Kia Ora Mini Farm Wexford
Kia Ora Mini Farm is an open working farm providing fun days out in Wexford for families and groups. The farm now has a dedicated area with real mini diggers providing a unique working experience for visitors. Children can interact with farm animals and also other exotic animals like, llamas, alpacas, emus, pot bellied pigs, birds, Scottish highland cows and Kerry cows.
Kia Ora Farm now have real mini diggers installed with a dedicated dig area, supervised by staff. The mini diggers are a huge family favourite and a real treat for kids who want to experience the digging, scooping and lifting of sand in a purpose built mini digger pit.
The on site cosy coffee shop provides tasty snacks and home baked goodies. Families are welcome to bring their own picnic and avail of outdoor seating during the summer months.
The farm is fully wheelchair accessible with cement paths, toilets, baby changing facilities and there’s also free car parking. Some of the activities include sandpits, a football pitch, a rough rider track and a convoy of ride on tractors. Kia Ora Mini farm has lots of seasonal events too and is available for Birthday parties, Corporate Events and School Tours. The is also highly recommended!
Other popular attractions include the Fire Engine Ride, on a real fire engine – always a hit with boys and girls of all ages. Also be sure to check out the fun see through Maze, where the prize for successfully navigating the maze is a large slide at the end. Football fans will love the Crazy Football feature – the only trouble is getting mam and dad out of the way so the kids can have a go!
Kia Ora Mini Farm Admission / Prices
Entrance fee is €10 per Adult & per Child. There are no additional charges once inside the farm – you pay once on entry and can stay for the whole day!
Kia Ora Mini Farm Wexford
Courteencurragh
Gorey
Co. Wexford
Ph: 053 9421166 – tell them DayOut.ie sent you 😉
Email: kiaoraminifarm[@]gmail.com
Visit web site
Went to see Santa at Kia Ora Mini Farm yesterday and have to say that it was brilliant from the time we got out of the car, all the lights in the carpark and the arches up the drive, into the cosy coffee shop and up through Santa’s little house. I have never seen so many lights and then a light show to music outside. The kids said it was definitely the real Santa as he knew they had been fighting a bit and when he let them pick their own presents they were thrilled – oh and presents are not your usual pound shop job they are really good. We got to use the real diggers (Daddy’s favourite bit) and had great fun on the gokarts before warming up in the coffee shop. We had never been before at Christmas but will definitely be returning. Well done guys credit where its due it was very magical
We were delighted to enjoy another Christmas day out today. Just back from Kia Ora Mini Farm in Wexford and we had 3 children in tow to visit the big man.
Heading south bound, you’re looking for Junction 23 on the N11, about 1 hour drive outside Dublin. Exit the motorway and take the 1st left at the roundabout and the same at the next roundabout and then you’re there after a 5 min drive.
We arrived just before dark and entered via the colourful light archway to the coffee shop. A warm and bubbly athmosphere greets you and the lovely aroma of mulled wine and mince pies fills the air and adds that real festive feeling. Lovely to meet Helen and Maura too who had their hands full but great to see things so busy for them after all the work that has clearly been put into this venue.
We headed outdoors and across the stone and pebble courtyard straight to visit Santa. The kids were delighted with the festive displays on approach to Santa’s room. There’s some really nice work put into Santa’s hallway and the kids were delighted to pass several doorways that included Santa’s toy room, Santa’s bedroom and Santa’s sorting office. Mrs Claus greeted us without delay and we popped in to see Santa.
It was a lovely visit, with all the time we wanted with Santa. Over the years with DayOut.ie, we have visited lots of Santa venues and you always feel that time with Santa is on the clock – you feel pressured or conscious that there are others waiting behind you. In the past, we’ve even been brought into Santa’s room with other families and it always seems that there is an emphasis to push people through and pack as many in as they can. Kia Ora was the complete opposite – we had all the time we wanted, on our own as a family which meant it was a lovely intimate feeling. Santa could speak to just us and to our children which was wonderful. Our youngest who is 3 was enthralled with Santa and stood well back in the room and just waved. He was just overwhelmed to see the real, live Santa! It was a wonderful moment and the jolly Santa performed brilliantly, speaking softly to coax him a little closer. Soon our 3 children were standing right in front of Santa and were all chatting at ease. They were engaged, interested and happy and that’s what it’s all about. After a lovely chat, Santa then said they could choose their own present, in a room full of presents – this nearly sent them over the edge altogether!! A really lovely Santa experience and well done to all at Kia Ora.
The fun didn’t stop there however, with lots more outdoor activities and animals to visit. There’s something for all ages through the farm area, with life size mini diggers, outdoor maze, crazy football, mini tractors, buggies and lots of animals in the farm sheds and outhouses.
The outdoor maze is good fun and has just the right level of challenge for children. It’s consists of concrete walkways surrounded by rigid net walls. The reward at the end is a large slide and you won’t hear the kids complaining when they get there! Next we moved on to the footie games, which was a huge hit with out 9 year old. There’s about 6 different challenges and just think crazy golf but with footballs, Dad even had a go to show, ahem, how it’s done!
I spoke to the proprietor while the family were browsing about. Padraig O Donoghue has done lots of work here and new attractions are being added all the time. We spoke about the recent storms this weekend and he said that some lights had to be put back up but other than that everything was very well bolted down. I imagine as farm people, they’re no strangers to the elements! As a farm owner there is so much to do at this large centre but the fact that Padraig was on site and mingling with visitors was another nice touch and he was on hand for any issue. I saw him carrying speakers to get the music going, lifting kids onto small bikes, cleaning toilets floors and also carrying bales for the animals. When you know the owner will roll the sleeves up and muck in with everyone else, it lets you know they have passion and this is palpable when you visit.
It was Padraig who told me to make sure the kids had a ride on the fire engine. We could hear the sirens in the distance so wandered over to see a genuine but converted fire engine, complete with lights and sirens that takes the family on a trip around the farm. All aboard for festive sing along which the kids really enjoyed and the bumps and turns just added to the experience. We popped into the outhouse buildings to say hi to the animals and the kids were treated to a little bunny on their lap – amazing to see the care and love that children have for little creatures at such early an stage of their lives. There was lots to see here and lots of animals to meet – Reindeer, goats, rabbits, cows, horses and even ostriches! Our eldest was feeding hay to a beautiful deer through the fence and for a moment they just bonded and the deer wouldn’t take straw from anyone else. Another special moment.
We had a lovely cuppa and sat outside on the benches where we could see the lights. Some lights were timed to come on with the music and the kids enjoyed that too. We had another go of the buggies and carts before heading back indoors to say our goodbyes. It was now dark and the archway outside could be seen and enjoyed to its fullest effect. Our youngest cried when we were leaving and that was a clear signal that they were having a ball!
We’ve had quite a few comments about Kia Ora and wanted to visit to see what this was all about. Overall a lovely day out and a realy nice Santa experience. Kids asked us to visit again in the Summer and we’ll be sure to do just that. Thanks to the guys at Kia Ora Mini Farm for another super day out.