Family Summer Activities: Fota Wildlife Park, Leahy’s Open Farm, Waterford Greenway, and More

From ziplining, to paddleboarding to train journeys, there’s so much to do with your family to create wonderful memories this summer. Here are some of our favourites.

1. Fota Wildlife Park

We have to start with Fota Wildlife Park, a place where we spent many summer days wandering around with our crew when they were small.  Get up close and personal with some of the most endangered and magnificent creatures on earth. You can buy tickets online but our advice would be to get an annual pass. It’s great value and you will find yourselves there on a nice bright winters day too.

2. Leahy’s Open Farm, Dungourney, Co Cork

Leahy’s has been delighting children and adults since 1996 with their charming farm museum exhibits, and activities that now include go-karting, a drop-slide, a natural mystery maze, and its barrel train ride. Young excavators will adore the brand new Digger Park where they can work a real JCB mini-digger.

There is so much to do at Leahy’s Farm and you can even stay over in their lovely glamping pods if you need a second day to explore.

3. The Waterford Greenway/Déise Greenway

Want to take the kids cycling? The Waterford Greenway is a great day out. This 46km off-road bike trail covers the old railway line from Dungarvan in Co Waterford to the quays of Waterford city. The Greenway has six sections covering 11 bridges, three viaducts and a curious tunnel. Or stop off at Kilmeaden Train Station where you can watch the trains come and go.

4. Zipit, Farran Forest, Cork

Children aged from seven years (1m tall, height restrictions throughout) and brave adults, can fly along 800m of zip-lines just 20 minutes from Cork city, through the beautiful Farran Forest.

This tree-top aerial trail has a minimal impact on the environment. It can be enjoyed from the 1-3m high Green Circuit, to the 15m – 20m Red Circuit base jump. There are  91 challenges including rope bridges, swinging logs, cargo nets and ziplines. For younger ones there’s a playground, a duck pond and deer enclosure, an ideal spot for the picnic.

5. The Donkey Sanctuary, Liscarroll, Co Cork

Since they opened in 1987, The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland has loved and cared for over 5,600 neglected and abandoned donkeys from across Ireland.  

Book your tickets now for their annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic! A family-fun day will take place at our Open Farm on Thursday 18 July from 12pm-3pm. Lots of fun and games guaranteed. Pre-booking required.