Activities in Newquay Activities

A Short Visit to the Tropics – The Eden Project

Eden is a gigantic tropical garden, designed to offer an insight into how dependent we are on plant life.

A 100% mind – blowing attraction, Eden allows visitors to visit a tropical rainforest without ever leaving England. The Rainforest Biome – the world’s largest greenhouse – houses tropical plants used to produce everyday products, as well as orange and lemon trees, olive groves and gnarled vines of the Mediterranean Biome, including hemp, sunflowers and other plants that could play a central part in humanity’s future. A great option for families who wish to combine summer vacation, education and taste brilliant local food in the in-house restaurants and cafes.

Explore the Trebah Garden

Trebah Garden is a sub-tropical paradise valley offering over 4 miles of footpath, surrounded by exotic blooms and leading to vibrant tunnels of colour that ultimately lead to a secluded beach on the Helford River. Besides the century old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias and the giant gunnera, the facilities include adventure play areas, children’s trails and host special events all year round.

The Zoo & Blue Reef Aquarium

Newquay is home to Cornwall’s largest zoo, home to more than 130 different species, including playful penguins, creepy crawlies, fierce yet charming big cats and many more, that will thrill the young ones and excite adults that love coming closer to nature.

Situated on Towan Beach in the centre of Newquay, opposite the famous Towan Island, the Blue Reef Aquarium is a stunning visit. Be amazed by the local marine species from the Cornish coast to hundreds of tropical species in the gigantic ocean display complete with underwater tunnel.

The Beaches

Newquay’s main attraction is, obviously, its 12 sandy beaches, each of which offers a diverse beach experience: vast spaces, perfect for the children to go wild, rejuvenating waters and stunning scenery for grown-ups to enjoy swimming, sunbathing and genuine relaxation. If, on the other hand, you feel a bit more energetic, surfing is the most popular choice in these waters – and don’t worry if you have never tried it before; most of the beaches have surfing schools and provide both the gear and the necessary instructions to master the basics.

Surfing Events

Being the unrivalled surf capital of England, Newquay is crowded every once in a while by professional surfers that seek to gain prizes and reputation in various surf competitions. Most events are held on Fistral Beach and at Watergate Bay, including the celebrated Night Surf, the Boardmasters Surf Championships and the National Surf Championships many more. So, the best thing to do is plan your visit during one of these events – great displays of skill and agility, crowds of enthusiastic people and a magnificent opportunity to meet interesting people.

An Aviation Enthusiast 

Just 10 minutes from Newquay lays the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre, preserving a great selection of classic airplanes and iconic jet fighters. You will have the chance to sit in their cockpits and get a feel of what aviation meant decades ago.

The great indoor and outdoor exhibits, a 50s style café and a spacious picnic area add to the whole visit, making it an excellent option for a great day out with the family and friends.

Pirate’s Quest

Ever dreamed as a child to sail the 7 seas and experience a genuine pirate adventure? Pirate’s Quest will make a real pirate out of you: escaping a shipwreck, you and your mates must find your way through mystical caves and the murky streets of 18th century Cornwall to Blackbeard’s Tavern and, eventually, to the Captain’s Ship, setting sail to an exotic Caribbean island.

A children’s favorite, this hour – long walk-through experience allows pirate fans to feel, hear, smell, and see Cornwall’s intriguing legends and exciting history.

Newquay Sports Centre for “Dry” Sports

Newquay is a magnet for watersports buffs, but that doesn’t mean that “dry” sports are out of place.

The Newquay Sports and Community Centre hosts an array of sports and activities, including badminton, netball, volleyball, cricket, trampolining, basketball and indoor football. There are also 2 squash courts and a nice climbing wall.

When it come to watersports, the Newquay Activity Centre offers by far the best surf, bodyboard and Coasteering sessions in the UK, all in an excellently equipped and safe environment.

Retallack’s Aqua Park

The giant inflatable Aqua Park at Retallack Resort and Spa features a 15ft slide, a floating trampoline, tricky obstacle courses, narrow slipways, climbing frames and an amazing bag blast that will send you several metres high in the air before retuning safely again to the ground!

Designed for small, big… and very big children, this thrilling new addition draws even more visitors in Cornwall the last years.

Elemental UK

Located at Tolcarne Beach, this multi-activity centre cater for all sorts of water and land sports, such as surfing, body-boarding, stand-up paddle-boarding, kayaking, archery, volleyball and bouldering, providing tuition and all necessary gear to people of all ages and skill level.

Zorbing

If not, you certainly should, and Newquay is the perfect place to start it off! Cornwall Zorbing Park features an exhilarating custom built zorb run, more than 250 metres long, down which you will be hurled tumbling, after being strapped into one of our zorbs with a harness, spinning 360 degrees. That’s something you will surely remember for the rest of your life, don’t you think?

Go Lake Boating

Trenance Gardens and Leisure Park is the ideal spot for a romantic boating on a lake’s serene waters. After enjoying your coffee or tea near the lake, rent a boat and enjoy the stunning scenery. Children love the miniature railway, the playground and the Waterworld swimming pool, while grown-ups can enjoy a bowling green game, a tennis match, crazy golf, pitch and putt and several other outdoor activities.

Fishing & Boat Trips

Newquay never renounced its origins as fishing port and one of the best things one can do during his stay there, is to join a fishing trip from Newquay Harbour. Local fishermen with their brightly coloured fishing boats will gladly accept you on board and game fish is plenty in these waters, including Pollack, Ling, Conger Eel, Squid, Bass, Mackerel, Wrasse or even Dogfish. Shark fishing trips are also available.

Walking & Hiking

Newquay boasts the South West Coast Path, overlooking several sandy beaches and offering majestic sea view walks all along the coastline. Following the cliffs enveloping the beaches, you will meet steps and roadways that will take you down to the coast and up again, reaching as far as Padstow and beyond.

Horse Riding

Whether you’re a veteran rider or just want to get the feeling of it for the first time near the sea, Newquay is widely known as one of the best places in Britain for horse – riding. Local stables offer lessons (even for children of at least 4 years old) and small rides or full treks across one of the local beaches.

Try Coasteering

Coasteering is right now the fastest growing extreme sport in Europe and, guess what; Newquay is considered one of the top Coasteering destinations in UK!

Coasteering is the ultimate ocean wilderness adventure sport, combining towering sea cliffs explorations, scrambling over rocks and rock climbing, adventure swimming, cliff jumping from 4ft to 35ft, ocean caves explorations, discovering old smugglers paths, whirling in whirlpools and spinning in stoppers. Interesting enough?

St Eval Karting Circuit

St Eval Kart Circuit is a 1.3km circuit – it’s actually UK’s biggest children’s kart circuit and the Southwest’s largest and fastest adult kart circuit – designed specially for THUNDERKARTS 390cc.

Ideal for friends and families who love racing or want just to have some good laughs and rushes, it has excellent facilities and guarantees a great day out.

Jet Skiing & Diving

Jet Skiing is the best way for adrenaline addicts to explore Newquay’s coastline. Experienced instructors teach you the basics in case you haven’t done it before and they also organize guided trips, taking visitors to inaccessible coves and hidden wildlife. Of course you can also ride solo and to a selection of different rides, from a short trip across some of the near beaches to sea safaris, which include wildlife spotting – mostly dolphins!

Diving is another great option here: sea bed in the area hosts more than 30 wreck dives and stunning reefs.

Newquay turns from a quaint town of no more than 20.000 people in winter, to a gigantic never-ending bustling party jungle during the summer. Hence, entertainment is diverse and families and groups of holiday-makers will surely find the kind of vacation they seek – during the day.

When it comes to nightlife, things get “rough”, favouring reveling youngsters over families and “romantic” couples. Besides, Newquay has already gained a reputation as an infamous stag and hen weekend destination – often described as UK’s “Ibiza”. While wild partying usually takes the lion’s share in Stags and Hens, other popular additions include Coasteering, Surfing, Kite Buggying, Power Kiting, Blindfold Driving, Go-Karting, Laser Tag Mini Highland Games, Off Road Buggies, Quad Biking, Beach Cocktail Masterclasses, Pamper & Spa Days, Adonis Cabaret Show, Bollywood or Burlesque Dance Party and many more.

Restaurants and pubs are in abundance, especially during the summer, and a popular economical (and quieter) nightlife option is enjoying some fish and chips on a bench overlooking the harbour and beaches below.

A genuine seaside resort, Newquay fully justifies its title as England’s surfing capital of England, as well as England’s “Ibiza” version when it comes to Stags and Hens. During summer nights the town turns into party jungle, while days offer visitors the chance to enjoy the sun and beach with all sorts of sports, outdoor activities, theme parks and surfing events. Options for recreation and fun are simply inexhaustible.