Castlecomer Discovery Park
For families who love an adrenalin filled day followed by a picnic, then Castlecomer Discovery Park is the ideal place. The 80-acre activity park features a wide range of exhilarating activities for all ages, from the fun and challenging tree-top walk high amongst the sycamore trees to archery and zip lines. For the younger children, there’s a playground, an elf and fairy village, a giant bouncing net and a Junior Woodland Adventure Course where children navigate a series of low-risk challenges, balancing and steering their way through the obstacles. Visit: www.discoverypark.ie
National Reptile Museum
Meet some of the world’s rarest and most unusual animals at Ireland’s only reptile zoo! Situated in Kilkenny City, the National Reptile Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of these amazing creatures and their habitats. Open 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, year round, the zoo has over 50 exhibits, Animal Encounter Zone, Nocturnal Realm, Media Room, Education Rooms, Coffee Shop, Souvenir Shop and Play Area, we can keep the entire family entertained and educated all at once! When it comes to looking for things to do, the Reptile Zoo is the obvious answer! Visit: www.nationalreptilezoo.ie
Nore Valley Park
For children who adore animals, Nore Valley Park offers families an opportunity to bottle feed the baby kids and lambs, or handle a small rabbit. Picnics are encouraged and a small on-site shop offers coffee and tea and home baked treats. They also have archery, mini golf, go karts and picnics are encouraged and a small on-site shop offers coffee and tea and home baked treats. Visit:www.norevalleypark.com
Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum
The restored Victorian Woodstock Gardens are located in the south east of Kilkenny just outside the picturesque village of Inistioge and are one of Ireland’s finest. The gardens, overlooking the River Nore Valley, offer visitors a wide variety of attractions and are a relaxing and beautiful environment in which to spend a day with a picnic! The kids will love the Monkey Puzzle Avenue and Noble Fir Avenue. Also, of interest is a rustic summer house constructed from materials from the garden. Explore Woodstock Gardens this August! Visit: www.woodstock.ie
Boatrips.ie
Join us on the historic river Nore as it flows through Kilkenny city. Tours run approximately every half hour, each day throughout the Irish summer, April to October. Learn of the often unspoken and local history that the river holds. Witness the wildlife that thrive in the urban environment and that have shared the waterways with man for thousands of years. Our guides are friendly, entertaining and possess a love for the job they do. You’ll find our boat trips relaxing, informative and most of all memorable. Visit: www.boattrips.ie
Pure Adventure
Explore the Rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir and the Waterford coastline by kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board with Pure Adventure.
Based in the heart of the Barrow Valley in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny and on the Beaches of The Copper Coast on the Waterford Coastline, Pure Adventure offers you the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the rivers and Coastline of the South East of Ireland. Visit: www.pureadventure.ie
Go With The Flow River Adventures
Go with the Flow is an award winning company that offers incredible trails, eco safaris and white-water adventures in Kilkenny and Carlow. Choose from the traditional Canadian canoes, kayaks or new river surfers. Qualified guides with years of experience will help you all the way. Choose thrilling white-water adventures or a safari trail through wild and wonderful natural valleys that offer wild swimming and a host of interesting features like ancient oak woods, old navigation channels, weirs to shoot and rapids to ride.
Visit: www.gowiththeflow.ie
