Donadea Forest Park in County Kildare, with its tall woodland canopy and well-loved looped trails, has just added a big new reason to visit. For anyone planning travel Ireland adventures with family, friends, or kids in tow, the official opening of Zipit Donadea brings a fresh outdoor attraction to one of the east’s most accessible nature spots.
Zipit Donadea Forest Adventure Park was officially opened on Thursday, July 2, by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD, and opened to the public from Friday, July 3, 2026. Set within Coillte’s Donadea Forest Park, the new aerial park is designed as a family-friendly, nature-based experience that strengthens Kildare’s growing appeal for ireland tourism, ireland weekend getaway plans, and easy ireland day trips from Dublin.
Travel Ireland News: What’s New at Zipit Donadea
The project was delivered with a total investment of €1.5 million. Of that, €1.2 million came through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EU Just Transition Fund, while Zipit Forest Adventures contributed a further €300,000.
This matters beyond the trees. Fáilte Ireland expects the attraction to generate an estimated €9.3 million in economic impact over the next 15 years, support 20 jobs at the activity centre, and attract more than 25,000 visitors in its first year, rising to over 40,000 annually by 2033. For readers tracking ireland tourism news and ireland travel updates, that makes Zipit Donadea one of the more significant new outdoor visitor investments in the region.
The park includes:
- Six separate aerial courses
- Ropes, ziplines, and elevated treetop nets
- Dedicated junior elements for younger children
- Experiences suitable for visitors aged three and over
- A visitor reception cabin
- Seating for spectators
- Accessible toilet facilities
One of the standout features is the treetop nets area, which gives smaller children a playful, elevated adventure space without requiring the same level of challenge as the main aerial courses. That makes it a smart choice for ireland family trips and group trips Ireland visitors want to keep inclusive.
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Why Donadea Deserves a Place on Your Ireland Travel Itinerary
Donadea already had plenty going for it. The forest park is known for scenic walking routes, heritage interest, and a peaceful woodland setting that suits everyone from local walkers to visitors building out a broader ireland travel guide. With Zipit Donadea now open, the destination becomes even more appealing for ireland staycation breaks, ireland outdoor activities, and short ireland road trips from the capital.
Its location is especially useful for:
- Dublin travel visitors looking for a nearby nature escape
- Families seeking practical things to do Ireland options
- Couples mixing woodland walks with relaxed café stops
- Groups planning active ireland social events or weekend meetups
- Solo visitors adding a soft adventure stop to a wider ireland travel itinerary
Sustainability is also central to the project. The facility operates fully off-grid and is powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a lower-emission, lower-noise approach that helps protect the surrounding forest environment. In a travel landscape where visitors increasingly care about how attractions are built and run, that detail gives Zipit Donadea extra weight as a modern ireland holiday destination.
Minister Heydon said the development enhances how people enjoy forests and encourages families and visitors to spend more time outdoors. Zipit Forest Adventures, an Irish-owned family-run business, described the opening as an important milestone for adventure tourism in the region and highlighted Donadea’s potential to draw visitors from Dublin, Kildare, and the wider Midlands.
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Quick visitor tips
If you are planning a visit, book ahead during weekends and school holidays, and pair the trip with Donadea’s walking trails for a fuller day out. For anyone researching cheap travel Ireland or ireland local experiences, this is a strong pick because it feels like a proper escape without needing a long cross-country journey.
Zipit Donadea is also a timely reminder that some of the best travel Ireland experiences are not just on the Wild Atlantic Way or in famous ireland castles and ireland beach destinations. Sometimes they are in accessible woodland parks where new investment makes an old favourite feel fresh again.
For travellers building 2026 plans, this is one to add to the list now. As ireland travel news goes, Zipit Donadea is a practical, family-friendly opening with real local impact, and it gives Kildare a strong new reason to feature in your next travel Ireland adventure.
