Nature Play Park

The Nature Play Park - Papatākaro Ao Tūroa bought to central Christchurch an interactive, playful inner city garden to reveal the wonder, importance and place of conservation in our everyday lives.

The park is now gone and we miss it! Instead I plan to post regular photos of city parks where nature play opportunities abound.

This page will continue to be used to create a community around nature play, with fun ways families can have a play date with nature from home.

The Nature Play Park was developed in partnership with Greening the Rubble and the Department of Conservation (DOC), and will exist on the site at 203 Hereford Street for the next 1 to 2 years.

Children learn through play and Nature Play Park will help families to discover, through free play, what is special about Canterbury plants and wildlife. It will also provide a link to other areas close to Christchurch which people can visit to experience nature. This has the secondary benefit in terms of health and wellbeing (especially families), identifying recreation/ family destinations close to Christchurch and creating a special place within the city centre to represent and capture optimism about the future.

The other amazing aspect of this initiative has been the help from others. CERA, Fulton Hogan, Waterforce, Ardex and many, many more have donated money, time, product and/or machinery to help create this nature play park and make it a success. It is a wonderful demonstration of collaboration and togetherness.