Nature Play in Public Spaces: for Landscape Architects and Specifiers

Across Australia, more playgrounds are being designed to connect children with the natural environment. From local parks and schools to major community developments, landscape architects are using natural materials, planting, landforms and nature-inspired play equipment to create outdoor spaces that encourage exploration, movement and imaginative play.

In these environments, the landscape becomes part of the play experience. Children can climb, balance, build, discover and interact with their surroundings in ways that support physical activity, social connection, outdoor learning and a deeper appreciation of nature.

For landscape architects and specifiers, this approach creates an opportunity to design play spaces that feel genuinely connected to their site. The best outcomes respond to the local landscape, community and environment while delivering safe, engaging and inclusive places for children to play.

What is Nature Play?

Nature play encourages children to explore natural materials and outdoor environments through open-ended, unstructured play.

These spaces often include elements such as timber, stone, sand, water, planting and natural landforms. Because these materials can be used in many different ways, children have the freedom to create their own play experiences, build confidence and connect with the outdoors.

A well-designed nature play space might feature custom timber climbing structures, timber balance trails, bridges, sandstone boulders, wildlife-themed play elements, nature trails, sand play areas, planting zones and outdoor learning spaces. Together, these elements support active play, imagination, social interaction and curiosity.

Nature play continues to grow in popularity because it encourages physical development, creativity, problem-solving and more time spent outdoors. It also creates engaging, natural environments where children can learn, explore and play in their own way.

Define the Play Experiences

Consider how children will use the space.

A well-designed nature play environment typically includes:

Physical challenge and movement
Nature discovery
Imaginative play
Social interaction
Sensory play
Quiet retreat spaces
Outdoor learning opportunities

Different age groups engage with nature play in different ways, so providing a variety of experiences helps ensure the space remains relevant over time.

Balance landscape and play equipment.

One of the key principles of nature play design is finding the right balance between landscape elements and play equipment.

Logs, boulders, planting, sand, water and landforms often provide much of the play value. Play equipment should complement these elements. Custom timber climbing structures, nature discovery and wildlife-themed play elements can then be layered into the space to support the broader design intent.

Design for inclusivity.

Nature play spaces should cater to children of different ages, abilities and play preferences.

Accessible pathways, gathering spaces, multiple challenge levels and quieter retreat areas help ensure every child can participate. Timber pods, teepees and sensory-focused play areas can provide alternatives for children who prefer lower-intensity play experiences.

Active Play and Adventure

Children need opportunities to climb, balance, jump and explore.

Sandstone boulders, balance logs and timber climbing structures provide physical challenges while maintaining a natural appearance that integrates with the landscape.

These structures can take many forms, including lookout towers, adventure trails, climbing nets and timber forts designed specifically for the site. Unlike traditional playgrounds, nature play environments allow children to create their own routes, challenges and adventures.

Sensory Play

Nature play spaces should engage all the senses.

Timber, stone, sand, mulch, planting and water all contribute different textures and experiences. Native planting can introduce seasonal interest while attracting birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Mud kitchens, sand play areas and loose natural materials encourage experimentation and creative play.

Quiet Spaces and Outdoor Learning

Not every child wants high-energy play all of the time.

Timber pods, tepees, shaded seating areas and small gathering spaces provide opportunities for quiet play and observation. Yarning circles, outdoor classrooms, nature trails and biodiversity-focused play features can also support environmental and cultural learning.

Connection to Country and Local Identity

Nature play spaces provide opportunities to reflect the unique character of a place.

Planting, natural materials, artwork, storytelling elements and custom timber features can all be used to celebrate local landscapes and cultural heritage. Custom timber carvings, totem poles and wildlife-themed sculptural elements can become visual landmarks while helping tell local stories and strengthen a site’s identity.

These features can reflect local flora, fauna, Indigenous narratives or environmental themes, creating play spaces that feel connected to their location rather than replicating a standard playground design.

Connection to Country considerations are increasingly important in public space projects. Early engagement with Traditional Owners and cultural advisors helps ensure these elements are authentic and appropriate to the local context.

Why Timber is Ideal for Nature Play Spaces

Timber remains one of the most widely used materials in nature play design because it combines durability, flexibility and a natural appearance and texture.

It sits comfortably within parks, schools and open spaces and helps create play environments that feel connected to the landscape. Children are naturally drawn to timber because of its sensory texture, warmth and character.

Sustainable, Durable and Built for Australian Conditions

Material selection plays an important role in the long-term success of any nature play space.

At Austek Play, we use Durability Class 1 native Australian timbers, including Ironbark and Cypress, which are naturally termite resistant and well suited to Australia’s harsh outdoor conditions. These premium hardwoods provide exceptional durability while maintaining the natural appearance that makes timber such a popular choice for nature play spaces.

Alongside native hardwoods, we also incorporate sustainably sourced and recycled materials, including reclaimed timber and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), where appropriate. This allows landscape architects to balance sustainability objectives, durability requirements and design outcomes.

The result is nature play equipment and custom timber climbing structures designed to withstand heavy use in schools, early learning centres, public parks and community spaces while maintaining their appearance and performance over time.

Durable material choices can help reduce whole-of-life maintenance costs while delivering play spaces that continue to look and perform well for years to come.

Custom Timber Climbing Structures and Bespoke Play Elements

One of timber’s greatest strengths is its flexibility.

It can be shaped into custom climbing structures, lookout towers, balance trails, timber forts, tepees, pods, nature-themed totem poles, wildlife carvings and other site-specific play elements that respond to the character of a project.

For landscape architects, this creates an opportunity to design play spaces that feel integrated with the landscape, rather than added as standard equipment. Timber structures can be simple and subtle, such as balancing and scrambling elements, or become bold destination features within a nature play space.

When thoughtfully designed, bespoke timber play elements help create a stronger connection to place while supporting movement, imagination, exploration and community engagement.

Bringing Biodiversity into Nature Play

Nature play can help children learn about the natural environment while they play.

Biodiversity-focused play spaces encourage children to observe wildlife, learn about habitats and understand the role that plants, insects and animals play within local ecosystems.

Projects such as the Bee Hotel at Spence Park demonstrate how nature play can combine environmental education with engaging play experiences.

Wildlife-themed play elements, nature discovery trails, custom carvings and educational features can all contribute to these outcomes. Austek Play’s Forest Friends Range was developed with this approach in mind.

Forest Friends elements can be integrated alongside planting, nature trails, custom timber climbing structures and sensory play areas to create a cohesive nature play environment.

Nature-inspired carvings and timber totem poles can further reinforce biodiversity themes throughout a site. Wildlife carvings featuring native birds, insects, reptiles or mammals can become part of nature discovery trails, gathering spaces and educational play experiences.

For landscape architects, custom carved timber features offer another way to bring storytelling, education and local identity into a nature play space without relying solely on traditional playground equipment.

Nature Play Trends Shaping Australian Public Spaces

Several trends are influencing the way nature play spaces are being designed across Australia:

Custom timber climbing and balance structures
Nature play trails and exploration journeys
Biodiversity-focused play experiences
Wildlife-themed playgrounds
Custom timber carvings and totem poles
Multi-sensory activities
Indigenous storytelling and Connection to Country yarning circles

How Austek Play Works with Landscape Architects

In many projects, landscape architects lead the overall site vision, landscape planning, planting design and spatial layout, while Austek Play’s specialist open space consultants offer expertise in play value, equipment selection and custom design.

Our team can assist with:

Nature play planning and concept development
Equipment selection and specification
Custom timber climbing structures
Forest Friends play elements
Timber pods and tepees
Biodiversity and nature discovery features
Custom timber carvings and wildlife-themed totem poles
Compliance, standards and safety requirements
Design documentation support
Inhouse design and carpentry services

Because we have in-house design and carpentry capabilities, we can also create custom timber solutions that respond to specific site conditions, project objectives and landscape concepts.

The Future of Nature Play

Nature play is now an important part of how parks, schools and community spaces are being designed across Australia.

By combining natural materials, Australian timbers, planting, landforms and carefully selected play experiences, landscape architects can create nature play spaces that encourage children to climb, explore, imagine and learn.

Whether it’s a custom timber climbing structure, a wildlife-themed play trail, a carved timber totem pole or a collection of natural play elements, the best nature play spaces feel connected to the landscape and give children the freedom to play in their own way.

For landscape architects, councils and schools, that is what makes nature play such a valuable part of Australian playground design.