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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Nestled within the beautifully revitalised Elizabeth Baillie Park in East Victoria Park, the Mildred Creak Playground is fast becoming one of Perth’s most beloved family destinations. Named in honour of Mildred Creak — a pioneering child psychiatrist whose groundbreaking work helped shape early diagnostic criteria for autism — this Playground has been thoughtfully designed with inclusivity, creativity and community at its heart. It offers a genuinely welcoming space where children of all abilities can come together to play, explore and connect. The Playground sits at the centre of the park’s impressive $8.1 million transformation, which was delivered by the Town Read more…
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There’s a good reason to get outside in Rivervale with stage 2 of the Wilson Park Precinct Plan now completed. You don’t want to miss this EPIC new playground and upgraded community spaces, made possible only through joint funding from the City of Belmont, the Federal Government, and the State Government through Lotterywest. This revitalised park now has a modern pump track with a dedicated skate zone, nature-inspired play equipment and a sensory play zone for children of all abilities and ages, wheelchair-friendly pathways and inviting community spaces for families to come together. The highlight of the park would be Read more…
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Tucked inside the Apsley Estate in Mandogalup, Mokare Reserve Adventure Playground is a brilliant all-ages destination that feels like a bushland adventure just off Rowley Road. As you enter the estate you’ll spot the expansive play space spread out across rolling lawn, winding footpaths and clusters of mature trees, with plenty of room for kids to run, climb and explore. The hero of the park is the towering 12‑metre treehouse-style tower and slide. The climb to the top is an adventure in itself, with a mix of steps, platforms and rope ladders wrapping around the structure. Confident older kids will Read more…
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Wandi Playing Fields Playground is a brilliant community space that really suits a whole day out with the kids. Tucked alongside the playing fields and opposite Honeywood Primary School, this modern Playground combines big open spaces, nature play, water play and active zones for older kids. It’s one of those parks where families can easily spend hours, with enough variety to keep toddlers, primary schoolers and tweens all happy. The first thing that grabs kids’ attention is the impressive 30-metre double flying fox. One cable has a standard pommel seat and the other features an all-abilities harness seat, making it 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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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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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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Perched on the hillside of City Beach Oval, this nature play space is a lovely mix of local history, imaginative play and wide-open green space. Set just off Fred Burton Way, the Playground sits alongside the large district sports oval, so it’s a great spot to combine a play, a kick of the footy and a family picnic in one outing. The first thing kids will spot is the pair of twin mirrored hill racing slides cut into the slope. They’re fast enough to feel exciting but still suitable for most ages, and wide and sturdy enough for parents to Read more…
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Tucked away in Trinity Estate, Alkimos, Fontana Park is a compact yet exciting neighbourhood Playground that’s perfect for a quick play or a relaxed picnic stop. It has a modern coastal feel and rewards families who seek it out with a mix of fun equipment and lovely views from the higher level of the park. The standout feature is the big log swing, which is wide enough for multiple kids to share and tends to be the first thing they run to. Nearby, a rock climbing wall leads adventurous kids up to an impressive slide. The slide is fast and Read more…
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Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Bassendean, Palmerston Square Playground is a charming neighbourhood park that’s been transformed with beautiful wooden play equipment and loads of natural charm. Surrounded by a lovely green outlook and shaded by a mix of new plantings and established trees, it’s the kind of local Playground that invites you to linger while the kids explore. The main play area is set on wood chips and has been thoughtfully designed with different zones for active and imaginative play. Kids can test their balance on low balancing logs, a wobbly balancing log and a timber balancing 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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Banksia Grove Nature Playground is a small nature-based playground located between Dragonfly Road and Potoroo Street on the Eastern Side of Banksia Grove. The wooden play equipment is perfect for helping children with balance, coordination and confidence. The equipment features balance posts with rope, twisted net, shaky bridge, balancing beam and a little wooden table with posts for chairs. In addition to the nature-based play equipment is a tripod swing – a favourite with my children as they can all fit on together and being a smaller park there wasn’t a wait to get on. Banksia Grove Nature Playground does 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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Ernest Johnson Reserve in South Perth is a welcoming community space with a great little Playground, wide open ovals and facilities that make it easy to spend a few relaxed hours with the family. Located on Pilgrim Street, it’s set back from busy roads and has its own car park, so access is straightforward, even with prams and younger kids in tow. The Playground is spread across several smaller play zones rather than one big structure, which helps to keep different ages occupied without it feeling overcrowded. Each section has benches or seating close by, making it easy for parents Read more…
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Highland Range Playground in Jane Brook is a fantastic little spot for families looking to combine fresh air, nature play and active fun. Nestled in the foothills of the Darling Ranges, the Playground sits within the Highland Range estate and is surrounded by bushland and hillside views, making it feel a bit like a mini escape from suburbia. The Playground has a strong focus on nature play, with woodchip surfacing and lots of timber elements for kids to explore. Little adventurers will love testing their balance and coordination on the stepping logs, stepping poles and balancing beams. These features are Read more…
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Tucked away at the end of Banrock Drive in the Annie’s Landing estate, this beautiful district playspace is a brilliant destination park for families in Ellenbrook and the Swan Valley. The Playground sits within Brockman Park and has been designed to blend into its natural bushland setting, with plenty of sand, logs, rocks and trees creating a real “adventure in the bush” feel rather than a standard suburban park. The playspace is laid out in “play pockets” for different age groups, all linked by meandering pathways. Older kids are drawn straight to the big-ticket equipment, including a large spider-web climbing 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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Nestled within the Hales Estate in Forrestfield, The Hales Park is a fantastic nature-based Playground that offers plenty of opportunities for kids to climb, swing and explore. Tucked away among the homes, it feels like a neighbourhood adventure spot where families can easily while away a few hours. The hero of the Playground is the towering wooden play structure, which stands at an impressive 9 metres tall. This main tower has a huge enclosed tunnel slide that twists down from the top, delivering a thrilling, fast ride that is best suited to confident climbers and older kids. When we visited, Read more…
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Tucked within Princess Wallington Reserve, Bina Parkland is a vibrant neighbourhood Playground that offers a good mix of traditional equipment and nature play, with plenty to keep energetic kids busy. The space feels open and welcoming, with large mature trees providing natural shade and the play elements spread out so families don’t feel crowded. The main drawcard is the impressive rope climbing structure. Rope ladders lead up to a series of birds nest pods at different heights, connected by ladders and a rope bridge that feeds onto a slide. Confident climbers will love scrambling up high and testing their balance, Read more…
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Mueller Park Play Space in Subiaco has had a fantastic makeover and is now home to Subi’s very first flying fox. Tucked within leafy Mueller Park at the corner of Coghlan Road and Roberts Road, this fully fenced play space features brand-new equipment, sand and water play, climbing elements and nature play trails – a great spot for children of all ages to explore and burn off energy. One of the first things you’ll notice is the strong focus on nature-based play. Kids can get creative with a timber play teepee, where each piece can be moved and rearranged to Read more…
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Glen Iris Estate Playground in Jandakot is a lovely nature-inspired spot for families, set where the old Glen Iris golf course once was. Tucked just off Dean Road in the new Glen Iris housing estate, the Playground is framed by beautifully landscaped gardens, leafy trees and plenty of open grass, making it feel like a green retreat in the middle of suburbia. There’s loads of room for kids to kick a ball, run around or for families to roll out a picnic rug and enjoy the peaceful surrounds. The main play area has a strong nature-play feel, with timber elements Read more…
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Tucked along the leafy banks of the Hotham River, the Hotham River Foreshore Adventure Play Park in Boddington (also known as Hotham Park) has quickly become a favourite family stop for road trips and country getaways. Just off Albany Highway and around 1 hour 40 minutes (about 130km) south-east of Perth, it’s an easy detour for a leg stretch, play and picnic, or a relaxed day trip in its own right. The adventure Playground makes the most of its sloping riverside setting. Many kids will make a beeline for the double flying fox, which has both a pommel seat and Read more…
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JH Abrahams Reserve in Crawley is a beautiful, riverside Playground and picnic spot that’s ideal for families looking to spend a few relaxed hours outdoors. Overlooking the Swan River and close to Matilda Bay, it combines a shaded play area, big grassy spaces and great facilities, making it an easy option for a play, ride and picnic. Shaded with sail shades and tall mature trees, this playground is on a woodchip play area. Children of all ages can enjoy climbing on the main wooden climbing structure. With different climbing elements on it, even the little ones can find it easy 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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Hidden in Aveley is a scenic park, wondering footpaths, an adventure playground and a café just metres away. Aveley Central Park and Vale Adventure Playground, located just off Gnangara Road, is a beautiful park that offers a stunning walk around its picturesque water features. Offering an adventure playground, dog park, and small skate park will please all members of the family. The Adventure playground features play spaces for varying abilities, including a flying fox, slides, swings, climbing pieces, stepping stumps, and many other nature-themed items. There are plenty of shade sails and seating for parents to sit and watch. It Read more…
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Riverton Jetty Playground is a gorgeous nature play spot on the banks of the Canning River, right beside Lo Quay River Cafe in Wilson. Sitting within Riverton Jetty Park, part of the wider Canning River Regional Park, it’s a lovely place for families to combine a Playground visit with riverside walks, wildlife spotting, a paddle on the water or a relaxed café meal nearby. The setting really is the star: big river views, plenty of birdlife and a relaxed, community feel, especially on weekends when it’s buzzing with families, cyclists and kayakers. The Playground itself is nature based, with lots Read more…
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Tucked into the Saw Avenue Picnic Area on the Subiaco side of Kings Park, Variety Place Playground is a brilliant all-ages nature Playground where kids can climb, balance, crawl and explore for hours. The space has been redeveloped with the support of Variety WA and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, with a strong focus on nature play and inclusive design so that children of all abilities can play side by side. Set amongst mature trees and open lawns, it’s a fantastic spot to let the kids burn off energy before enjoying a relaxed family picnic. The Playground is packed Read more…
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Tucked within the Kingsford estate in Bullsbrook, Brookbank Park is an 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. If you have an aeroplane-loving child, this playground is absolutely worth adding to your list. Planes regularly fly overhead throughout the day, and the aeroplane-themed rocker rides scattered through the playground make the whole space even more exciting for Read more…
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Britannia Reserve Pump Track Britannia Reserve Pump Track is a 1.2km pump track and nature bike trail in Leederville. Close to the city, it’s a great spot to take active kids of all ages out riding. Britannia Reserve Pump Track was originally installed as part of a Pop-Up Play initiative in April 2019. It has quickly become a permanent fixture. Britannia Reserve is one of City of Vincent’s largest open parklands. The pump track was created using natural materials. It is a space for children of all ages to meet their friends, ride their bikes and enjoy the outdoors. Read more…
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Holland Park in Piara Waters is yet another brilliant playground in the popular family suburb. There’s lots of elements packed into this park including nature play, as well as a fun fort! The wooden play equipment is built on woodchip, giving the space a rustic vibe and there’s a sandpit too. Let’s explore… The main attraction is a wooden fort, with balancing ropes and logs to scale to the top. Little Chef particularly liked the climbing ropes and logs up to the fort. This may be a little difficult for younger children, who may need a helping hand. There’s a Read more…
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Maniana Park is a huge destination Playground in Queens Park, perfect for hours of family fun. You’ll find it on the corner of Whitlock and Gibbs Streets, tucked behind the Sam Kerr Soccer Stadium. Playground highlights A large main play structure with three slides, varied climbing challenges, multi-level platforms, and a bridge connecting zones. Underneath, kids will love the cute role-play café. A great mix of nature play, water play, swings, monkey bars and climbing equipment—something for all ages. A dedicated toddler zone with a small slide and crawl tunnel. Nature play elements including a teepee, balancing and climbing rocks, Read more…
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Hillarys Beach Park at Whitfords Nodes has grown into one of the northern suburbs’ best all‑round coastal parks – a big, shady picnic spot with a great all‑abilities Playground, direct beach access and the added bonus of the famous exercise stairway and ninja warrior‑style fitness course just a short walk away. The Playground itself is large and thoughtfully laid out, with a mix of traditional and nature play spread through soft white sand and rubber softfall. Younger children are drawn straight to the main climbing structure, which you can access via a gentle ramp. Along the way there are musical Read more…
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Neon Park in the Allara Estate at Eglinton is a gorgeous community park, blending imaginative play with a strong connection to local nature and wildlife. Set along Neon Lane, this unfenced neighbourhood park is inspired by the striking colours and patterns of the Australian Black Cockatoo, and you can see that theme carried through the landscaping, artful details and playful design of the space. The first thing kids tend to spot is the large egg‑shaped play structure. It’s a real standout, and for many children it quickly becomes the hero of the park. Kids can climb inside, explore, and slide Read more…
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Tucked alongside the Canning River foreshore, Homestead Park in Thornlie is a lovely neighbourhood park that balances nature play, traditional Playground fun and local history. Set within a reserve shaded by mature native trees, it’s the kind of place you can stop at for a quick play or settle in for a full morning with the family. The main Playground is a rustic, mostly wooden adventure space. At its heart is a timber fort with a slide, rope ladder, climbing wall and wooden ladder, giving kids a few different ways to scramble up and whoosh back down. Underneath, little ones 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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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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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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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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Tucked along the western end of Wordsworth Avenue, Yokine Reserve Playground is a brilliant all‑rounder for families, with something to suit toddlers through to tweens. The fully fenced, double‑gated play space feels safe and contained, making it ideal for busy little explorers and a popular choice for birthday parties and weekend catch‑ups. The Playground combines traditional equipment with nature and sensory play. As you enter from the main car park, kids are usually drawn straight to the big, flat roundabout – perfect for spinning while standing, sitting or running around the edge. Nearby, a smaller roundabout wrapped in rope netting Read more…
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Serpentine Dam has long been a favourite Perth Hills day trip, and the Playground here makes it even more enticing for families. The fenced and gated play space is inspired by the surrounding forest and rocky landscape, and sits just a short stroll from the dam and Bistro By the Dam café. It’s a brilliant base for a full day of exploring, playing and picnicking. The Playground has been designed with a wide range of ages in mind, with most of the equipment low to the ground so even toddlers can confidently have a go. Little ones will love the Read more…
