We visited Jurassic Newpark in Kilkenny for my daughter’s 5th birthday recently and had an amazing time! To be honest, we were surprised by how much there is to do here and how much my daughters (aged 5 and 3.5) enjoyed it.
They’re already asking us to go back!
But before visiting Jurassic Newpark, there are a few things you need to know, such as what time it opens, how much tickets cost, and what there is to do here. That’s why I’ve put together this detailed guide to help you out and ensure you have the best time ever!
So, let’s dive in, shall we? Here are 8 things you need to know before visiting Jurassic Newpark Kilkenny.
Things to Know Before Visiting Jurassic Newpark
1. Where is Jurassic Newpark?
Jurassic Newpark is located next to the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny, Ireland.
Kilkenny City is around a 5-minute drive away (or a 20-minute walk), and to get here from Dublin, you’re looking at an hour and 40-minute drive, and from Belfast, a 3-hour drive. We drove here from Cork and it took us just under two hours. And we didn’t need to stop, as thankfully, both our daughters had a nap in the car.
2. How much are tickets for Jurassic Newpark?
If you stay at the Newpark Hotel next door, entrance to Jurassic Newpark is free. And you can enter as many times as you like during your stay. We spent one night at the Newpark Hotel and were able to enter on both the Sunday and the Monday. We paid around 200 euros for a family room, which included breakfast and free entry to the park on both days.
If you’re not staying at the hotel and just want to visit for the day, then entry will cost €17.50 per person (children over 2 years are priced the same as adults). Children under 2 years are free.
3. What are the opening hours?
Jurassic Newpark is open every day to hotel guests from 10:30 am to 5 pm. However, on some weekdays (Tuesday and Wednesday typically), just the playgrounds and animal farm are open (no bounce, dino shows, etc.). So, it’s best to check this with the hotel when you go to book.
If you’re not staying at the hotel, then the opening hours are currently as follows:
- During school term: Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 5pm.
- During school holidays: Every day from 9.30am to 6pm.
- Bank holidays: 10am to 6pm.
4. How long do you need at Jurassic Newpark?
I recommend allowing at least 5 hours at Jurassic Newpark. As that way, you’ll get to see all the dinosaurs, go to a dino show, ride the train, go on Jurassic Bounce, and spend time in the playgrounds.
We got here around 1 pm on Sunday, had lunch, and spent around 2.5 hours here before checking into our room at the hotel. Then, the next morning, we came back for two hours before heading into Kilkenny City.
5. What is the best age for Jurassic Newpark?
My daughters were aged 5 and 3.5 when we visited, and they really enjoyed it. I would say that anywhere between 3 years and 10 years is the perfect age for Jurassic Newpark.
6. What can you do at Jurassic Newpark?
We were surprised by how much there is to do at Jurassic Newpark. And we got to do everything here. Now, we visited in September (a quieter time), so there were no queues or waiting times for things like Jurassic Bounce. And I’d imagine that in the summer it is very busy, so you may also be queuing for the train and the flying Pterosaurus ride.
Walk the trail and see all the dinosaurs
The park is set across 25 acres, and there are 17 life-size, moving dinosaurs that you can spot as you walk along the paved trail here. You’ll see a T. rex, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, Sptimosaurus, and loads more that I can’t remember the name of.
Mini Wildlife Park
Besides dinosaurs, there are many real-life animals in the park, including llamas, alpacas, emus, goats, sheep, rabbits, and more. And at certain times of the day, you can participate in ‘feeding time’ on the farm – my daughter got to stroke a rabbit during this time, and she was very happy.
Jurassic Bounce
One of the biggest inflatable parks in Ireland is located here – there are two sections (one for younger kids, under the age of 4) and a much bigger area for older kids (over 4 years). There is an extra charge for the older section (it’s 3 euros), and you can book your slot in advance when you arrive, or online if you’re a day visitor (i.e., not staying at the hotel).
Stroll along the Fairy Trail
In this tree-covered little section next to Jurassic Bounce, you can see the cute little houses and homes of the wood fairies. There’s also a Talking Tree here, which my daughters were fascinated by.
Check out the playgrounds
There are two playgrounds at Jurassic Newpark – the Prehistoric Playground next to the Snack Shack and a huge Medieval Playground at the back of the park, which just opened in July 2025.
Jurassic Express & Flying Pterosaur ride
Included in your entrance ticket is a train ride around the park on board the Jurassic Express and a ride on the Flying Pterosaur ride – a fun ride where you can control your cabin yourself (by flying it up and down with the press of buttons).
Go on the Kart Track
There’s also a small go-kart track near Jurassic bounce – the karts are pedal-operated, so kids can go on unaccompanied.
8. Is there a restaurant at Jurassic Newpark?
There’s a small Snack Shack here – serving up sandwiches, hot food (like chicken nuggets, chips, etc) as well as hot drinks. I got the panini with chips, and it was really good.
I believe, in the summer, there’s also a separate coffee cart serving coffees and small snacks next to the entrance.
If you’d prefer a bigger meal, then go to Scott’s Bar or Gulliver’s Restaurant in the Newpark Hotel next door.
Where did we stay?
As I said, we stayed at the Newpark Hotel next door to the park. We paid 200 euros for a family room with free breakfast and free entry to the park. There’s also a swimming pool on-site, which we were able to use twice.
We dined at their on-site restaurant, Gulliver’s Restaurant, for dinner, and it was excellent, although it was very busy and we had to wait around 30 minutes for a table, so definitely book it in advance if you plan to dine here.
Is it worth visiting Jurassic Newpark Kilkenny?
Yes, I would say that if you have kids aged between 3 and 10 years, it’s definitely worth visiting Jurassic Newpark in Kilkenny. My daughters had a ball here and are already asking us to return to the ‘dinosaur hotel’ as they call it.
I hope this blog post has given you plenty of inspiration for visiting Jurassic Newpark. If you have dinosaur fans at home, I just know they will love it here. As I said, I was pleasantly surprised by how great the park is, and my 5-year-old and 3.5-year-old had a blast!
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Last Updated on September 20, 2025 by snaphappytravel