Unreal Lawns supplies and installs complete artificial turf playground systems using premium turf, professional base construction and certified SafeBase shockpad options where Critical Fall Height protection is required.
Our systems are designed for demanding outdoor environments, with excellent drainage, year-round usability and optional Cool Turf 5-in-1 Technology for exposed play areas.
SafeBase shockpad systems available in certified Critical Fall Height configurations.
Free-draining turf systems designed to keep playground areas usable throughout the year.
Cool Turf 5-in-1 Technology available for exposed playground and recreational areas.
Site-specific excavation, aggregate base construction, levelling and drainage preparation.
Artificial turf systems selected for demanding playground and high-use environments.
Solutions for schools, childcare centres, councils, playground companies and commercial projects.
A successful playground surface is more than artificial grass. The turf, base construction, drainage and impact-attenuating layer all need to work together as a complete system designed for the site and the playground equipment being installed.
Unreal Lawns supplies and installs artificial turf systems for new playground developments, playground upgrades and replacement surfaces throughout New Zealand. We can work directly with schools, childcare centres and commercial clients, or alongside playground companies, landscape contractors and other project teams.
Where fall protection is required, the turf can be combined with a certified SafeBase shockpad configuration selected according to the required Critical Fall Height.
Playground equipment with a potential fall height requires appropriate impact-attenuating surfacing. The required Critical Fall Height, or CFH, is determined by the playground equipment and must be matched with a tested surface system.
For artificial turf playgrounds, this can involve combining the turf with an impact-absorbing shockpad beneath it. It is the complete tested system — including the specified turf, shockpad and infill — that provides the certified CFH performance.
This is why Unreal Lawns does not treat every playground as requiring the same turf and shockpad specification. The system needs to be selected for the actual project requirements.
Unreal Lawns offers independently tested SafeBase playground systems with certified configurations for different Critical Fall Heights. Depending on the turf and shockpad combination, certified systems are available for requirements from 1.5 metres through to 2.4 metres CFH.
Certification can be independently checked through the PlaySafe Certified Playground Surface Register.
Long-term performance starts underneath the artificial grass. Site conditions, drainage, levels and the required safety system all influence how a playground surface should be constructed.
The existing surface is assessed and, where required, excavated to create the necessary depth for the new playground turf system.
Geotextile and compacted aggregate layers are installed as required to create a stable, free-draining foundation with the correct finished levels.
Where Critical Fall Height protection is required, the specified certified SafeBase shockpad system is installed over the prepared base.
The selected playground turf is professionally installed, joined, secured and infilled before the finished surface is brushed and checked.
Playgrounds can be highly exposed outdoor environments, particularly where there is limited natural shade. For these applications, Unreal Lawns can offer artificial grass featuring our Cool Turf 5-in-1 Technology.
Cool Turf combines multiple performance features within the turf system, including technology designed to help create a cooler surface under direct sunlight, antibacterial protection, anti-moss technology, pool-friendly properties and premium turf engineering.
For playground projects, we can recommend whether Cool Turf is appropriate based on how the area will be used, its exposure and the overall surface specification.
One of the major advantages of a properly constructed artificial turf playground is the ability to create a clean, usable outdoor surface through changing weather conditions.
But artificial grass alone doesn’t fix drainage problems.
The performance of the finished area depends on what is underneath it. Unreal Lawns considers existing ground conditions, water movement, finished levels and base construction when specifying the system.
A correctly prepared free-draining aggregate base allows water to move through the turf system rather than leaving the playground dependent on the drainage characteristics of the original soil.
This is particularly important for high-use areas where natural grass can become muddy, worn or unusable during wetter periods.
Not every playground requires the same construction. We match the surface system to the intended use, playground equipment and required Critical Fall Height.
Premium artificial turf for high-use playground, recreation and landscape areas where certified impact attenuation is not required.
Where fall protection is required, we select a tested turf and shockpad combination to meet the specified Critical Fall Height, with certified options from 1.5 metres to 2.4 metres.
Base depth, drainage, shockpad and turf specification are matched to the site conditions, playground design and equipment requirements rather than using one standard construction for every project.
Unreal Lawns works with organisations involved at different stages of playground design, construction and redevelopment. We can provide the complete artificial turf component or work within a wider playground project alongside other contractors and suppliers.
Playground Companies
Turf, base and certified shockpad solutions for new playground installations and upgrades.
Landscape Contractors
Specialist artificial turf construction that can integrate into a wider landscape project.
Schools
Durable all-weather surfaces for playgrounds and high-use outdoor recreation areas.
Childcare Centres
Artificial turf systems for high-use outdoor play environments, with certified safety options where required.
Councils
Commercial artificial turf solutions for public playground and recreational projects.
Commercial Projects
Site-specific turf systems for developers, construction companies and other commercial clients.
Playground turf pricing depends on considerably more than the cost of the artificial grass. Site preparation, base construction, required Critical Fall Height, shockpad specification, access and project location can all affect the final price.
As a current indication, a professionally installed playground system using Cool Turf and SafeBase may typically start around:
Cool Turf + 30mm SafeBase — approximately $200/m² + GST installed
Cool Turf + 50mm SafeBase — approximately $215/m² + GST installed
These figures are indicative rather than fixed quotations. Larger projects, difficult access, excavation requirements, freight, travel and accommodation can change the installed cost.
For commercial projects, plans and equipment specifications allow us to provide a much more accurate project price.
Yes. Artificial turf can provide a durable, free-draining and low-maintenance surface for playgrounds and high-use recreational areas. Where playground equipment requires impact protection, the turf needs to be combined with an appropriate certified shockpad system.
Critical Fall Height is the maximum fall height for which a tested playground surface system provides the required level of impact attenuation. The required CFH depends on the playground equipment, and the surface system needs to be selected accordingly.
No. General play and landscape areas may not require certified impact attenuation. Where equipment creates a fall-height requirement, a tested turf and shockpad combination can be specified to provide the required CFH protection.
Unreal Lawns has certified turf and SafeBase configurations covering Critical Fall Heights from 1.5 metres to 2.4 metres, depending on the specific turf, shockpad and infill combination. Certification can be independently checked through the PlaySafe Certified Playground Surface Register.
As an indication, professionally installed Cool Turf with 30mm SafeBase may start around $200/m² + GST, while Cool Turf with 50mm SafeBase may start around $215/m² + GST. Final pricing depends on site preparation, access, project size, CFH requirements, location, freight and travel.
Yes. Unreal Lawns can work directly with the end client or provide the artificial turf, base construction and certified shockpad component within a larger playground project alongside playground companies, landscape contractors and other project teams.
A commercial playground surface needs to perform long after installation is finished. Our approach is to combine the right artificial turf with appropriate base construction, drainage and certified impact protection where the project requires it.
We bring together practical artificial turf installation experience with independently tested SafeBase systems, Cool Turf 5-in-1 Technology and the ability to work with contractors and project teams throughout New Zealand.
For projects requiring certified fall protection, we can identify the appropriate tested system and provide the relevant certification information rather than relying on general safety claims.
We also understand that commercial projects depend on clear scopes, realistic pricing and coordination with other trades. Our aim is to make the artificial turf component straightforward from quotation through to completion.
Planning a new playground, upgrading an existing surface or preparing a commercial tender?
Send us the project information and we can assess the appropriate artificial turf, base and SafeBase requirements.
For the most accurate quotation, provide whatever information you currently have, including:
Site location · Plans or dimensions · Playground equipment · Required Critical Fall Height · Existing surface or site conditions · Proposed project timing
If the project is still at an early stage, that’s fine. We can discuss the turf and safety-surface requirements before the final specification is confirmed.
Head Office
Established on 7 July 2017, Unreal Lawns & Courts brings over 9 years of proven experience to Kiwi properties. With dedicated installation teams servicing Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga—plus nationwide delivery—we make it easy to access high-performance, pet-friendly artificial grass engineered for New Zealand conditions.
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