Surviving the Last Week of Summer

10 ideas for surviving the last weeks of the summer holiday

Every week over the summer holidays a newsletter packed with fresh ideas on how to spend the week ahead has landed in the inboxes of NI4Kids’ readers. From indoor activities, to coastal walks, free days out, and even transport-themed attractions, there really has been something for everyone, which is why we have compiled a list of 10 of the best to survive the last weeks of the summer holidays. In between shopping for stationery and last-minute bits of uniform there’s still time to fit in a day out, so, don’t find yourself stuck, try one of these ideas and end the summer with a bang!

1. Belfast Zoo

No summer holiday is complete without an outing to the Zoo, so finish on a high with a visit to one of Northern Ireland’s top attractions. Nestled in the heart of Cave Hill, Belfast Zoo has over 500 animals and 55 acres to explore making it an exciting day out for all the family. Get up close and personal with animals from all over the world; from the creepy crawlies in the reptile enclosure right up to the giraffes which can grow up to three times the height of humans, and even witness feeding times throughout the day! Visitors can pick up a tasty snack at the Zoo’s two cafes or pack a picnic and enjoy a rest while the kids burn off some steam at the Adventurer’s Learning Centre playground.

2. The Gobbins Cliff Path, Islandmagee

 A coastal path with a difference, The Gobbins is one to get the heart racing! Enter the path through a tunnel that goes right through the solid basalt stoneface and follow a series of walkways and bridges that snake around the cliff edge. This is a unique experience that enables visitors to get up close and personal with the natural habitat in this area, as you travel through underwater tunnels and up paths right on the cliff face. Come face to face with puffins and marine life as you are regaled with intriguing stories of this area of the world. Due to the walk’s challenging nature children have to be over 4ft tall.

3. Gosford Forest Park, Markethill

A biker’s paradise, Gosford Forest is the ideal location to clear your head after a few rainy days inside. Hire a bike or bring your own and try your hand at the site’s very own pump track. Located within the forest itself, the route is marked by a wooden archway and is suitable for all levels of ability; from children right up to experienced riders. Every Thursday and Saturday between July 1 and September 28, All Out Trekking provides (at an additional cost) all terrain buggies for hire to both disabled and non-disabled riders enabling inclusive participation in the country park.

4. Foyle Valley Railway Museum, Derry/Londonderry

 Open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am-2pm, Foyle Valley Railway Museum is a beloved community project run by Destined, a support organisation for people with learning disabilities. Guided tours are provided by knowledgeable costume-clad volunteers who will inform and delight you with information on the history of narrow-gauge railways in the surrounding area as you take in the preserved locomotives arranged around a mock station. All tours are guided and must be booked through the Foyle Valley Railway Museum Facebook page.

5. Dundonald International Ice Bowl

If you need to while away an entire rainy day, there’s nowhere better to do it than at Dundonald International Ice Bowl. Boasting Ireland’s only public Olympic size ice rink, it is the perfect location to practise your skills. If that’s not enough to get your heart racing, there is also a ten-pin bowling alley with spectacular glow in the dark Xtreme sessions and interactive games that will take your bowling experience to the next level. Finally, go wild in the complex’s jungle-inspired indoor play world. Complete with hidden tunnels, daring rope bridges and a free fall vertical slide, Indiana Land is the perfect way to round off a day of fun.

6. The Lake Kilrea

 A must-visit for families, the Lake Kilrea promises endless fun for all tastes and ages. Boasting the tallest standalone floating water slide in the world – aptly named The Beast – it promises to get your pulse racing as you speed towards the water and somersault off the edge. There’s an inflatable waterpark, an indoor puddle park, paddle boarding, kayaking, and open water swimming to choose. Stepping out of the water you’ll find a climbing wall, 120m zip line, lakeside walk, and on-site café for a rest between thrill-seeking activities.

7. Happy Littles, Newtownabbey

 Family-owned and family-orientated, Happy Littles Play Café in Newtownabbey opened in April of this year. Designed to be a relaxing experience for all, parents can watch their kids enjoy soft play and sensory activities while enjoying a relaxing hot drink and something to eat. The range of play stations include soft play, climbing wall and frames, imaginative play, sensory play, and more all in on-trend pastel colours.

8. Oxford Island Nature Reserve, Craigavon

 With plenty to delight and entertain kids, Oxford Island Nature Reserve promises an excellent day out. Located on the shores of Lough Neagh, visitors have access to a network of walking trails, bird-watching hives, and spectacular views across the lake. A new conservation-inspired playpark was unveiled in 2022 pays tribute to life on the island. Designed to bring together play and nature, the playground brings together traditional equipment with multi feature wooden beams, clamber stacks, stepping stones, tunnels, interactive panels, and much more. In the centre of the park is a ramp, which enables children in wheelchairs to be fully immersed in the fun.

9. W5, Belfast

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to visit W5 already this wet Irish summer, what have you been doing? The ultimate indoor attraction, Belfast’s award-winning science and discovery centre is filled to the brim with interactive displays awaiting discerning minds. New for 2024, is a range of exciting exhibits just waiting to be explored. Whether its nature, construction, tv producing, or sensory seeking that is your thing, there really is something for everyone. To add to the excitement, there’s still time to see the Creatures of Phoenix Island exhibit, so head to W5 and step into the mythical land of dragons and more…if you dare.

10. WWT Castle Espie, Comber

As the action-packed summer at WWT Castle Espie draws to a close, there’s still time to soak up the wildlife encounters and find the lost postcards that Pelican Postie has scattered across the wetland centre. There’s something for every young mind this summer, whether that be handfeeding the collection of birds, scaling the climbing wall, running wild in the woodland play area, or discovering the secret swamp. There’s also an arctic-themed, indoor, soft play area for younger children and a range of events that will delight visitors of all ages.