Family Lodge & Hotels Experience In Waterford Ireland
Family Lodge Experience
First Impressions
The Waterford Castle Resort experience begins with a two minute ferry crossing from the Waterford mainland to our Private Island - a firm favourite with all ages.
Located on the outskirts of Waterford City, the spacious Island Resort offers 310-acres with the freedom to explore, and is an excellent choice for families who want peace and privacy with the benefit of having attractions and amenities such as the Waterford Greenway nearby.
Our Lodges are designed for families to really relax and feel at home, with plenty of space to spread out and common areas to connect.
Each Self-Catering Lodge offers three large bedrooms, a spacious living room, fully equipped kitchen and a private patio (perfect for al fresco dining!), with many overlooking the golf course.
Island Fun
The Private Island at Waterford Castle hotel is host to a range of family activities, making it one of the best staycations in Ireland. The playground is hugely popular with young children, with parents favoring its close proximity to the lodges.
Take time as a family to stroll along one of our Island trails, keeping a careful eye for the family of sika deer and other wildlife such as foxes and red squirrels that call the Island home.
Children will also enjoy our new fairy trail with brightly painted doors for them to discover as you venture through the woodland! Eliza the Fairy loves to play with the Island deer, although won't be seen by you or I! She keeps a watchful eye over the Castle and those who visit the Island.
The Resort hosts family-friendly activities throughout the year and is an excellent choice for family mid-term breaks, with things to do such as complimentary family movie screenings, treasure hunts and more.
With a stay at the Island Lodges you can be sure you have found one of the best hotels for kids in Ireland.
Residents of the Island can enjoy activities for all the family, including:
- Tennis/Basketball courts
- 18-hole championship Golf Course
- Driving Range
- Lawn croquet
- Clay pigeon shooting (*booking required)
- Nature walks
- Playground
- Picnics
- Juniors Golf Camp (subject to availability)
Resort Dining
Residents of the Island can bring their own produce and make meals together in our well equipped kitchens, or take the opportunity to enjoy a variety of dining options, from treating themselves to a memorable fine-dining evening meal in the luxurious Munster Room Restaurant to tucking into a tasty takeaway pizza from our Kings Channel Clubhouse. BBQ and picnic hampers are also seasonally available. Availability and opening times may vary, we always recommend you book any Resort dining in advance to avoid disappointment during your stay. Sample menus can be viewed here.
We also welcome residents to dine at our sister property,
One the Waterfront. This stunning beachside venue offers informal dining with a spacious cliffside terrace and panoramic sea views in Tramore, just 20 minutes drive away.
Nearby Attractions
The Island Resort is surrounded by a host of attractions and
activities in Waterford and surrounding areas in Ireland's Ancient East. Situated close to Waterford City Centre, the resort is a world away yet centrally located. Below is just a small selection of things to do nearby, our reception team are on hand to recommend and assist in planning things to do.
- House of Waterford Crystal
Waterford Museum of Treasures - Bishops Palace, Medieval Museum and Reginald's Tower Viking Museum
King of the Vikings virtual reality experience
Mount Congreve Gardens
Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens
Waterford Greenway
Tramore Blue Flag beach
Copper Coast Scenic Drive
Waterford and Suir Valley Railway
You can read some of our staff recommendations and guest favourites
here. There are lots of online resources to help you get the most out of your trip to Waterford. We recommend the Visit Waterford website, which has lots of creative activity ideas, including one especially for families which you can
view here.
Fun for all ages at the unique King of the Vikings.
Day Trips
In addition to the plethora of local attractions, Waterford Castle Resort is also a great place to explore the rest of Ireland's Ancient East. Historic Kilkenny town is just an hours drive North and is well-known for it's versatile attractions including the Kilkenny Castle and Gardens, Smithwicks Brewery Experience and the Medieval Mile Museum. To the East, Wexford is home to exciting features such as Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in the world. To the West, Cork is full of scenic areas and colorful towns such as Cobh.