It’s what’s on the surface that counts.
Your Vision, Their Playground Adventure.
At NumatREC, we believe that the foundation of every memorable play experience starts right beneath your feet. For over 25 years, we’ve turned visionary designs into vibrant, playful worlds where children can explore fearlessly.
From the first sketch to the final pour, our award-winning team transforms your bold concepts into surfaces that go beyond safety—they become an integral part of the play experience. Our in-house artists work closely with you to bring designs to life, turning spaces into imaginative landscapes. We’ve created surfaces for sea creatures at Caroline Bay Playground, rivers at Whitikau Reserve Playground, and flowering fields at Wellington Botanic Gardens.
We’ve had the privilege of partnering with schools, landscape architects, and communities across New Zealand to create spaces where every step sparks joy, adventure, and learning. Our surfaces are designed to be inclusive, fostering play for all abilities and ages. Every project is a new opportunity to inspire, challenge, and enable children to explore through creativity.
It’s what’s on the surface that counts.
Cass Square Playground, Hokitika
Bringing history to life through design.
Cass Square in Hokitika brings the town’s rich history and landscape to life. The surface design reflects the gold rush era with shimmering gold accents, while greenstoneinspired textures highlight the natural beauty of the surrounding region.
Every part of the design connects back to the land, creating a space that is both playful and rooted in local heritage. Walking through Cass Square, children and families are invited to explore a world of history.
The surface features dynamic shapes that guide
Every step counts toward a better world. That’s why we recycle rubber into shockpad underlays, creating playgrounds where safety meets sustainability.
See more here: numatrec.co.nz/sustainability
movement and invite interaction, transforming the playground into an adventure that echoes the town’s past. This space is where play meets storytelling, with each step revealing a new layer of Hokitika’s story.
Designed to be inclusive, Cass Square's choice of surface colours and patterns invites children of all abilities to explore, engage, and interact with the playground equipment and the surfaces beneath them. Combining storytelling with physical play creates a sense of belonging and discovery, ensuring every child can connect with the history of Hokitika in a meaningful way.
A buzzing design that tells a story.
The Wellington Botanic Gardens playground is more than just a play space—it’s a story told through design. Inspired by the garden’s history and vital role in conservation, the playground features a surface and bespoke play equipment that invite children to explore the nature around them.
The surface mirrors the garden's ecosystem with its intentionally designed patterns of bees and Manuka flowers. It teaches children about pollination, the importance of bees, and how
Wellington Botanic Gardens
nature supports life, making the design educational and fun. The pathways and surfaces encourage discovery, guiding children to explore while learning about the garden’s history.
What makes this space truly special is its inclusivity. Designed for children of all abilities, the playground ensures everyone can participate and engage with this natural-themed space.
Caroline Bay Playground, Timaru
From the community, for the community.
Caroline Bay Playground, the 2024 Playspace of the Year, celebrates Timaru’s rich history and cultural heritage. Through its thoughtfully designed surface and play elements, this playground tells the stories of the region’s geological and cultural past.
Working closely with the CPlay community group and local artist Francine Spencer, NumatREC brought the surface to life. A striking 12-metrelong Taniwha stands as the playground’s centrepiece, a symbol of protection, watching over children as they play across the surfacing
Did you know? We’ve repurposed over 72,350 kilograms of recycled rubber from the old playground to create a safer, more sustainable one at Caroline Bay. Read more here: numatrec.co.nz/sustainability
designed to mimic an ocean beneath the flying fox.
The playground also features a “floor is lava” element, reflecting Timaru’s volcanic history and adding layers of challenge and excitement to the play experience. Each design choice, from the Southern Cross to local iwi stories, connects to Timaru’s history.
Designed for inclusivity, this playground ensures children of all abilities can experience the wonder of the land and its stories, creating a destination where heritage, play, and adventure come together.
Vibrant sense of belonging.
Hayman Park in Manukau is a vibrant space that celebrates its culturally diverse community. Based on the designer’s concept, the bold surface design was brought to life through NumatREC’s expert craftsmanship. With customdesigned flowers in various shapes, sizes, and colours, our team transformed the vision into a fun and accessible playspace that deeply connects with the Manukau community.
Hayman Park Playground, Manukau
Guiding children from one play structure to the next, the surfacing ties the entire playground together with its vibrant colours and patterns. It enhances the play experience and ensures accessibility for children of all abilities, fostering inclusivity and integration throughout the park.
