Knockbracken Activity Centre — Inflatable aqua park, paddleboards and a high-ropes course on a reservoir 10 minutes from Belfast.
What you do: Floating inflatable aqua park, plus kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, cable wakeboarding, open-water swimming, high and low ropes course and a climbing wall.
Difficulty: Active and physical. The aqua park is a tiring scramble; expect to fall in repeatedly. Ropes course is a separate challenge for older kids.
Age / height: Aqua park is for ages 7 and up; you generally need to swim around 25m unaided and be confident in open water, and children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Check the current age and swimming rules, and the ropes-course age, before you book.
Booking: Book and pay online in advance; sessions are timed.
Come ready: Swimwear, towel, change of clothes and warm layers. A buoyancy aid is provided for the aqua park; a wetsuit is included with some passes or available to hire on site, so check when booking.
Weather: Seasonal and weather-dependent; sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled in high wind or poor conditions. Lifeguards on site and buoyancy aids compulsory on the water.
Plan your visit
An inflatable obstacle course on the water
The aqua park is the reason most families come. It is a floating circuit of slides, climbing walls, trampolines, monkey bars and wobbly platforms anchored out on the reservoir, and the fun is in falling off as much as getting across. A typical session runs around an hour out on the water, and a buoyancy aid is provided (with a wetsuit included on some passes or available to hire on site) so kids can throw themselves about safely. The aqua park is generally for ages 7 and up, you usually need to be able to swim around 25m unaided and be confident in open water, and children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. If you want a dry challenge instead, the high and low ropes course and the climbing wall are booked separately and suit older kids and group days.
Booking requiredAges 7 and upBuoyancy aid providedFloating aqua parkHigh ropes courseCar park on site
Good to know before you go:
Adventure centres and trails run seasonal guided sessions, family events and holiday activities; the booked attractions have their own seasons; check listings for dates.
Before you set off
What to bring
👟Clothes you can trashOld kit and trainers you do not mind getting muddy or wet.
🎒A full change & a towelEspecially for anything on the water — you will be glad of dry clothes after.
💧Water and a snackYou will have earned it once the adventure is done.
🎫Your bookingAlmost everything here needs booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Paid. Aqua park sessions are roughly £20-£25 per person; ropes course and other activities priced separately. Check current prices when booking.
Booking
Book and pay online in advance; sessions are timed.
Activity
Floating inflatable aqua park, plus kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, cable wakeboarding, open-water swimming, high and low ropes course and a climbing wall.
Difficulty
Active and physical. The aqua park is a tiring scramble; expect to fall in repeatedly. Ropes course is a separate challenge for older kids.
Age / height limits
Aqua park is for ages 7 and up; you generally need to swim around 25m unaided and be confident in open water, and children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Check the current age and swimming rules, and the ropes-course age, before you book.
Best for
Families with confident swimmers, older kids, teenagers and groups who want an active day out.
What to wear / bring
Swimwear, towel, change of clothes and warm layers. A buoyancy aid is provided for the aqua park; a wetsuit is included with some passes or available to hire on site, so check when booking.
Safety / weather
Seasonal and weather-dependent; sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled in high wind or poor conditions. Lifeguards on site and buoyancy aids compulsory on the water.
Parking
Large car park on site.
How long to allow
Around 1-2 hours for a single session, or a half to full day if you add activities, food or camping.
Address
1 Mealough Road, Carryduff, Belfast BT8 8GB
Questions
Before you go
Do I need to book?
Book and pay online in advance; sessions are timed.
How much is it?
Paid. Aqua park sessions are roughly £20-£25 per person; ropes course and other activities priced separately. Check current prices when booking.
Is there an age or height limit?
Aqua park is for ages 7 and up; you generally need to swim around 25m unaided and be confident in open water, and children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Check the current age and swimming rules, and the ropes-course age, before you book.
What should we wear or bring?
Swimwear, towel, change of clothes and warm layers. A buoyancy aid is provided for the aqua park; a wetsuit is included with some passes or available to hire on site, so check when booking.
What if the weather is bad?
Seasonal and weather-dependent; sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled in high wind or poor conditions. Lifeguards on site and buoyancy aids compulsory on the water.
Getting there
Knockbracken Activity Centre is at 1 Mealough Road, Carryduff, Belfast BT8 8GB. Large car park on site. Tap below for directions.
Knockbracken Reservoir is a former water-supply reservoir in the forested grounds at Carryduff, on the southern edge of Belfast. The wider site is also home to a popular weekly parkrun on the loop around the water.
Let's Go Hydro developed the reservoir into a dedicated watersports and adventure resort, adding a multi-million-pound cable wakeboarding system, the floating aqua park, a high and low ropes course and a climbing wall, alongside camping, glamping pods and on-site cafes. The site has hosted international cable-wakeboard competitions, including junior world and European club championships.
Today it operates as a seasonal day-out and overnight destination, with activities booked in advance and run under lifeguard and instructor supervision.