South Lake Watersports Centre

What you can actually do on the water

There is a wide spread of activities for a single lake site. Hire or learn paddleboarding, kayaking and Canadian canoeing, take on the floating aqua inflatable obstacle course, or book sailing and powerboat sessions — the centre is an RYA Recognised Training Centre, so it runs accredited courses and private tuition alongside casual sessions. Banana-boat and waterski packages and cycle hire round it out. Junior 'Learn to Paddle' courses run for ages 8-16 in the school holidays, and family sessions are available. You need to be able to swim and be water-confident; for the aqua inflatable you swim out to the park, ages 10+ can go solo, and 8-9s must be with an adult. A wetsuit and buoyancy aid come as standard with every booking.

Craigavon Lakes Aqua inflatable Paddleboard & kayak Kit provided Book ahead Spring to autumn

Good to know before you go:

Operators like this run kids' summer paddle camps, holiday courses, RYA training, club nights and seasonal aqua-inflatable sessions; everything is weather- and condition-dependent, so check their own pages for current dates, bookings and prices.

What to bring

🩱Swimwear & a warm layerWear your togs under easy clothes; most places provide wetsuits.

🧺A change of clothes & a towelYou WILL get wet — dry clothes for after are a must.

💧Water and a snackYou will be hungry after all that paddling and splashing.

🎫Your bookingLessons and hire usually need booking ahead — have it ready.

Everything before you go

Type

Council-run multi-activity watersports centre (getactiveabc), RYA Recognised Training Centre

What you can do

Paddleboard, kayak and canoe hire and lessons, aqua inflatable obstacle course, sailing, powerboat and RYA courses, banana boat, waterski, cycle hire

Public access

Open to the public — pre-book a session; members get free/discounted hire, non-members pay as you go

Booking

Essential — book via the getactiveabc app or website

Age / ability

Must be able to swim and be water-confident; under-16s accompanied on the water by an adult; aqua inflatable 10+ solo, 8-9s with an adult; junior paddle courses ages 8-16

Kit provided

Wetsuit and buoyancy aid provided as standard with every booking

Season

Mainly spring to autumn (equipment April-September; clubs April-October), weather-dependent

Cost

Varies by activity — check current prices (aqua inflatable recently around £15 adult / £10 child per hour, free to members)

Launches from

Craigavon Lakes, at South Lake Leisure Centre

Parking

Free onsite parking

Address

South Lake Watersports, South Lake Leisure Centre, 1 Lake Road, Craigavon, BT64 1AS

Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?

Essential — book via the getactiveabc app or website

How much is it?

Varies by activity — check current prices (aqua inflatable recently around £15 adult / £10 child per hour, free to members)

When does it run?

Mainly spring to autumn (equipment April-September; clubs April-October), weather-dependent

Getting there

South Lake Watersports Centre launches from Craigavon Lakes, at South Lake Leisure Centre. Free onsite parking. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around CraigavonSee what else is close by More water sports across NISurf, sail, kayak, SUP and more

The story

About the operator

South Lake Watersports is run by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council through its getactiveabc leisure service and sits within Craigavon City Park as part of the South Lake Leisure Centre. It is a RYA Recognised Training Centre, so qualified staff deliver accredited watersport courses and private tuition as well as pay-as-you-go and member sessions on Craigavon Lakes.