Project Case Study

Pelican Waters Waterfront Park

Nature-Inspired Play

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Nature Play Meets Coastal Living

Nestled amongst The Cove and overlooking the calm blue canals of Pelican Waters, this play space brings nature-inspired design into the heart of an established residential community. Developed to complement the estate’s strong sustainability ethos, the space blends sculptural timber elements with robust engineering, creating an inviting, high-performance play environment with strong visual appeal.

Details

Location: Pelican Waters, QLD

Client: Delivered in collaboration with Pelican Waters Heart Pty Ltd, Anembo and Place Design Group

Project Type: Nature-Inspired Play

Scope: Waterfront Park Development in Residential Estate

Equipment Budget: $85k

Project Overview

With over 30 years of community development behind it, the Pelican Waters estate is known for its lifestyle appeal, waterfront access and attention to quality. In keeping with that standard, the Anembo team sought a play environment that would elevate the park while honouring the site’s natural surrounds.

Our Rustik nature-inspired play range was a natural fit for this site. Crafted from sustainably sourced Australian Hardwood and stripped of sapwood to expose the timber’s natural grain, every piece is engineered to suit soil profiles, layout constraints and high coastal exposure. Each play element delivers climbing, balancing and strength-building opportunities for unstructured, inclusive play.

“This new playground is a great addition to The Cove in Pelican Waters. Overall, it is a great place for families and friends to come together!“
— Sunshine Coast Kids

The Finished Space

At the centre of the design sits the Rustik Daintree—a striking vertical climbing system featuring a 6.3m Australian Hardwood post and three concentric steel arches. With pommel climbers of increasing heights, the structure encourages children to push their physical boundaries and build confidence through movement. Risk is naturally scaffolded, ensuring each child climbs at their own level.

Nearby, a double bay swing with powder-coated stainless-steel arches mirrors the Daintree aesthetic, while a balance log embedded into natural sandstone blocks adds both play value and a place for supervision and rest. The sandstone surrounds not only frame the play zone but create a space that feels open, welcoming and well-considered.

Given the proximity to the foreshore, all stainless-steel fixings and arches were treated with protective coatings to reduce corrosion and extend longevity. The Rustik systems were also grounded with mass-pour concrete footings and in-ground piers, ensuring structural integrity for the long term and resistance to high user loads.