The playground sculptures at AdventureLand in the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra encourage children to experience the wonders of the natural world. Kids can explore life-size animal sculptures and other play structures in a tropical garden setting.
For the Discovery Trail within AdventureLand, Natureworks supplied a wide range of fibreglass animal playground sculptures. As children explore the trail, they see sculptures of interesting wildlife, and can learn about animal conservation by climbing, playing, and responding to their natural curiosity.
Nature-themed playground sculptures
The sculptures at AdventureLand range from safari animals such as giraffes, elephants, hippos, and rhinos to Australian wildlife like a wombat, kookaburra, spotted quoll, bilby, crocodile and giant frog. As you can see from the photo gallery below, children have a great time exploring the playground and climbing on sculptures. The lovely natural setting creates lots of photo opportunities for the grownups too!
Photo gallery of the adventure playground sculptures
Project scope
For this project, Natureworks provided all the sculptures to meet the required specifications, and our client at the National Zoo arranged construction locally. Some of the playground sculptures incorporated additional mounting plates to help with stability and safety. All of the sculptures were carefully selected, and constructed with internal armatures where needed, to ensure they were suitable for the purpose.
As well as supplying the animal sculptures, Natureworks supplied playground landscaping items such as animal-themed stepping stones, artificial rock seats, and a zebra bench.
Playground sculptures encourage natural curiosity
The key benefit of installing climb-and-play animal sculptures is that they provide a connection to nature through interactive play. By building children’s familiarity with the shape and size of wildlife animals, we not only provide an opportunity for fantasy play but also provoke conversations around the awareness and existence of these magnificent animals.
For instance, ask yourself where do these animals live? What do they eat? Do other animals eat them? What role do they play in our global ecosystems, and how important is their survival to the future of our planet? Adults, as well as children, will benefit from learning the answers to these questions!
Project details
| Client: | National Zoo & Aquarium |
| Project: | Adventureland playground sculptures |
| Target audience: | Children 2-12, families, and tourists |
| Location: | Lady Denman Drive, Scrivener Dam, Canberra ACT 2611 (see map) |
| Date completed: | 2022 |
| Related products: | Safari animals, Australian mammals, Wildlife Stepping stones, Artificial rocks, Playground theming products |
| Related catalogues: | Safari Animals, Mammals, Reptiles, Child’s Play |
| Similar projects: | Zoos & Wildlife Centres, Rotary Park Playground, ‘Waterhole’ play area at Dubbo Zoo |
Project case study
Create an exciting play space like this!
AdventureLand is fast becoming a destination play space in the heart of Canberra, and helps to attract families to the National Zoo & Aquarium. This demonstrates the value of creating a themed experience that is both educational and enjoyable. You can install nature-based playground sculptures in many places where it would not be feasible to put real animals!
Designing an exciting, safe playground, splash park or interior play space requires an understanding of practicalities such as safety and maintenance, as well as the desire to encourage kids to get out and play. For a few pointers, read our blog post about safety of playgrounds and play equipment.
Playground sculpture products and design service
Natureworks can provide custom playground design and playground construction, playground-certified products, or new custom products designed to meet your needs and specifications. As we have over 3,000 sculptures and over 40 years of experience, the odds are you’ll find what you need in our list of sculpture products. If you’re after something specific, just get in touch and we’ll help you find it!
Contact us to discover how we can help you create a safe, exciting play space that inspires children’s interest in the world around them.
