New initiative launched urging tourists to 'squeeze the last out of summer' in Waterford

With schools reopening following the summer holidays over the next two weeks, the team at Visit Waterford have created a brand new opportunity for day visitors and tourists to squeeze the last out of summer and enjoy a new ‘Wake Up To Waterford’ experience.

For ‘Wake Up To Waterford Family Fun’, families can enjoy a 40-minute scenic journey on a narrow gauge railway along the banks of the river aboard a heritage mini train at the Waterford Suir Valley Railway. 

Splashworld in Tramore provides an exciting and safe water experience for all ages with fun slides and a wave machine in this pool while Ardmore Mini Farm has 16 acres of farm with over 250 animals, including many rare breeds.

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Off the coast, Waterford’s majestic River Suir can be explored by boat with a variety of tours and excursions provided by several different companies.

Elsewhere, on the Waterford Greenway, the old railway line from Waterford City to Dungarvan offers a spectacular 46km off-road cycling and walking trail.

For visitors seeking an adventure, Dunmore East Adventure Centre is an outdoor sports and land activity mecca – set in a stunning location in the sunniest part of Ireland – the centre caters for adults and children and has adventure sessions lasting from one hour to a full week. 

At Lismore Heritage Centre there are a variety of experiences including the Lismore Castle Experience 360 where your guide will bring you through the curtain where you will be immersed in the history of Lismore Castle using modern-day technology or if you’re on for an adventure check out the Escape Room which is suitable for all ages and fun for all the family, find the clues, crack the codes and see if you and your family can get out of the room in 60 minutes or less.

In Waterford - Ireland’s oldest city -  you can book yourself a spot on the EPIC Guided Walking Tour  to discover the heritage highlights of delving back into 1,000 years of history all within 1,000 paces while traversing around the collection of museums by Waterford Treasures.

Visitors to the city can also step back in time at the Waterford Treasures Medieval Museum where they can explore the exquisite architectural jewel that is the Bishop’s Palace. There is an abundance of globally-significant heritage sites and cultural attractions across Waterford to keep visitors occupied including Ireland's only purpose-built museum quarter that consists of seven museum experiences.

Attractions of interest in Waterford city include Christchurch Cathedral which stands at the site of an 11th-century Viking church, the House of Waterford where you can go behind the scenes and see exactly how Waterford Crystal pieces are made and Reginald’s Tower, Ireland’s oldest civic building. 

Outside of the city, Waterford county boasts a wealth of unique heritage sites and attractions.

As visitors travel along the coast road they will be awed by The Copper Coast Geopark, which is the oldest UNESCO Global Geopark on the island of Ireland.

Whatever kind of day out you are looking for, from adventure to guided experiences, family fun or complete relaxation, Waterford offers an abundance of choices, check out visitwaterford.com to plan your ‘Wake to Waterford’ trip.