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!
-
Perry Lakes Rope Playground is located on Perry Lakes Drive, near the corner of Meager Drive. The playground is fully fenced and gated, and I feel it would be more suited to children aged three years and older who have more strength to climb and balance. Perry Lakes Rope playground is made up of many ladders, rubber platforms and balancing ropes. My miss 3 particularly loved the rope suspension bridge. She had several climbs across this one. It was great for building on her balancing skills. She also liked the rubber hammock section attached to a series of rope nets, Read more…
-
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…
-
Tucked alongside a tranquil lake and large expanse of lawn, Lakeside Estate Playground in Success is a lovely neighbourhood spot for families to relax and play. Set on Jubilee Avenue within the Lakeside private estate, the park has a peaceful outlook over the water and plenty of open space, making it ideal for a casual catch up with friends or a laid‑back afternoon picnic. The main play structure offers a good challenge for older kids, with climbing walls and an obstacle‑style layout that invites them to scramble, balance and explore different routes. Underneath the structure you’ll find classic Playground favourites Read more…
-
Kwinana Adventure Park, also known as The Adventure Park, is one of Perth’s standout destination Playgrounds. Tucked in amongst the mature trees at Calista Oval, this huge, fully fenced play space combines nature play, water play and big-ticket adventure equipment in a way that keeps children of all ages happily occupied for hours. With more than 11,000 square metres of play area, excellent accessibility and thoughtful amenities, it’s well worth travelling for a full day out. The park is divided into distinct zones so families can easily find an area that suits their children’s ages and confidence levels. The Read more…
-
Set right on the Scarborough foreshore, Whale Playground is one of those parks where you can easily spend hours while the kids disappear into imaginative play. Inspired by Noongar culture and the form of a blue whale skeleton, this $1.4 million Lotterywest‑funded Playground is a real hero of the Scarborough Reserve redevelopment and a must‑do on a family day at the beach. The centrepiece is the giant whale structure. Little ones usually start at the whale’s head, which doubles as a small concrete slide – it’s perfectly sized for toddlers and younger children, but it is quite fast, so a Read more…
-
If you’re looking for a Playground that combines great coffee, city convenience and a genuinely inclusive play space, Oxford Street Reserve in Leederville is hard to beat. Tucked just off the bustling Leederville café strip, this fully fenced and gated Playground offers a calm little oasis right in the heart of the action, making it an ideal stop for families before or after a meal or a bit of shopping. The Playground sits directly alongside Cranked Coffee, so grabbing a takeaway latte or a relaxed sit‑down breakfast or lunch is wonderfully easy. Inside the café there are plenty of high Read more…
-
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…
-
Tucked alongside the modern Wembley Sports Pavilion on Selby Street, this Playground offers a fun blend of nature play and traditional equipment that keeps kids moving from one activity to the next. Set back from the road with plenty of parking out the front, it’s an easy stop for families looking to let the kids burn off energy before or after sport, or as a dedicated Playground visit. The first play area you come to from the car park is a natural-style space with balancing logs, rubbery mounds and woodchips underfoot. It’s perfect for little climbers who like to scramble, Read more…
-
John Forrest National Park is the ultimate location for a family day out, with waterfalls, walking trails, picnics spots, plenty of kangaroo sightings, a tavern and now a brand new nature play space that offers the perfect opportunity for kids of all ages to get dirty, create, climb, splash and burn off some steam! Located in the main picnic area, you don’t have to look hard or walk far to stumble across this small yet mighty play space set amongst advanced native trees providing lots of shade and beside a flowing creek adding an extra element of play. There are Read more…
-
CY O’Connor Hub Playground is a lovely drive to Mundaring Weir, through Perth’s Hills. You can get there from Kalamunda or Mundaring. Not only is the huge dam essential to WA’s water supply, but it’s a lovely spot for a family picnic. There are historical, natural, play and educational attractions in the “CY O’Connor Hub”, which is found on the north side of the weir, accessed by a road behind the Mundaring Weir Hotel. Here you’ll find modern picnic tables, shelters, BBQ facilities and lawn for kicking a footy or throwing down a rug. The main attraction is the pipeline themed Read more…
-
Set in the heart of family-friendly Landsdale, Hardcastle Park is a welcoming neighbourhood Playground that offers a lovely mix of traditional and nature play. With a big open grass area, sand play, climbing equipment and a peaceful suburban setting, it’s an easy spot for local families to burn off energy, enjoy a casual catch up and let the kids play for ages. One of the first things you notice on arrival is the large grassed space that sweeps out beside the play equipment. It’s ideal for laying out a picnic rug, kicking a footy or soccer ball, or letting the Read more…
-
The newly redeveloped East Fremantle Oval area has been transformed into a fantastic family-friendly space, featuring a nature playground located in front of the Carnaby Cafe. The fort-style playground boasts multiple levels, a climbing rope, fireman poles, a slide, and a climbing wall. Children can also enjoy a wooden stepping stone and rope agility course. The playground features an all-abilities birdnest swing, free gas BBQs, seating, and water fountains, all under shade cloth for sun protection. Adjacent to the playground is a large grass area, perfect for picnics and ball games. Don’t forget to bring skateboards, scooters, bikes, and basketballs Read more…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Canning River Regional Park is a large park and wetlands area covering about 6kms located around the Canning River. We usually go to the Kent St Weir area which also has the Canning River Cafe there but recently we discovered another playground a short walk away. This new playground has been designed based on feedback from the community and includes nature and adventure play and plenty of natural shade. The playground is located off Ferndale Crescent, Ferndale. You could drive there and park in the car park or you can park at the Canning River Cafe and take a short Read more…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Looking for a new nature-based playground to add to your park-hop list? Camira Playground in Quinns Rocks might be your next sunny day adventure! Just 35 minutes north of Perth, this freshly upgraded corner of Camira Park has turned a grassy spot into a fun and inviting play zone that ticks a lot of boxes for kids who love to climb, dig, slide and explore. Recently opened, this play area blends natural textures and materials with playful features that spark imagination. From the nature play combination unit (say that three times fast!) to the pin impression wall and kitchen/shopfront interactive Read more…
-
Rayment Park in Lathlain is a fantastic all-rounder for families, offering a big green space, three distinct play areas, and lots of room for kids of different ages to spread out and explore. Set opposite a local school and across the road from popular Kettle Cafe, it’s easy to make a morning or afternoon of your visit with play, coffee, and a walk or scoot. The junior Playground is a real highlight for families with toddlers and preschoolers. Fully fenced, with entry via a Magna lock-style gate and protected by shade sails, it feels safe and secure for little ones Read more…
-
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…
-
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…
-
The small but mighty nature-based Jurien Bay Oval Playground at the Jurien Sport and Recreation Centre has to be Perth’s most unique playground! The playground was brought to life by the same team who built the very popular Jurien Bay Foreshore Playground and is inspired by the home of Jurien Bay’s local football club, the Bulldogs. The standout is definitely the Bulldog climbing structure which also features two double slides – I love all the finer details like the spiked collar and rope leash. The boys also thought it was hilarious climbing up the dog’s butt 🙈 There is a Read more…
-
The Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space is an amazing park purpose-built for all ages and abilities. Carefully built around and under existing trees, covering 10,000sqm with wheelchair access throughout, a sensory garden, flying fox, climbing obstacles, slides, swings, picnic areas, water play, toilet facilities and fully fenced… it certainly ticks all the boxes!!! The main wooden structure has ramp and stair access, decks, two slides, and a balancing beam. Underneath there is a cubby house with a shop window and fun coloured glass blocks. There is a nature play area that backs onto the wooden structure, it is step Read more…
-
Mariala Vista Park is located in Jindowie, Yanchep. So many of the new parks that have been built recently have a problem with serious lack of shade, where the developer has planted trees but they won’t provide any shade until they mature in years to come. Mariala Vista Park is distinctly different. The park has been developed in an area packed full of mature beautiful tall trees that provide a large amount of shade over the whole play area. Mariala Vista Park caters for both older and younger children. There is a large enclosed twisting slide that looks like great Read more…
-
The new Shelley Beach playground is a great playground to visit. It’s right on the river, and around the enclosed playground is plenty of grass to kick a ball on, BBQs and gazebos and, of course, the beautiful river. My 10-year-old was impressed with the park, especially the X-park obstacle course. The course is set up with a starting point and different obstacles throughout, including climbing, balancing and swinging. Many of the older kids seemed to enjoy the challenge of this part of the playground. As we entered the playground, we saw a mini trampoline and a swing set with Read more…
-
Northern Parklands is a brand new playground as part of a redevelopment in Bentley. The parklands were created with the input of local school children and teachers and the outcome was a play space that is quite different from the norm. There’s a street games strip which is such a great idea and includes hopscotch, noughts and crosses, basketball and netball, a climbing frame mini obstacle course and mini skateboarding course. There’s also a nature play area which includes a flying fox and a nest swing. My favourites were the running track and learn to cycle course! It was a Read more…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Found besides the waters of Lake Claremont is a small, but lovely nature playground. The play area has been designed for primary school aged kids, though little ones will love the sand play! The main fort structure is suitable for older kids, as it is made up of wooden steps and rope to climb up to the top. Once you’re at the top, the “floor” is also made out of rope, so there’s no solid surface to stand and play on. There’s a large concrete sand-play table, with a tyre to scoop up the course red sand, attached to a Read more…
-
MacDonald Park in Padbury is a fantastic all-rounder for families, combining an engaging scooter and bike skills track, a fun mix of nature and traditional play, and a huge sporting oval. Tucked away in a residential pocket, it offers plenty of space to run, ride and explore, making it a brilliant spot for everything from quick after-school visits to weekend playdates and sports sessions. The standout feature is the traffic-themed scooter and bike track designed especially for younger riders. Kids can weave their way around roundabouts, speed humps and twisting roads, all lined with mini road signs, pedestrian crossings and Read more…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Noah’s Playground in South Guildford is a standout neighbourhood park set within the leafy Rosehill Waters estate, just a few minutes from historic Guildford and the Swan Valley. Inspired by the story of Noah’s Ark, it blends imaginative animal-themed details with big, adventurous structures, making it especially appealing for school-aged kids while still offering plenty for confident toddlers and preschoolers. Planes regularly flying overhead add an extra bit of excitement for little plane spotters, and the estate’s peaceful, green setting gives the whole visit a relaxed, “weekend away” feel even though you’re only about 15 minutes from the CBD. The Read more…
-
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…
-
Just 4km from Mandurah City Centre, Osprey Waters Foreshore Reserve in Erskine is a gorgeous estuary-side spot that combines a fantastic nature play space with wide-open green areas, scenic walking paths and plenty of space for family adventures. Set along the Mandurah Estuary, it’s the kind of park where you can easily spend a few hours – or the whole day – between the Playground, foreshore, barbecues and exploring the riverbank. The first thing kids usually spot is the series of nature play mazes. There’s a wooden and rope maze to weave through and a log maze that challenges kids Read more…
-
Tucked within the leafy Byford on the Scarp estate, Ridge Park Byford stretches over 1.7 hectares and feels wonderfully “bushy” despite being in the suburbs. Mature trees, big open lawns and two separate Playground areas make this a great destination for families with kids of different ages, especially if you’ve got both little toddlers and more adventurous big kids to keep happy. The lower Playground, accessed from Military Pass, is ideal for younger children. The centrepiece is an adorable train-themed play structure made up of several “carriages”, each with its own style of imaginative play. Toddlers can “drive” the train Read more…
-
Iluka Foreshore Park is a nautical themed nature playground that kids of all ages are guaranteed to love! Iluka Foreshore Park is separated into three sections, the first consists of a wooden boat, it was perfect for my toddler to play on, he loved steering the boat and climbing the steps to the slide. On the other side of the boat is a netted ladder for the bigger kids who were having just as much fun as my toddler on the boat pretending to be pirates. There is a sandpit at the end of the slide, and rubber softfall flooring Read more…
-
Hidden just off Goodwood Crescent, Hesperia Park is a brilliant local Playground that packs a lot into a relatively small space. With its towering slide, leafy landscaping and mix of active and nature play, it’s a great spot for kids to burn off energy while parents relax nearby. The standout feature is the impressive seven‑metre-high lookout tower, complete with a fast metal tube slide. There are a couple of ways to reach the top, so kids of different ages and confidence levels can find a route that suits them. A gently winding path leads up to the middle level of Read more…
-
Koolaanga Waabiny on Mandurah’s Western Foreshore is one of those Playgrounds that really lives up to the “epic” label. Set right on the estuary at Hall Park in Halls Head, this destination play space is part of the Mandurah Waterfront redevelopment and sits beside the popular Mandurah Skate Park. Its Noongar name is pronounced “kool-lung-ga waa-bin” and beautifully translates to “children playing”, while also referencing the local Swamp Sheoak trees that inspired the Playground’s design. The hero of the Playground is the incredible 12‑metre-high climbing tower, shaped to echo the Swamp Sheoak trees that line the foreshore. Adventurous kids can Read more…
