The Ark Open Farm

At a Glance

📍 Newtownards

💷 Paid

🅿️ Free parking

🚻 Toilets & baby changing facilities

♿️ Mostly wheelchair & buggy accessible

☕️ Cottage Café & coffee available

🧒 Best for all ages (especially 1-12 years)

🗺️ 296 Bangor Road, Newtownards, BT23 7PH

Website

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What You'll Find

Meet over 200 friendly animals, enjoy hands-on animal encounters throughout the day, bottle-feed lambs (seasonal), and get up close to rabbits, guinea pigs and even some more unusual creatures.

The outdoor play areas are fantastic, with something for every age. There are climbing frames, slides, swings, sand play, a zip line, bouncing pillow, giant hill slides and plenty of space for little ones to burn off energy.

Don't miss the Jurassic Trail, where dinosaurs are hidden amongst the trees, or wander through the magical Fairytale Forest, making the whole farm feel like one big adventure.

The tractor ride is always a favourite and is a great way to travel across the farm, especially if little legs are getting tired.

For The Grown Ups

The recently refurbished Cottage Café serves hot meals, children's favourites, homemade traybakes, coffee and snacks.

There are plenty of picnic benches if you prefer to bring your own lunch, including covered seating for those unpredictable Northern Ireland showers.

The farm is well laid out with buggy-friendly paths, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities, making it an easy day out with younger children.

Why We Loved It

✅Huge variety of friendly animals to meet and feed

✅Fantastic outdoor play areas for all ages

✅Tractor rides included in admission

✅Dinosaur Trail and Fairytale Forest add extra adventure

✅Plenty of space for children to run, explore and play

✅Great mix of indoor and outdoor activities whatever the weather

✅Foam Party in the summer months

Wee Adventurers Top Tips

⭐️Book online in advance as it can sell out during weekends and school holidays.

⭐️Pack wellies if it's been raining.

⭐️Bring socks if you want to use the bouncing pillows.

⭐️Check the daily timetable when you arrive so you don't miss the animal encounters or feeding sessions.

Nearby Adventures

📍Mount Stewart.

📍Pickie Funpark in Bangor.

📍Londonderry Park

📍Scrabo Country Park

Overall Verdict

The Ark Open Farm is one of those places you can visit again and again, with enough activities to keep children entertained all day. Between the animals, huge play areas, tractor rides and themed trails, it's much more than just a farm.

Whether you're visiting with toddlers, preschoolers or older children, there's something for everyone, making it one of our favourite family days out in Northern Ireland.

Have you visited?

Let us know what your little adventurers loved most! We'd love to see your photos too, don't forget to tag @WeeAdventurers on social media.