A Guide To Clara Lara In Wicklow

Few family favourites have stood the test of time like Wicklow’s Clara Lara.

A favourite of many who grew up in the ’90s, Clara Lara is still going strong in 2023.

A seasonal attraction, it’s home to favourites like the Radio Control Boats and the Obstacle Course to the Zipline and plenty more.

Below, you’ll discover why the brilliant Clara Lara is one of the best things to do in Wicklow for families!

Some quick need-to-knows about Clara Lara

Although a visit to Clara Lara is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Clara Lara is in County Wicklow, halfway between Laragh and Rathdrum on the R755. It’s a 10-minute drive from Glendalough, a 30-minute drive from Wicklow Town and a 20-minute drive from Roundwood.

2. Opening hours

Clara Lara is a seasonal attraction. It is open on weekends from 29th April and daily from 30th May to 3rd of September from 10:30 – 17:45.

3. Prices

There’s a few different pricing options for Clara Lara (note: prices may change):

• Adults: €25 online/€30 at the door
• Kids: €30
• Groups: €26

About Clara Lara

If you grew up in Ireland in the ’90s, the chances are, if you were lucky, you visited Clara Lara every couple of summers.

To those of us that grew up in densely packed urban areas, a visit to Clara Lara was, quite literally, a breath of fresh air.

The park covers a sizeable chunk of countryside in the Avonmore Valley and it has heaps of activities to keep the kids busy. 

You’re welcome to bring your own picnic or use the on-site barbecues (limited numbers available), or head to the cafe for sandwiches, burgers, and other refreshments. 

Things to do at Clara Lara

One of the reasons that a visit to Clara Lara is one of the best family days out in Wicklow is due to the volume of things there are to do here.

Below, you’ll find everything from water to land based activities. Just keep in mind that you need to dress for the weather!

1. Aqua Shuttle

The Aqua Shuttle is a thrilling water slide where kids sit on a kart that plunges down and splashes into a shallow pool below. 

2. Rowing Boats

The rowing boats are a great way to get the little ones out on the water by themselves. They can explore the small boat lake and make stops at the islands while keeping an eye out for pirates!

3. Amphicats

Amphicats are a type of canoe that are very stable in the water, so they’re ideal for children wanting to learn to paddle by themselves. Kids under 1.2 metres tall must be accompanied by an adult. 

4. Zipline

The sit-down zip line is close to the ground and a great introduction for younger children to the thrill of zip-lining.

5. Obstacle Course

The obstacle course has your run-of-the-mill rope climbing tower, as well as a challenging suspended tire obstacle. There are also picnic benches scattered around the course for parents. 

6. Junior Go-Karts

The Junior Go-Karts will be the highlight for any kid with a hankering for adventure! Children between 1.2 and 1.5 metres tall can whizz around the track in miniature formula one race cars and test out their need for speed. 

7. Radio Control Boats

The radio-controlled boats are great for anyone wanting to play captain for the day! The boats are connected to a mounted steering wheel on land, so the kids can really feel as if they’re at the helm of a ship. These boats are coin-operated and cost €2 a pop. 

8. Tree House & Tube Slide

The Tree House & Tube Slide will have imaginations running wild as the kids climb up into the tree house, across a short tree-top walkway, and down the twirling tube slide to the floor. 

Things to do near Clara Lara

One of the beauties of Clara Lara is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best things to do in Wicklow!

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Clara Lara!

1. Greenan Maze (15-minute drive)

Greenan Maze has two fun mazes, the challenging Celtic Maze (replanted this year), with a viewing tower at the side, and the flat Solstice Maze, a great maze for younger kids. 

2. Avondale Forest Park (15-minute drive)

This 500-acre Avondale Forest Park has an treetop walk that leads to the 38-metre high viewing tower that has 360-degree views of the park. The tower also has a 90-metre long twirling slide for adventurers who want to reach the ground quickly! 

3. Glendalough (10-minute drive)

For a dose of history, visit the Glendalough Monastic City which dates back to the 6th century. Or, if you fancy a decent ramble, tackle one of the various walks in Glendalough.