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There is mounting concern that people living more urbanised, modern lifestyles have fewer and lower quality interactions with nature, and therefore have limited access to the associated health and well‐being benefits. Yet, variation in the different types of nature interactions and the factors that influence these interactions across populations are poorly understood.We compared four types of nature interactions by administering surveys across two cities that differ markedly in urbanisation pattern and population density—Singapore and Brisbane—: (a) indirect (viewing nature through a window at work or at home); (b) incidental (spending time in nature as part of work); (c) intentional interactions in gardens; and (d) intentional interactions in public urban greenspace.Our results show that Singapore respondents spent about half as much time (25.8 hr/week) interacting with nature as Brisbane respondents (52.3 hr/week), and indirect interactions were the most prevalent across both cities.Nature orientation, age, income and gender significantly predicted the duration of nature interactions in both cities, while self‐reported health, education and ethnicity additionally predicted the duration of nature interactions only for Brisbane. Also, the relationship(s) between each factor and duration could differ in direction and effect size between the types of nature interactions.As such, we conclude that there is much local variation in the dynamics of interactions between people and nature, and that focused studies are needed to develop effective interventions addressing declines in nature interactions in different locations. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nature connection (NC) has associations with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. • Nature contact mediates the association between NC and wellbeing, and NC and pro-environmental behaviour. • Compared to pro-environmental behaviour, the mediated proportion by nature contact on wellbeing is relatively higher. • Nature contact in private outdoor spaces have an important role to play in promoting wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours through nature connection. • Policymakers need to consider both nature contact and nature connection if the aim is to promote wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. Nature connection is positively associated with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours. However, the mediators of these relationships remain under-explored. This study examines the mediation effects of nature contact on the relationship between nature connection and wellbeing, and between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviours. Two types of nature contact are explored, routine weekly contact with urban nature (public urban nature spaces), and routine weekly time spent in a private, home outdoor area. A cross-sectional survey was administered to adult (≥ 18 years) residents of Brisbane, Australia, in May 2017 (N=1000). Using regression analysis and causal mediation analysis, our study shows that 1) nature connection is positively associated with wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours; 2) nature contact is a mediator of the relationship between nature connection and wellbeing, with weekly private outdoor contact accounting for 15–16% of the positive association, and weekly urban nature contact accounting for 24–31%, and 3) nature contact is a mediator of the relationship between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviour, in the form of conservation volunteering, with weekly private outdoor contact accounting for 10–13% of the positive association and weekly urban nature contact accounting for 14–19%. We conclude that the associations between nature connection and wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours are mediated by nature contact. Urban planners and policymakers should consider opportunities for urban residents to have weekly access to and contact with urban nature, both at home and in urban neighbourhoods, as a way to promote the co-benefits of enhanced wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour through nature connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]