Mini Adventures for Young Explorers
Looking for a gentle and exciting activity that’s perfect for toddlers and small children? Mini Captains at The Lagoon Activity Centre offers a colourful, child-friendly water experience that’s easy to enjoy and designed with young families in mind.
Whether it’s your child’s first time on the water or you’re simply looking for a short, memorable outdoor activity, Mini Captains is the perfect introduction to water-based fun in a calm and scenic setting.
Toddler-Friendly Water Fun in West Cork
Climb aboard and join your shipmate for a light-hearted journey around the lagoon. With simple controls and calm surroundings, this Mini Captains experience gives little ones a chance to build confidence while having fun beside their grown-up. It’s a great option for young families exploring things to do in West Cork, combining safe water fun with lasting memories.
Popular ride combinations:
- 1 adult + 1 child
- 1 adult + 2 small children
- 2 adults + 1 child
- 2 adults + 2 small children
Each session is €20 per ride. You’re welcome to enjoy it at your own pace, with no set time limit at the moment. We currently have three Mini Captain units available, with a maximum combined weight of 250kg per ride.
Why Families Love Mini Captains
Mini Captains is a gentle and enjoyable way to introduce young children to water activities without the need for swimming skills. It offers a break from high-energy attractions and suits families looking for something short and calm. The activity is ideal for little ones who may be trying this kind of experience for the first time, giving them a chance to feel in control in a safe and relaxed setting. Many parents also appreciate how easily Mini Captains fits into a full day out, pairing well with other activities like pedal boats or a relaxed visit to Jack’s Shack for lunch or a treat.
Went with my 8 year old, had an absolute blast,was in bits after the activities and still went out on the kayak after. Staff are amazing and so helpful. Will return on our next trip.
Absolutely enjoyed this activity centre, it's even great for those people who have a fear of water or can't swim, cos the water is only 3ft deep. So safe enough. Definitely go on this again, loads of fun to be had, in good weather and bad. Brilliant fun
A really great thing to do with children of all ages!! Tired arms today but such good fun! nWell organised and safe out with lifejackets. They provide wetsuits if needed. nDefinitely recommend
Booked for family of 4 as part of our holiday in West Cork and Paul the manager was very accommodating when we had a problem with the time we booked. We had great fun on the inflatables…kids loved the slide and the hamster wheel! There are lovely warm showers after too. Staff were great. We had previously been as a few times and and we will definitely be back again…it doesn’t get old!
So much fun, staff were brilliant and great value for money. Would definitely recommend this for a family activity……..
This was such a fun day out for adults AND kids. We kayaked, SUPd, and went on the activity park. They have a great set up, and great staff
The Lagoon Activity centre was extremely well runnIt is great fun for the family, from 8 years plus!nHighly recommend it, cant wait to go back
Great fun for all the family, staff excellent and facilities, well worth a visit. Will definitely be back
Great morning on the inflatables with 2 adults and 3 kids. Very well organised, friendly staff and good value in the cafe. Would highly recommend this activity, we all had great fun.
Had a fantastic day out as usual, our annual visit to the lagoon! Changing rooms and toliets spotless, staff amazing and very helpful. We did the waterpark which requires a good level of fitness but thats clearly started in the terms and conditions,very detailed safety talk, lifeguards on the ball as per usual. Overall a fantastic day out , we will most definitely be back, looking forward to next year already. nHighly recommend.
The experience was mixed. If you’re fit you’ll get lots from it . Less so if you’re less so. We went with our Autistic son who felt limited in the things he could because the access to certain obstacles involved going through others he couldn’t manage. Other reviewers have
Absolutely brilliant, kids really enjoyed the kayaking which is really safe. Will be back soon
Kids loved it definitely will do it again well worth the money, will do kayaking and pedal boats next time make a day of it
3 kids from 8 to 11 had a brilliant time on the waterpark activity whilst mammy and 2 small ones had some ice cream and enjoyed the good weather 😀
The water park is great fun for the whole family. The kids loved it....and the daddy loved it. The Iceberg is a hard climb but totally worth it. We're living locally and have gone a couple of times....and will be back.
Fun afternoon for all. Staff were friendly and helpful. Lovely atmosphere and buzz around the centre. Hope to go again next summer.
I would likely recommend The Lagoon Activity Centre. The family really enjoyed the Total Wipeout style course. They were all smiley and tired afterwards. The coffee was good and the place is very well run and easy to navigate. It is a must see and do in West Cork!
We went as a family (4 kids ages 16, 14, 6 and 4, and 2 adults) a day out to celebrate the 16th birthday! It's hard to impress the older lads, but they thoroughly enjoyed this! They went on the water park, we watched for a while before bringing the smallies out on a pedal boat.
Greatest 45 min of our holiday, really safe, crazy activity for all the family. You dont need to be a good swimmer its easy to get around
Book early. Always a hoot. For all ages! I'm early 50s and go with the teenagers every summer. The new pyramid is a testing climb but worth it. I started with this and got the wetting out of the way early on! Could do with clearing out of the pond scum which accumulates in two
Had a great time with my kids on the inflatable water park. Staff were helpful and friendly. Change rooms are a little small when everyone is trying to get changed after, but thats a minor complaint. Will definitely go again
Great place for both adults and children, wetsuit available if you done bring your own, life jackets also, the lagoon is on about 3/4 foot deep so safe for all type of swimmers, water is salty (seems maybe dirty and stagnant to me but I'm no water expert). Big area for running around on and plenty of obstacles to tackle and then the slides
Great spot. My 2 boys had a ball. Great facilities, great value. Friendly staff.
We had a great time at The Lagoon Waterpark. The five of us took part, kids from 8 to 15 and we had great fun. The only thing for us was that a couple of the inflatables could have had more air in them and showers stopped before we had a chance to use them when we finished,
Did the waterpark and pedal boat and kayaking - fantastic day out. Even in the rain. Highly recommend.
Kids and hubbie had a ball. Wetsuits optional, all wore life jackets and everyone seemed to enjoy. A little boat brings you from the pier to the feature in the lagoon. Life guard supervised also. Great spot. Would return
Heading towards the 40s but still love the inflatable water park so much, my teenagers always have a ball too.
Great experience. Friendly staff. If the weather is good the place will be a super fun. Very safe place, just 4 feet deep.
Lovely well maintained park . Have seen the bin collection guy here even in a sunday morning good parking area.tennis court for older kids lovely lake view and only a walk from the shops and restaurants.
Loved it big time. Must do experience of county cork, right after the butter factory.
Went to the Lagoon Activity Centre today for the first time and we had a ball. Went on the paddle boat and got a kayak each. Everything was very straight forward. Staff were very friendly and extremely helpful and such amazing value. Will definitely come back for some more fun when I come to west cork again.
A group of 17 of us had a fantastic trip to the lagoon today from adults to age 8. So much fun for everyone, the staff were incredible and friendly. Highly recommend a visit, well worth the trip !
Great time kayaking first then water park we all had fun teens also had a great time just needs a little cleaning around water park some wood and rubbish floating around
Big family group. Highlight of the family holiday. Kids loved it. Well worth a visit!
Absolutely blown away by my experience at the Lagoon. Staff were exceptional and went above and beyond my expectations. The lads doing the lifejackets and wetsuits were so friendly and professional. The waterpark itself was great craic and all my group had a ball. The whole set
Brilliant, Went there with 4 kids aged between 8 and 13 plus a big 50yr lol. Kids loves every minute. Staff were great.
Great place during the summer when the water park is there they allso have kenewing peddle boats and paddle surfing and a small shop that sells ice-cream and other stuff.
We had a great time here this weekend. My eldest happily went out kayaking and enjoyed the large open space. The rest of us did the water park which had so much to do and was really fun.
This is our second time here at the lagoon , as always a super morning with lots of fun for all the family. Great new addition is the big big big slide!! Staff as always very professional a d extremely helpful We will be back again thanks to all the team at the Lagoon Activity
A win win for parents and teenagers … Having two teenagers who are reluctant to go on holidays with their parents is a challenge but we could not recommend the Lagoon Activity Centre more - 1st day did water park and we were back a second day to race parents in kayaks across the
Kids had a ball... Lots or running, swimming & climbing... For the spectators, the coffee was really good
Fun facilities and a lovely relaxed atmosphere at the centre. Very friendly staff at the centre base. Aqua park was fun but very daunting. Be prepared for essentially a slippery bouncy castle. Those in charge of the Aquapark we very unhelpful, bordering on rude. Myself and others were the ones pulling the dingy closer to the inflatable to help people on and off while they looked on. No positive interaction, just looked constantly bored by our existence and us possibly being in need of a hand. Nothing to wipe the very many cuts I witnessed on the way back. Those on shore were very helpful. Please remember that it is all of our first time on a wobbly, slippery inflatable in deep water that most of us are only on to keep out children happy. Our old bodies ache. It costs nothing to give us a fake smile and a hand onto wobbly polyethylene. In fact, it would go a really long way. You catch more flies with honey then with vinegar. Still had a great time though!
Took my two grandchildren to The Lagoon today. They had an absolutely great day and are already planning a return trip! The efficiency and friendliness of staff is second to none! Couldn't recommend it enough. Well done everyone!
Really, really enjoyable experience at the Lagoon. Wetsuits and life jackets provided, with both changing rooms and showers (for rinsing off only) available. Staff at reception and on the boat were very friendly and chatty. The course was very fun, and the 45 minute time was
How To Get Here
The Lagoon Activity Centre is ideally located in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, just over an hour away from Cork City and around 2 hours from Limerick. Easily accessible by car and on a main bus route (230 bus from Cork City!) The Lagoon is a breeze to get to.
It’s €20 per Mini Captains ride. The price is per unit, not per person.
There’s no set time limit at the moment. Most families enjoy it for around 20 minutes.
We allow combinations like 1 adult + 2 children or 2 adults + 2 small children, provided the total weight doesn’t exceed 250kg.
Yes. Every group must include at least one adult.
Yes, and they’re required for both children and adults. Our staff will help you get fitted and ready.
Definitely. It works great alongside kayaking or a bite at Jack’s Shack.
We recommend it, especially during weekends and holidays, as we only have three units available.


