What’s there
Seventeen life-sized animatronic dinosaurs stand along a self-guided trail through 25 acres of parkland here – a T-Rex, a Brachiosaurus, a Triceratops, a Spinosaurus and a Velociraptor among them. Several move and roar, which is the whole point for a five-year-old and worth knowing about if you have a nervous toddler. The trail is the centrepiece, but there is a good deal more packed into the grounds, so a visit is closer to a full day out than a quick loop.
The park sits on the grounds of the Newpark Hotel on the Castlecomer Road, a short drive north of Kilkenny city. Everything is set among mature trees and open lawns, which means it looks well but also that most of it is exposed to the weather.
Rides and play
Beyond the dinosaur trail, general entry covers the Jurassic Express train, Pterosaur Mountain, a zip line, go-karts, and the Jurassic Castle, a large medieval-themed play structure. There is an adventure playground with the usual slides and swings, a Dino Den Theatre running fossil shows through the day, and a fossil dig site where children can brush for bones. Younger visitors tend to gravitate to the Fairy Village and its leprechaun and gnome houses rather than the big carnivores.
One thing to check before you go: the Jurassic Bounce, an outdoor inflatable dinosaur bounce park, is not included in general admission. At the time of writing it costs an extra €2.50 per person. It is often the part children want most, so budget for it.
Beyond the dinosaurs
The mini-wildlife farm is a quieter counterpoint to the rides, with alpacas, llamas, Highland cows, Sika deer, emus, peacocks, goats and miniature donkeys. There is also a fairy trail and an eco trail winding through the trees. For food, a Snack Shack does savoury bits and a Dino Desserts kiosk handles ice cream and donuts, with a Fossil Box gift shop by the exit. It is snack fare rather than lunch – if you want a proper sit-down meal, the adjoining hotel is the better bet.
Tickets and getting there
At the time of writing, general entry is €17.50 booked online or €19.50 at the gate, and the park recommends booking ahead to guarantee entry on busy days. Opening hours shift with the school calendar: during term it runs Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm with last entry at 3pm, and during school holidays it opens seven days, 9.30am to 6.30pm with last entry at 4.30pm. Hours change regularly, so check the park’s social media before setting off.
The park is on the N78 Castlecomer Road, about 2km north of Kilkenny city centre and signposted from the ring road, with parking on site. It is on the road heading north towards Castlecomer and Dunmore Cave, both of which make a natural second stop, and Kilkenny Castle is ten minutes back into town.
Worth knowing
This is a park for under-10s – older children and teenagers will run out of things quickly, and the €17.50 ticket feels steep for a short visit. Allow the best part of five hours to get your money’s worth, and pick a dry day: nearly all of it is outdoors and there is little shelter if the rain sets in. Bring wellies for the smaller ones, book online to save a few euro at the gate, and if the weather turns, the Newpark Hotel’s leisure centre is the fallback.