Project: Aurora Gateway Reserve
Client: Northview Capital

The Ground
Nestled within Hamilton’s fast-growing Peacocke community, Aurora Gateway Reserve is a vibrant new green space designed to bring families together and connect play with its natural surroundings. Developed as part of the Aurora neighbourhood’s wider vision for connected, green and family-focused living, the playground provides a welcoming destination for children to create the magic of play.

The Creation
Inspired by Aurora’s connection to the night sky, the playground design draws on the way Māori used the stars for navigation, weaving stories of the sun, moon, stars, and ocean throughout the design.

The legend of Māui and the Sun is represented through the large net rope structure and the bright orange sun positioned beneath it, while Rona and the Moon features beneath the net swing. A timber log structure reflects the Matariki star cluster, while ocean-inspired elements, including the waka seesaw, bring another layer of storytelling to the space.

The main play structure takes inspiration from navigation and exploration, creating a strong sense of adventure throughout the playground.

The Play
Climbing holds, slides and timber stepping logs connect different levels of the playground, encouraging tamariki to move through the space in different ways. Swings, rockers, climbing and balancing equipment provide plenty of opportunities for active play, while the sloping landscape encourages children to explore, navigate and make their own play adventures. A flying fox adds an extra element of speed and excitement.

Set within the reserve, the playground boasts beautiful views across the developing Aurora neighbourhood, offering the perfect destination for an afternoon of play and picnics.