16 Fantastic Things To Do In Newquay

Things to do in Newquay

Cornwall’s most popular holiday destination is an ideal place for a family caravan holiday.

There are award-winning, safe beaches and a host of family-friendly attractions around the town.

Beautiful beaches, rolling Atlantic breakers, laid back atmosphere and nightlife, attract visitors worldwide to ride the waves, learn and watch the excitement.

Newquay is home to some of the top UK and International surfing competitions.

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Fistral Beach

Fistral Beach in Newquay

Sheltered by towering cliffs and sand dunes, Fistral Beach is world famous for surfing with rolling Atlantic waves reaching heights of up to 8ft.

Fistral hosts major UK and international surf competitions; you can book lessons, hire equipment, or lie back and watch the action.

There are cafes, shops and takeaways on the beach, and Cornwall Mobility provides sand chairs.

Porth Beach

Porth Beach in Newquay

Popular with families with young children, the expanse of sloping golden sands is perfect for sandcastles, paddling, beach, and cliff walks.

Rockpools teeming with fascinating sea creatures appear when the tide is out.

Stunning Porth Beach is situated in a deep inlet between Watergate Bay and the beaches at Newquay, sheltered by the headlands on either side.

A narrow footbridge links the beach to Porth Island, the ancient cliff settlement, and the fort at Trevelgue head.

There are pubs and cafes just across the road from the beach.

  • Lifeguard cover from May-September
  • Dogs allowed from 15 May-30 September, from 10 am – 6 pm

Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay in Newquay

There are spectacular views of the huge Atlantic breakers across the open bay from the golden sandy beach at Watergate Bay.

The beach stretches for about 2 miles and is popular for kitesurfing, surfing, family days out, and walkers.

Access to the beach is via various paths, and the easiest route is from the hotel in the valley. Watergate Bay is 15 minutes drive or a vigorous 45-minute walk uphill and down from Newquay.

Sand chairs are available from the Watergate Bay Hotel.

Whipsiderry Beach

Whipsiderry Beach

Sheltered by rocky cliffs, award-winning Whipsiderry Beach is a pretty, secluded beach with rock pools and caves to explore at low tide.

There are no facilities or shops at Whipsiderry, an unspoilt suntrap accessed via a steep flight of steps on the cliff face.

The sands reach as far as Watergate Bay at low tide when you can walk to Fruitful Cove and Cathedral Cavern.

Good To Know:

  • Be careful with the tides; Whipsiderry disappears underwater at high tide.
  • Dogs are allowed at Whipsiderry all year round.
  • Access is via steep steps.

Lappa Valley

Lappa Valley is one of the most popular days for families with children. The journey takes you on a steam train ride through the delightful Cornish countryside to a 35-acre secret valley packed with activities and adventures.

Activities and facilities at Lappa Valley include;

  • Outdoor play spaces
  • Boating lake, pedalo swans, pirate ship, magical island
  • Multi-level soft play area, sand pit pedal cars
  • Play fort, trampolines
  • Family games field
  • Woodland walks
  • Crazy golf
  • Musical trail
  • Fantastic food and refreshments

Newquay Zoo

Set among beautiful sub-tropical gardens in the centre of Newquay, whatever the weather, there are 100s of different animals to meet and learn about at the popular Newquay Zoo.

As a charity, the zoo aims to protect endangered species and conserve wildlife and is home to lions, lemurs, lynx, monkeys, marmosets and many more.

There are Oriental Gardens to explore, characters to meet at the Village Farm and play areas for the children.

A fantastic day out for everyone; when you visit Newquay Zoo, you’re also supporting their education, research, and conservation work.

Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre

The Aviation Heritage Centre is a fascinating, informative, and fun attraction for all ages.

With indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits, you can walk through the fully working RAF Hardened Aircraft Hangar, climb on board some of the iconic aircraft, and sit inside the cockpits of historic jet fighters and bombers.

You can tour the vast VC10 in-flight refuelling tanker and V Bomber training planes.

Enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers at the Heritage Centre bring aviation history to life in interesting talks suitable for all ages.

There are lots to see and do for everyone:

  • More than 1,500 model aircraft on display
  • Hawker Hunter simulator flight around Cornwall
  • Watch the planes take off and land at Newquay airport next door
  • Reasonably priced café with hot and cold snacks
  • Gift shop, toys, models, souvenirs
  • Dogs welcome

Blue Reef Aquarium

Located on Towan Promenade in the centre of Newquay, Blue Reef aquarium houses hundreds of different species of marine life in 40 fantastic underwater displays.

Feeding times, rock pool workshops, shark talks and close encounters with marine animals, including freshwater turtles, giant octopus, piranha, and seahorses, are among the many exciting activities at Blue Reef.

The aquarium’s heart has a stunning coral reef display home to many exotic fish, reef sharks, the endangered loggerhead turtle, and a huge southern stingray.

Walking through the underwater tunnel is an unforgettable experience, and you won’t get wet!

Dairyland Farm Park

Just ten minutes from Newquay centre, on a dedicated bus route, children of all ages love Dairyland Farm Park.

Packed with things to see and do, from the museum of farming and local life, feeding the goats, lambs and ducks, pony, and tractor rides, to close encounters with the snakes and creepy crawlies in the Bug Zone, this is a fantastic day out for the whole family.

  • Indoor soft play area, slides, ball pit, jump zones, softball cannons
  • An indoor town with pedal cars
  • Scrambled legs assault course, Flying Foxes zip wires
  • Farmhouse kitchen, drinks, snacks

Trenance Gardens

The beautiful roses, shrubs and flower beds of Trenance Gardens and the serene boating lake are a peaceful oasis close to Newquay town centre.

The lake is home to different species of wildlife, and children have enjoyed feeding the ducks for generations.

Wander along the tree-lined paths, reflect among the flowers and sub-tropical plants and footbridges, or hire a canoe or pedalo and see the island on the boating lake.

Trenance Gardens is a favourite alternative to the beach for visitors and residents of Newquay.

The Gannel Estuary

The Gannel Estuary

This pretty, tranquil area 2 miles from the hustle and bustle of Newquay centre is well worth a visit for amazing views, picturesque walks, and an abundance of wildlife.

Access is via the River Gannel ferry from the Fern Pit Café on the north shore or over the footbridge when the tide is low.

You can buy crab lines, bait, and beach toys at the café, and you can also explore the estuary by kayak, canoe, bike or on horseback from the Trenance Stables.

The silted estuary offers a glimpse of Newquay’s maritime past, with old boatyards, moorings, and craft, nowadays a relaxing place for recreation and a nature reserve.

Newquay Orchard

A beautiful 7-acre sanctuary designed for relaxation in nature, learning about the environment and Newquay’s biodiversity: the Cornish apple orchard was built by volunteers to enjoy everyone.

You can wander through the apple trees and along the lovely fruit espalier, enjoy a picnic in the forest garden. The orchard is always open and wheelchair accessible, and dogs are most welcome.

Pirate’s Quest Adventure Golf

Bring out your inner Jack Sparrow and explore the smuggler coves, search for the missing mermaid under the sea, meet Merlin, the wizard and discover local legends, myths, and giants along the winding streets of 18th century Cornwall on this exciting pirate-themed golf adventure.

You’ll start your adventure aboard the Royal Anne Galley, which was wrecked off the Cornish coast in 1721.

For the brave, you can descend to the depths of Davy Jones’ Locker among the shipwrecks and lost souls or choose a safer passage to Shipwreck Cove.

Pirate facts, local history and a challenging game of crazy golf are all great fun for the whole family.

Jungle Jacks

Jungle Jacks is a huge indoor soft play centre with 1700 square feet of racing slides, tubes and climbs, a rope bridge, and hours of fun for the children.

Jungle Jacks is the perfect place for lively, younger children to run wild and have fun safely while their parents relax with a cup of tea.

Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre

A fantastic day out for the whole family in the lovely Cornish countryside, just 8 miles from Newquay; there are lots to enjoy at Springfields Fun Park.

The train ride around the park stops for children to be involved in feeding the lambs and the fish.

There’s duck racing, pony grooming, bunny cuddling, pony and carriage rides, and an indoor play zone if it rains.

  • Boating lake
  • Secret enchanted wood
  • Go-karts
  • Trampolines
  • Pirate ship, fort
  • Zip wires
  • Mega slide
  • Mawgan’s café, picnic areas

Huer’s Hut

Huer's Hut

Dating back to the 14th century, the historic Huer’s Hut is a listed building high on the clifftops at Newquay.

A lookout point for the huer whose job was to tell the townsfolk when the pilchards arrived in the bay so that they could land the fish, the Huer’s Hut is a piece of Cornish fishing history worth a visit for the stunning views.

Buying A Holiday Home In Newquay

If you’ve fallen in love with Newquay and the surrounding area you may well be thinking about the benefits of static caravan ownership.

If you are looking for static caravans for sale in Newquay, there are plenty of holiday parks in the area that offer ownership opportunities.

To discuss the options available, please feel free to get in touch with us.

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