Across the mouth of the Tauranga Harbour lies a piece of paradise, Te Moutere o Matakana--Matakana Island. It is blessed with an ocean beach with white sand and a mean surf break, tidal flats, wetlands, fertile pasture, and a native and exotic forest. It is home to a maori language nest for the local children--Te Kohanga Reo o te Moutere o Matakana. During the authors' initial visits to the early childhood environment we were struck by the passion of the community for a playspace that would provide the children with a real sense of place, a relationship with the island as a whole, and a connection with the work being done by the community to restore the native ecosystems. This article discusses how to design an early childhood environment and features the community-built playscape on Matakana Island, New Zealand.