Climb, Slide, Repeat

Looks like furniture, behaves like a jungle gym

First impressions? It’s lovely. No plastic bolts or clunky bits, just a beautifully made climbing frame with clean lines and a satisfying, Scandi-inspired finish. It actually looks good in your house—which is more than I can say for the blinking Paw Patrol truck I’ve accidentally tripped over seventeen times this week.

It’s made from birch plywood right here in Aotearoa and finished with a child-safe, non-toxic hard wax oil. So you get that gorgeous natural wood look, and it wears in with use (which makes it look “loved” not “battered”).

Foldable, thank the gods

Now, if you’ve ever tried to Marie Kondo your way through a living room filled with toys, you’ll know how valuable foldable becomes. This thing folds flat. As in, chuck-it-behind-the-couch kind of flat. It’s light enough to move, and storage is actually realistic. So when the kids are done channelling their inner mountain goats, it doesn’t need to live permanently in the centre of your lounge.

Read more: How to Set Up a Toy Rotation System That Actually Works for Your Family

Climbing Frame: Flat steps and rungs? Genius.

The climbing frame itself has both flat steps and rounded rungs, which sounds like a minor detail but is actually quite clever. It gives different grip feedback for little feet and fingers, and lets younger ones ease into climbing while older kids can go full Mission: Impossible. My 1.5-year-old tends to stick to the lower levels, while my 3.5-year-old is all about perching at the top like she’s just summited Everest.

It’s designed with Montessori principles in mind—think independence, freedom to explore, and letting kids test their limits (within safe parameters, of course).

The Ramp: One side slide, one side climb. Because variety.

The ramp is the real game-changer though. On one side, it’s a smooth slide (cue shrieks of joy); flip it over and you’ve got climbing rungs. The setup possibilities are endless, especially if your kids are part-goat like mine. We’ve had it as a slide off the climbing frame, a ramp to the couch, and—when things got real creative—a pirate plank off a cardboard box ship.

It’s a simple idea, but one that gets used over and over again in different ways. And when you find a toy that grows with your child and doesn’t get ignored after five minutes, you hang onto it for dear life.

Durable. Safe. Built for the real world.

Everything about this bundle feels considered—from the way it’s finished (no rough edges or annoying fittings) to the solid, steady construction. My eldest has taken to launching herself down the slide with alarming speed, and it’s held strong. It’s suitable for kids 10 months to around 4 years, but I can see my two using it well beyond that in different, inventive ways.

Made by people who get it

Play Systems was started by Andrew (industrial designer with a serious eye for detail) and Sophie (early childhood educator with real-life kid experience). As parents themselves, they clearly get the daily chaos—and what kind of gear makes a genuine difference.

Everything they create is Montessori-aligned, safety-tested, and designed to spark movement, creativity, and curiosity. No bells, no whistles—just seriously good play equipment that gets used.

Worth it.

If you’re after something that’s beautiful, functional, locally made, and doesn’t come with flashing lights or a battery compartment, this bundle’s a winner. It’s the kind of thing you buy once and use for years, and if you’ve got a toddler or two bouncing off the walls, this is an easy yes.

Just be prepared to referee the occasional “who gets the ramp first” dispute.

Find out more and check out the full Play Systems range at playsystems.co.nz.
And if you loved this review, head back to nook NZ for more parenting real talk, gear guides, and things that actually make family life easier.

BIO

Lexi Davey is a Christchurch mum of two and the founder of nook NZ, Canterbury’s leading online parenting resource. nook helps families discover the best local events, activities, and expert-backed insights — all in one place. Find out more at nooknz.com.