“The environment should act as an aquarium which reflects the ideas, ethics, attitudes and culture of the people who live in it. This is what we are working towards.”

 – Loris Malaguzzi

Three young children at a table. Two girls are smiling and laughing, engaged in conversation or sharing a moment; a young boy looks surprised or curious. The table has art supplies and pottery vases, and there are shelves and plants in the background.

Nestled in Yarralumla’s lush greenery, St Nicks Botanica invites children to explore, create and connect with the natural world.

Our Reggio Emilia–inspired approach honours children as curious, capable learners who make meaning through relationships, play, creativity and connection to Country. At Botanica, the environment is central to learning — from our natural outdoor spaces to our in-built art studio, where children work alongside a dedicated art teacher to explore materials, ideas and self-expression.

Children and an adult playing with yellow and white toys on a sandbox table, with a greek mural of horses in the background

St Nicks Botanica welcomes children aged 6 months to 5 years across thoughtfully designed rooms inspired by habitats within the Botanica landscape:

The Nest
(6 months – 2 years)

A calm, nurturing space where our youngest children begin to build trust, belonging and connection, much like a nest that offers safety and care.

The Burrow
(18 months – 2.5 years)

A warm and secure space where young toddlers can explore, return, and grow in confidence through familiar rhythms and relationships.

The Tree Tops
(2 – 3.5 years)

A lively space for children who are climbing higher, looking further and discovering new ways to move, imagine and connect.

The Canopy
(2.5 – 3.5 years)

A shared space where children stretch their ideas, build relationships and explore new perspectives through play, language and creativity.

The Billabong
(3.5 – 5 years)

A gathering place for preschool children where ideas, relationships and projects come together through inquiry, storytelling and creative expression.

A teacher and four young children are gathered around a circular table, engaging in a craft activity with sticks and paper cutouts. The children are smiling and are having fun.

Creativity is woven throughout the Botanica campus.

In our dedicated Art Studio, children work alongside a specialist Art Teacher to explore drawing, clay, paint, construction, natural materials and other forms of visual expression. These experiences support children to represent their thinking, revisit ideas and communicate through the many languages of childhood.