Frequently Asked Questions

Our cubby houses are made from quality timber that is not chemically treated. That's a deliberate choice, because chemical treatments aren't appropriate for something children touch all day. The trade-off is that the timber needs to be properly painted and kept clear of the ground to protect it. Our Painting, Install & Maintenance Guide explains exactly how.

Yes. Your cubby house arrives with a temporary water-based stain that protects it during storage and transport, but it isn't a permanent finish. Painting is part of the DIY setup, and it's where you get to choose the colours and make it your own.

We recommend two coats of Dulux 1 Step Prep followed by two coats of Dulux Weathershield, applied before assembly and within 2-4 weeks of delivery. Through our Dulux partnership you can access trade pricing at Dulux Trade Centres and outlet stores. See the painting guide for the full system and day-by-day schedule.

It depends on the model, and on whether you paint the panels first (which we strongly recommend). All our cubby houses are designed for DIY assembly and come with step-by-step instructions. Your assembly manual lists the tools you'll need, and a second adult makes the job much easier. You can download manuals from our Assembly Manuals page.

Start by measuring your available space and comparing it with the dimensions on each product page in our cubby house collection. Leave clear space around the cubby for play and maintenance access. Raised cubby houses also need room for soft-fall surfacing extending 1.8 metres in all directions. If you're unsure which size suits your yard, contact our team and we're happy to help.

Check with your local council before you install. Rules vary between councils and states, and can cover things like size, height and how close the cubby can sit to your boundary. Your council is the best source of guidelines and advice for your property.

Our cubby houses are designed for children aged 3 and up. Safety standards are much stricter for products intended for children under 3, which is why our products are rated 3+. Younger children can still enjoy a ground-level cubby house with active adult supervision at all times. Raised cubby houses with ladders, platforms and slides are better suited to older children, always with supervision. See our safety and supervision guidelines.

Ground cubby houses sit at ground level on a level base of spaced timber sleepers or a concrete slab. They're the classic playhouse with a door, windows and often a verandah.

Raised cubby houses and forts stand on legs, with a platform reached by a ladder or stairs. Kids can play both up top and underneath, and the legs must be anchored to the ground. Forts are suited to children aged 5 and up. Browse both in our cubby house collection.

A level base of timber sleepers or a proper concrete slab. Sleepers should be spaced to allow airflow underneath, which reduces moisture and makes it easy to adjust for level. Support is needed under all floor joins and under all walls to limit movement.

Don't use pavers. They settle unevenly over time and trap moisture underneath. The base must be level before you start, as even a small amount of unevenness will stop panels lining up and doors closing properly. See placement and base preparation for photos.

Yes. Every raised cubby house must be anchored before children use it. Many of our raised models come with ground anchors for each leg, and your assembly manual will show whether they're included. Call 1100 (Dial Before You Dig) before driving anything into the ground, and keep the timber legs clear of the soil using post stirrups or a raised base. Our anchoring guide covers soil types and upgrade options.

Yes. Many families start with the cubby and add extras as their kids grow. Browse our cubby house add-ons for options such as slides. For swings, climbing and fort accessories, see our Climb & Swing add-ons.

Give it a quick visual check every month, a detailed inspection every three months, and a full maintenance check once a year. Tighten screws and bolts, clean with mild detergent and water, keep drainage clear, and touch up paint as soon as you see wear. Repaint whenever inspections show the paint wearing thin, cracking or peeling. The full schedule is in our maintenance guide.

With proper painting, a well-prepared base and regular maintenance, a timber cubby house can be enjoyed for many years. The biggest factors are keeping the timber sealed, keeping it off the ground and keeping up with touch-ups. Our care guide walks you through all three.

Prices are listed on each product page in our cubby house collection. You can pay with Visa or Mastercard, or spread the cost with Afterpay, Zip, Shop Pay Installments or our in-house lay-by.

Our swing sets are designed for children aged 3 and up. Forts and monkey bars are suited to children aged 5 and up. Adult supervision is required at all times. Check each product page for the age range of your chosen model.

Yes. Every swing set and fort must be anchored before children use it, and many come with ground anchors for each leg. The supplied anchors suit firm, compacted soil. If your ground is sandy, clay-heavy or often wet, you may need screw-in anchors or concrete footings instead. Call 1100 (Dial Before You Dig) before any digging. See our anchoring guide.

At least 300mm of impact-absorbing surfacing such as bark, wood chips or rubber matting, extending 1.8 metres in all directions from the equipment. Grass alone isn't enough, and concrete or pavers should never sit in a fall zone. Top up loose surfacing as it gets kicked out of swing landings. More detail is in our soft-fall guide.

Allow the full footprint listed on the product page, plus 2 metres of clear space in front of and behind the full swing arc and 450mm between adjacent swing seats. Keep the area clear of fences, walls, sheds, overhanging branches, powerlines and clotheslines. See space and clearances for the details.

No. Our play equipment uses untreated timber, so the legs must be kept clear of soil, grass and concrete or they'll rot from the inside out. Post stirrups lift each post clear of the ground. If you use concrete footings, set the stirrup into the concrete and never concrete the timber in directly. Our anchoring guide explains the options.

No. Our cubby houses, forts and swing sets are separate structures and cannot be joined or attached to each other. Swings put strong leverage forces on a structure, and a cubby house isn't designed to handle them. We explain why in our blog post Why We Don't Attach Swings to Cubby Houses. A cubby and a separate swing set side by side makes a great backyard play zone.

Yes. Swing sets and forts need the same painting system as our cubby houses: two coats of Dulux 1 Step Prep and two coats of Dulux Weathershield before assembly. Inspect bolts, chains, swing seats and connectors every three months, check the ground anchors are still tight, and replace any worn or rusted hardware before kids play on it. See our maintenance guide.

It varies by model and size. Every product comes with step-by-step instructions for DIY assembly, and your manual lists the tools you'll need. Two adults make the job much easier, especially for larger forts. Download manuals from our Assembly Manuals page.

Yes. Our Climb & Swing add-ons collection has swing seats and accessories for swing sets and forts, and our spare parts range covers replacement components. If you can't find what you need, contact our team.

There's no set upper age. Every child is different, and mud kitchens suit a wide range of ages and stages of imaginative play. Our mud kitchens are rated for children aged 3 and up, because safety standards are much stricter for products intended for children under 3. Younger children can still join in with active adult supervision at all times, especially around water and soil.

Yes, and it's especially important because mud kitchens are used with water and mud. Use the same system as our cubby houses: two coats of Dulux 1 Step Prep and two coats of Dulux Weathershield before assembly. Pay extra attention to the benchtop and sink area, and touch up worn spots promptly. See the painting guide.

Yes. Our mud kitchens are designed mainly for outdoor play, but they work well indoors too, in a laundry, playroom or covered entertaining area.

Yes. All of our mud kitchens can be plumbed to a regular garden hose for running water. Position your mud kitchen within reach of an outdoor tap or hose to make setup easy.

Somewhere water can drain away freely. Grass, soil or compacted earth is ideal, especially with bark, wood chips, sand or pea gravel around it. Concrete and pavers work too if they slope so water runs off. Flat sealed surfaces where water pools are the ones to avoid. A shaded spot near a tap is perfect. See mud kitchen placement.

It varies by model, so check each product page for what's included. We also stock separate accessories and add-ons. For real mud kitchen play, kids love cheap metal pots, pans and utensils from an op shop, which hold up better than plastic toy sets.

Our mud kitchens are freestanding and work best positioned alongside a cubby house rather than attached to it. The serving window on many of our cubby designs makes a great café counter for the chef outside. Browse our mud kitchen range and cubby house collection to find a combination that suits your space.

It varies by model. Each product page in our kids beds collection lists the mattress size and recommended thickness. Check the listing before buying a mattress so it fits the frame properly with no gaps.

Many families choose our beds for the move from a cot to a first big-kid bed. Check the age range and weight limit on each product page, and follow our bed safety guidelines for positioning, mattress fit and keeping the sleep space clear.

No. Our kids beds arrive with a finished surface and don't require painting, so they're ready to go straight into the bedroom. Colour options depend on the style and include white, dark grey and a natural pine stain. Check each product page for the colours available.

For cubby house beds and similar framed designs, place the headboard end against the wall rather than the long side. If any side of the mattress sits against a wall, push it flush so there's no gap a young child could slip into. Keep the area around the mattress clear of soft toys, bean bags and plastic bags. Full details are in our bed safety guidelines.

It varies by model. Every bed comes with step-by-step instructions, and your assembly manual lists the tools you'll need. A second person makes handling the larger panels easier. Download manuals from our Assembly Manuals page.

Weight limits vary by model and are listed on each product page. Never exceed the stated limit. If you have a question about a specific model, contact our team.

Yes. Like our other outdoor timber products, picnic tables and chairs should be painted before use with two coats of Dulux 1 Step Prep and two coats of Dulux Weathershield. See the painting guide.

The best protection is to store them out of the elements after use. They're movable, so bring them undercover after play and before storms. Discolouration from being left out in the weather isn't covered under warranty.

On level, stable ground so the table and chairs can't rock or tip. Check that all bolts and joints are tight before each play season.

Our picnic tables and chairs are designed for children aged 3 and up. Check each product page in our picnic tables and chairs collection for sizing and any weight limits, and supervise young children near pools, decks or raised areas.

Our trampolines are designed for children aged 3 and up, with adult supervision at all times. Check each product page in our trampoline collection for the age range and weight limit of your chosen model.

On level ground with good drainage and plenty of clear space around it. Keep it well away from fences, walls, sheds, overhanging branches, powerlines and clotheslines. Check the product page for the full footprint before you choose your spot.

Yes. Like all our products, trampolines come with our one-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. See our Warranty & Repairs Policy.

Yes. We ship Australia-wide from our warehouse in Geebung, Brisbane, using road freight carriers. Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your postcode and the size of your order. See our shipping policy for details.

Orders are typically dispatched within 1-3 business days, then delivery time depends on where you live. Metro areas are quickest, while regional and remote addresses take longer. Our shipping policy has estimated delivery times by city. During peak periods like Christmas, order early.

Yes. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is dispatched, and you can also track it on our Track Your Order page using your order number.

Large items are delivered kerbside or to your driveway at ground level. Drivers can't carry items inside, upstairs or through gates, and steep driveways or restricted access may mean items are left at the front boundary. Someone must be home to receive and inspect the delivery, so have enough help on hand to move the cartons afterwards.

Sometimes, yes. Where possible the carrier uses a truck with a tailgate lifter that lowers the cartons to the ground. When that isn't available, or your area restricts larger trucks on local streets, the cartons are unloaded by hand and the driver may ask for your help. Items over 40kg will require assistance, so please have a second adult available on delivery day. Have a dry, covered spot ready to store the cartons.

Yes. Warehouse pickup from Geebung, Brisbane is available by appointment for confirmed orders only, Monday to Friday 8:00am to 2:00pm (closed weekends and public holidays). Bring your order number and straps or tie-downs for your load. Payment must be completed online, as there's no card terminal on site. Orders are held for 14 days from dispatch notification (7 days in November and December). See our shipping policy for full pickup details.

Don't reject the delivery. Note the damage on the delivery paperwork before signing, take clear photos of the cartons and affected parts, and don't assemble the damaged item. Then contact us within 4 business days with your order number and photos. Report damaged cartons even if the product inside looks fine. Sending replacement parts is almost always faster than a full return. See our Warranty & Repairs Policy.

All Hide & Seek Kids products come with a one-year limited warranty from the date of purchase, covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal domestic use. Our goods also come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law, and the warranty is in addition to those rights. Damage from skipped painting, incorrect placement, missing anchoring or lack of maintenance isn't covered. Full details are in our Warranty & Repairs Policy.

Yes, within 14 days of delivery under our 14-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, as long as the item is unused, unopened and in its original packaging. A 6% restocking fee applies, return shipping is your responsibility, and original shipping costs aren't refunded. If you cancel before your order ships, you'll get a full refund with no fee. See our Refund & Returns Policy.

Because our products are large and costly to freight, please check dimensions and product details carefully before ordering, and ask us first if you're unsure.

Yes. Our in-house lay-by has no third-party apps and no interest, and lets you secure your order without paying in full upfront. Full terms are on our Lay-by Terms page.

We accept Visa and Mastercard, as well as Afterpay, Zip and Shop Pay Installments at checkout. You can also use our in-house lay-by.

Yes. Contact our team with your order number and a description of the missing component and we'll sort it out. Our spare parts range also covers common hardware and components.