened several months ago and now boasts various rope ladders and climbing frames, plus balance and stepping logs for kids to test their agility. The play structures are best suited to older children but my toddler was still able to climb up some of the ladders and enjoy the slides. Underneath is a pretend ‘store’ where all ages can employ their imagination. There is ample space for digging and sand play so it’s a good idea to Read more…
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Hinckley Park in Hocking is one of those Playground-and-park combos that can easily fill an entire morning, especially if your kids are the kind who like to keep moving. Set across a big neighbourhood reserve, it’s been designed as a true “destination park” with multiple zones rather than just one main play structure. The standout is how much space there is to spread out, so it works just as well for a relaxed picnic as it does for a high-energy playdate. If you only remember one thing before you go, make it this: bring wheels. The children’s bike circuit is Read more…
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Lincoln Road Reserve in Forrestfield is a great little neighbourhood park that’s well set up for active kids. The reserve combines traditional play equipment with nature play, a ninja-style obstacle course and a double flying fox, all beside a large open grassed area that’s perfect for running and ball games. The double flying fox is a big highlight for many families. One of the lines has a supportive seat with a harness, which is ideal for younger children or those who need a bit of extra security, while the other has a disc-style seat for more confident riders. The cable Read more…
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Tucked within the Kingsford estate in Bullsbrook, this impressive community Playground blends nature play with more traditional equipment to create a brilliant all‑ages destination. Set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a tree‑lined brook, it’s the sort of park where you can easily settle in for a few hours while the kids explore, climb, splash and play. The hero of the Playground is the striking stacked crate‑style climbing tower. Confident climbers will love tackling the different rope and ladder obstacles to reach the top before choosing one of the two large tunnel slides for a speedy trip back down. Read more…
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Just a short drive south of Cottesloe, you can find the Dutch Inn Playground located on Marine Parade, near Princes Street. This upgraded playground was completed in 2021, that offers a great range of features and activities for families to enjoy. With its ship-themed play structure, ninja-style obstacle course, and nature-based play area, this playground promises an adventurous experience against a stunning coastal backdrop. The main attraction of the playground is the boat-shaped play structure known as “Warton’s Wreck,” named after the Elizabeth, which ran ashore in 1839. For the maritime history enthusiasts, the remnants of this historic wreck can Read more…
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Perched high above the Swan River in Dalkeith, Sunset Heritage Precinct is a beautiful blend of riverside parkland, nature play and WA history. Once the grounds of the former Sunset Hospital – an early 1900s “Old Men’s Home” – the site has gradually been transformed into a community space with landscaped gardens, paths and a lovely nature-based Playground, all gifted to the people of Western Australia with support from His Majesty the Sultan of Johor. The nature play area sits on a gentle slope overlooking the river, making it a really scenic spot for a play. On the ground level Read more…
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Gingin Outdoor Activity Space is a fantastic family-friendly destination in the heart of this small, historic township, offering a huge variety of play opportunities for children of all ages. Set in a picturesque, country-town setting, the Playground combines nature play, active play and community facilities, making it well worth the drive from Perth for a day out. The centrepiece of the space is the impressive Gingin Tower, a nature-inspired climbing structure that immediately catches the eye. Kids can climb up using rope ladders and bridges before choosing from two different slides to zoom back down. Surrounding the main tower are Read more…
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Enright Reserve in Hamilton Hill is a fantastic all-rounder park that caters for a wide range of ages and abilities. Tucked away in a quiet residential area, it combines a nature play space, a more traditional Playground, fitness equipment and a big oval, so it’s easy to fill a whole morning or afternoon here with the kids. The nature-based Playground is ideal for little climbers and imaginative play. Younger children can confidently tackle the old tyres that lead up to a plastic tunnel slide, and there’s a second plastic tunnel to crawl through or balance across, which is great for Read more…
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In the heart of Armadale you’ll find Memorial Park, a leafy, central Playground with a fun train theme that’s a hit with kids of all ages. The park was redeveloped with a vintage railway feel – perfect if your little ones love trains, climbing and imaginative play, and you want somewhere with plenty of grass and shade to relax. The centrepiece of the Playground is the big train-shaped play frame and “station”. The train is styled like an old steam engine, complete with platform steps to climb aboard. Kids can crawl through the tunnel where the boiler would be, clamber Read more…
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Jurien Bay Foreshore Playground, set along the beautiful Turquoise Coast at Dobbyn Park, is a brilliant all‑ages stop on a road trip north of Perth or an easy holiday base in its own right. Overlooking white sand and that famous turquoise water, the foreshore brings together a huge nature Playground, skate and youth precinct, exercise circuit and family‑friendly beach in one compact, walkable stretch. The main Playground is a real show‑stopper. Inspired by Jurien Bay’s crayfishing heritage, the towering climbing structure looks like a series of giant cray pots stacked together. Inside, older kids will love getting lost in the Read more…
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Rossiter Pavilion and Playing Fields in Piara Waters is a compact but very thoughtfully designed community Playground, wrapped around a large sports oval and pavilion. Tucked within the Holland Park Estate, the play space combines nature play, messy play and classic Playground favourites, making it a handy local park for toddlers through to early primary-aged kids. As you walk into the Playground, the first thing many kids spot are the three in-ground trampolines set into the soft fall. These are a real drawcard for energetic children who love to bounce, and they’re spread out enough that a few kids can Read more…
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Woodbridge Riverside Park in Woodbridge is one of those rare Playgrounds that really does have a bit of everything. Tucked alongside the Swan River near Guildford, this fully fenced, all‑abilities park is worth the drive for a big morning out. The main gates have safety latches, giving parents of speedy toddlers a bit more peace of mind while the kids roam between the many different play zones. The central sand play area is a huge hit with younger children. Here you’ll find a big pirate boat complete with climbing ropes, a fireman’s pole and lots of space underneath for imaginative Read more…
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Mills Park in Beckenham is a huge 24-hectare community hub that combines beautiful wetlands, excellent sporting facilities and one of Perth’s best nature play spaces. Tucked just off Brixton Street and adjacent to Roe Highway, it’s the kind of park where you can easily spend a whole day – with coffee in hand – while the kids run, climb and explore. The nature play space is spread out over a large area, so it never feels too crowded. Paths wind around and through the Playground, connecting to the surrounding wetlands, which makes it great for bikes and scooters as well Read more…
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Gibbon Park, Mosman Park Gibbon Park is the latest nature playground in Mosman Park. This park includes a mix of nature play elements and traditional play equipment that’s sure to satisfy active children! On arriving Miss 6 raced straight for the traditional play equipment first. What kid can resist a slide? This part of the playground is covered with shade sails, has a soft fall rubber base and is surrounded by grass. Great if you’re not a fan of sand. This playground appears to have been installed in 2012. It features climbing ropes, climbing walls, a tunnel and slide, Read more…
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Baldivis has quietly become a bit of a Playground paradise, and Brightwood Adventure Park is one of the biggest drawcards. Set within the Brightwood estate on Solis Boulevard, this $3 million community park packs in a towering climbing structure, multiple slides, flying foxes, swings, nature play, scooter track and more – all wrapped in plenty of open green space for picnics and ball games. According to the developer, the park has been designed not just for kids, but as a space where the whole community can play and exercise together, with outdoor fitness equipment and BBQ areas dotted around the Read more…
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Tucked away in the heart of Gosnells, amongst 22 hectares of wetlands at Mary Carroll Park, you’ll find an amazing all-abilities playground. This gem of a playground blends nature and learning, offering kids a fun and educational space to connect with the outdoors. Street parking and a small car park are available along Eudoria Street in Gosnells. The playground is fully fenced (a must if you have an escape artist like I do) with 2 entry/exit gates at either end. Toilets are located next to the carpark just outside of the fence, a good idea to make sure everyone goes Read more…
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Just 5 minutes drive from Garden City Shopping Centre, atop Wireless Hill, is a beautiful is Wireless Hill Nature Playspace. We arrived in the middle of the day, and amazingly the play area is naturally shaded by the surrounding trees, even at noon. It was so quiet and peaceful, with by birdsong come from the surrounding bush land. Miss almost 3 really enjoyed Wireless Hill Nature Playspace . She found lots of balancing beams, logs and rocks to climb. There are steps carved out of logs running up to a platform. A lot of the play area is surrounded by Read more…
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Did you know that there’s a nature play area in the Perth foothills suburb of Bushmead. While it’s much smaller than the estate’s “Giant Park”, the simple Ridge Hill Green Nature Playground can provide plenty of entertainment for children that love to be in the great outdoors and love to climb. The beautifully made timber play structure features a double slide – perfect for kids to race siblings or friends. Image: Bushmead Estate Very small children may have trouble reaching this, as there’s a flat net to climb to get to it, as well as big logs to climb. On Read more…
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Considering Wanneroo is built on old market garden land, it is very fitting that the recently upgraded Frederick Duffy Park is farming themed. This great little park has something for everyone. Set amongst mature gum trees the park has plenty of shade for playing and picnics. At the centre of the park is a big gazebo with a BBQ, picnic tables and a water fountain. Leading off from the picnic area is a circular concreted path, great for little kids on scooters and bikes. Connecting the picnic area to the toddler playground are some “naturescape” style stepping stones and Read more…
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Lake Monger (now officially Galup Reserve) has long been a favourite spot for Perth families to walk, scoot and enjoy the open space, and the South West Playground adds a big dose of adventure especially for older kids. Designed with children aged 5 and over in mind, this is a brilliant option if your bigger kids have outgrown the toddler Playgrounds elsewhere around the lake and are ready for more of a challenge. As you arrive, the striking ninja-style rope obstacle course immediately grabs attention. My five-year-old couldn’t wait to jump on and declared it a real-life “Roblox obby”. The Read more…
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Wyong Reserve in Bentley is a great little park with a lot going on. The playground is fully fenced and has a pathway running around it that is designed as a road to ride scooters and bikes along. There a few large speed humps, and we said next time we come we will have to bring the scooter. There are benches around the playground and an undercover area with BBQs and picnic benches. There is also a drink fountain and bins. It was nice that they kept some of the big trees in the development of the playground and fitted Read more…
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Since the opening of Optus Stadium in 2018, the iconic Subiaco Oval, which originally opened in 1908, has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once a bustling hub for AFL games, it has now been reimagined into a vibrant community space. The Subiaco Oval area is a beautiful spot where families, sports lovers, and history enthusiasts can come together to relive old memories and create new ones. The newly revamped site offers a fantastic playground, perfect for younger children. The nature-based playground is fully sheltered and features a range of equipment, including seesaws, a shopfront, a cooking station, a small climbing structure, Read more…
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Located in the heart of the new community at Mandogalup, Florence Estate Park is A playground that beautifully incorporates wooden beams for its play equipment. This spacious playground is nested beside rows of mature trees, providing scenic greenery, and playing in the park feels like you’re right next to nature. My girls headed straight to the main play area, where the big slide is. The tall climbing structure features various climbing wall panels for kids to use. Missy 6 had no trouble climbing onto all of them, but younger toddlers might find the tallest one daunting. The flooring of this Read more…
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Did you know that the May Drive Parklands located in Kings Park and Botanic Garden was the very first environmental playground and community area of its kind in Australia? Previously known as the Synergy Parklands, this fun spot with golf course green-worthy lawns, is still a BIG hit with families in Perth. The park is fondly known as “The Dinosaur Playground”, since it’s home to many climbable dinosaur sculptures. May Drive Parklands features a 75m-long elevated walkway, a two-tiered island fort, life sized replicas of dinosaurs and extinct Australian Fauna (like the giant croc!), a timber boardwalk and an interactive Read more…
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Mawson Park Public Playground in Hillarys has been transformed into a fantastic all-in-one family destination, where a refreshed main Playground, much-loved nature play area and picturesque lakeside paths all flow together. Just over 20 minutes north of Perth, this spacious, leafy park now offers families a full day out in one spot, with equipment to suit toddlers through to older children, plenty of room to roam and a relaxed, scenic setting by the water. Parking is available along Mawson Crescent, with a short stroll down a gentle grassy hill leading into the heart of the park. The first area you’ll Read more…
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Dyoondalup Point Walter Playground, set along the stunning Swan River foreshore and next to Walter’s River Café, has been transformed with a beautiful new play space that celebrates Noongar culture and the natural landscape. The centrepiece of the Playground is a striking tower structure, designed in collaboration with Noongar artist Sharyn Egan. It reflects stories of Djunda, a tall female spirit with long flowing white hair, and honours Dyoondalup (Point Walter) as a “place of white sand.” The result is a thoughtfully designed, culturally rich Playground that offers much more than just a run-of-the-mill play experience. This is a very Read more…
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Bardon Park in Maylands is a gorgeous riverside spot that ticks a lot of boxes for families. Set on a gentle slope down to the Swan River, with views across to Optus Stadium and Belmont Racecourse, it combines a nature-inspired Playground, open grass, wetlands and a shared riverside path – perfect for a relaxed day out with kids. The main, playground is closest to the car park and has a strong nature play feel. Children can clamber across a net bridge, balance along timber beams and tackle an arched climbing frame that challenges their coordination. There’s a birds nest swing Read more…
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Hidden amongst trees along the Swan River foreshore, in the shadow of Optus Stadium, the Chevron Parkland is a wonderful nature play experience in Perth. The 2.6 hectares of rehabilitated parklands and nature-based playgrounds were opened as part of Stadium Park in 2018, and the area has grown and matured in that time. While the below aerial image is dated, it may help you to locate some of the play elements that are well hidden by the now-mature trees and bushes. There are six nature play areas within the Chevron Parkland, all designed to encourage children to explore, each play Read more…
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Tucked away on Lenihan Corner just off Hale Road, Wattle Grove Nature Playscape is one of those “pocket” parks that feels like a little bush escape dropped into suburbia. It’s not a huge destination Playground, but it’s a beautifully calm spot for families who like nature-based play, with plenty to explore beyond the standard plastic-and-metal set-up. (Worth noting for families with wanderers: there’s a natural waterway/creek through the area and it isn’t fenced, so close supervision is a must.) The Playground leans into “playscape” in the best way, using timber, rocks, sand and the existing landscape to encourage climbing, balancing Read more…
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The Canning River Regional Park extends over 6km and offers a range of activities to suit all the family. The Kent St Weir area offers a great family day out with lots of facilities including toilets, drink fountains bike repair kit. There are seven things you can do with the family at Kent St Weir. Have a Picnic – The Kent Street Weir area is perfect for a picnic with family or friends. There are large expanses of grass and some shady trees to throw your rug down. If you prefer there are a few covered gazebos with picnic tables Read more…
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Located in one of Hammond Park’s newest estates, Vivente, Parco Park playground is just a stone’s throw away from The Scramble Parkour Park. This sand-based playground is toddler-friendly, with various play structures for kids to explore. The playground is currently shaded with sail shades. This playground consists of 2 buildings which look like small little huts that are connected with the rope bridge. There are several climbing ropes and nets around the buildings for the kids to climb onto or exit from with the fireman pole. The rope bridge does get quite shaky when walking across. The younger kids might find Read more…
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Botany Park in Hammond Park is a brilliant, toddler‑friendly Playground and community space that has become a real favourite for local families. Tucked along Macquarie Boulevard next to Botany Oval, the home of the Hammond Park Hurricanes, it combines a fully fenced play area, nature play, water and sand fun, a scooter and bike track, plus one of the best free outdoor gyms you’re likely to find. The Playground is fully fenced with multiple pool‑style gate entries, which gives parents and carers peace of mind when visiting with little ones. Inside, you’ll find a mix of traditional Playground equipment and Read more…
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Lake Leschenaultia, found close to Mundaring, is a top day out in the Perth Hills for families. There’s swimming, bike riding, bushwalking, picnicking and now there’s even more reason to visit. The tired old metal boat play equipment has gone – replaced by a beautifully crafted timber train playground! Found next to the campsite office, the new playground (opened December 2023) features a train and slide, as well as many nature play elements, like stepping logs. The lake was constructed over a century ago to provide water for the passing steam trains. It’s lovely to see a train, station and Read more…
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Perth is now home to an epic new seven‑kilometre “Long Park” that runs beneath the elevated Metronet Armadale train line from Carlisle Station through to Beckenham. What was once an underused corridor has been transformed into 14 vibrant community spaces, linking four new Playgrounds, a nature play area, youth plazas, skate and scooter zones, fitness equipment, courts, dog parks, BBQ spots and picnic areas, all connected by walking and cycling paths and Perth’s longest public art trail. It’s a brilliant spot for families to explore in stages or tackle in one big adventure, and it feels like something new to Read more…
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Sometimes small parks deliver a big play and this is the case at Copley Reserve Belmont. We recently stumbled across this small park which is located near the shops on Kooyong Rd Belmont. Copley Reserve Belmont is very much part of the community as the park has a small community garden at the edge and the pathways lead through housing to further grassed areas and benches. The park features a nature playground that has been set up using a lovely fig tree as natural shade. Most of the playground is woodchip style base except for the sand area with two Read more…
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Tucked along the banks of Bannister Creek in Lynwood, Bannister Creek Nature Playground is a small, leafy neighbourhood park that blends classic play equipment with plenty of natural elements. It’s the sort of space that invites kids to scramble, climb, balance and imagine, rather than just sliding and swinging in straight lines. The Playground sits beside Bannister Creek, which runs along the edge of the reserve behind a fence, giving children a chance to be close to water and wildlife without easy access to the creek itself. The play space is mostly sand and woodchip, and it’s shaded by mature Read more…
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All aboard the good ship “Investigator”! We found ourselves at the Flinders Bay Playground in Augusta, quite by accident, literally. What started as a family day out at Hamelin Bay, ended at the small seaside town after a trip to the Augusta Hospital (gotta love a fishhook in the leg!). Anyway, our next trip to Augusta is already planned, after this great little find. The “ship playground” is found at a brilliant park right on the ocean. The nature-based playground itself is a pearler, with a beautiful Jarrah ship (which could be a pirate ship or “friendly” ship in imaginative Read more…
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If you haven’t discovered Kells Park yet, it’s time to save this hidden gem to your weekend list — because it’s everything you’d want in an outdoor family day out, and more. Just 30 minutes North of Perth, this park is tucked into the heart of Alkimos but quietly nestled between a coastal estate and natural bushland. This park is both surprisingly public and charmingly hidden. At first glance, you’ll spot the beautifully landscaped playground with its large wooden fort structure — complete with viewing platforms, climbing nets, a slide, and plenty of ropes and ladders to keep energetic kids Read more…
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Tucked just behind Subiaco Arts Centre on Hamersley Road, Theatre Gardens Playspace feels like a little green escape in the middle of busy Subi. Mature trees, wide lawns and a meandering creek make this a gorgeous spot for kids to burn off energy while grown-ups relax under the shade. The centrepiece of the playspace is the water play. A fountain at the top of the area feeds a trickling brook that winds its way down through rocks and channels. Kids can experiment with building dams, blocking the flow and then lifting the hatches to release a rush of Read more…
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As part of Perth Zoo’s Master Plan 2040, Perth Zoo’s playground has been revitalized into a bigger and better nature-based play space accessible to children of all abilities to enjoy. This award-winning playground is designed to celebrate Perth Zoo’s animals and their work in conservation and breeding, and it has already been recognised as having the region’s best landscape architecture! This state-of-the-art playground includes a ‘cloud’ deck, climbable giant numbat, 40m rope tunnels, feather hammocks, sand pit and nature play trail. At the heart of the playground is the ‘cloud’ deck, which has a mist system that stimulates clouds while Read more…
