ZipIt birthday parties run at four forest locations across Ireland. Children aged 7 and up spend two to three hours on high ropes and zipline courses, with all equipment and all children under 18 years old requiring supervision from parents or teachers. This guide walks through exactly what happens, from arrival to departure, so there are no surprises on the day.
You have booked the party. The date is set. Invitations sent.
Now you are wondering what actually happens. How does it work? What do the children do? What should you bring? What does the birthday child need to know?
Most parents arrive for their first ZipIt party with questions. The format is unfamiliar. High ropes courses are not something most families do regularly. The unknown creates uncertainty.
This walkthrough covers the full experience step by step. Read it before the party so you know what to expect. Share it with other parents if they ask.
Before You Arrive
A few things to sort the week before:
- Confirm numbers. Let ZipIt know your final headcount. This affects staffing and equipment allocation. Changes happen, but the closer to accurate, the smoother the day runs.
- Communicate with guests. Send details to parents: location, arrival time, what to wear, and pickup time. Be specific about footwear. Closed-toe shoes with grip. Not sandals. Not ballet pumps. Not fashion trainers with smooth soles. Someone always gets this wrong.
- Check the weather. Not to cancel, just to prepare. Parties run in the rain. If the forecast looks damp, tell parents to bring waterproof jackets.
- Plan food. ZipIt locations do not have cafés. Decide whether you are doing cake on site, going somewhere afterwards, or heading home. Bring whatever you need.
- Brief the birthday child. Explain what will happen. If they are nervous, reassure them. If they are overexcited, manage expectations. Three hours is a long time. Pacing matters.
Arrival
Arrive 15 minutes before your booked time. This gives you a buffer for late families and lets children settle before the briefing starts.
Parking is available at Farran Park at €5 per vehicle.
Gather your group at the welcome point. Staff will find you. A quick headcount confirms everyone is present.
Children will be excited. Some will be nervous. Both are normal. The energy at this stage is usually high.
Parents staying to watch can leave bags and coats in a designated area. Phones and valuables cannot go on the courses, so secure them now.
The Safety Briefing
This takes about 20 minutes. All children and accompanying adults should pay attention.
A staff member explains:
- The equipment. How harnesses work. How the continuous belay system keeps everyone clipped in throughout. Children see and touch the equipment before putting it on.
- The rules. What to do on the platforms. How to move between sections. When to wait. What the signals mean.
- What to expect. How high do the courses go? How long do sections take? What happens if someone gets stuck?
Then everyone gets fitted with a harness. Staff check each one individually. This takes a few minutes with larger groups. Children often find the harness fitting exciting. It makes the activity feel real.
By the end of the briefing, most nervous children are less nervous. The unknown has become known. The equipment feels secure. The staff seem competent. Confidence builds.
Onto the Courses
This is the main event. Two to three hours of climbing, crossing, and ziplining through the forest.
ZipIt courses are graded from beginner to advanced. Children choose their own level. Most birthday groups start with easier sections to warm up, then progress to harder ones as confidence builds.
What children actually do:
- Rope bridges. Walking across ropes strung between platforms. Some wobble. Some swing. Balance matters more than strength.
- Cargo nets. Climbing across nets stretched between trees. Hands and feet find holds. Slower than it looks.
- Log crossings. Walking along logs suspended between platforms. Some are stable. Some roll.
- Ziplines. The highlight for most children. Launching from a platform, flying through the trees, and landing on the next platform. Speed varies by line.
- Ladders and climbs. Getting up to the platforms. Getting between levels. Some straightforward, some requiring effort.
Children move at their own pace. Nobody is timed. Nobody is competing. The birthday child might lead the group or hang back. Both are fine.
Staff supervise from ground level throughout. They watch for children who are stuck, scared, or struggling. Help is available without children having to ask for it.
What Nervous Children Experience
At least one child will be nervous. Sometimes it is the birthday child. This is normal.
The pattern usually goes:
- Before starting. Peak anxiety. Looking at the courses, imagining disaster. Some children express this loudly. Others go quiet.
- First platform. The hardest moment. Leaving solid ground. The harness takes their weight for the first time.
- First section completed. Relief. They did it. The fear was about the unknown. Now they know.
- Middle of the session. Most nervous children are no longer nervous. They are focused, challenged, and enjoying themselves.
- End of the session. The children who were most scared often feel the proudest. The gap between fear and achievement creates the strongest sense of accomplishment.
What staff do for nervous children:
- Talk them through each step
- Stay close without crowding
- Offer encouragement without pressure
- Give them permission to take their time
- Never force anyone to continue if they genuinely cannot
What parents should do:
- Stay calm
- Do not shout instructions from ground level
- Trust the staff
- Resist the urge to rescue them
- Celebrate when they finish, without making a big deal of the fear
What the Birthday Child Experiences
For the birthday child specifically, the day has extra weight.
They chose this. Their friends are here because of them. The success or failure of the party reflects on them, at least in their own mind.
What usually happens:
- Leadership pressure. Some birthday children feel they should go first, be the bravest, set the pace. This is not required. Staff treat them like any other participant.
- Social management. They may worry about friends who are struggling or not getting along. This is not their responsibility. Staff handle group dynamics.
- Peak enjoyment. Most birthday children have an excellent time once they stop worrying about everyone else. Being surrounded by friends, doing something exciting, in a forest, on their birthday. It adds up.
- Tiredness. Three hours is physically and emotionally demanding. Birthday children often crash after the party. Plan a quiet evening.
Time Awareness
Most groups lose track of time. The forest, the focus, the physical activity. Hours pass quickly.
Staff keep track. They will let you know when the session is approaching its end.
Children rarely want to stop. “Just one more section” is common. But the booking has a time limit, and other groups may be waiting.
Built in a few minutes at the end for:
- Removing equipment
- Gathering belongings
- Toilet visits
- Group photos
- General regrouping
Do not schedule something immediately after the party. Allow buffer time.
After the Courses
Equipment comes off. Children return to the welcome area.
This is when the excited chatter peaks. Stories get told immediately. “Did you see when I…” “That bit where you…” “The zipline was so…”
Take photos now if you want the whole group together. Children are still in outdoor mode, still energised, still buzzing.
Then whatever you have planned:
- Cake on site. If there is a suitable area and you have brought everything you need. Keep it simple. Candles, singing, cutting, eating. Children are tired and hungry.
- Food nearby. A café or restaurant close to the venue. Book in advance if it is a busy time. Hungry post-activity children are impatient children.
- Home. If you live close enough. Children will eat everything in sight.
Pickup for guests depends on your arrangement. Make sure parents know where and when.
What to Bring Checklist
For the activity:
- Appropriate clothing (worn, not carried)
- Closed-toe shoes with grip
- Waterproof jacket if rain forecast
- Hair ties for long hair
For afterwards:
- Birthday cake
- Candles and a lighter
- Knife for cutting
- Plates and napkins
- Any other food and drinks
- Party bags, if you are doing them
Just in case:
- Change of clothes
- Towel if it has been wet
- Plasters for minor scrapes
- Snacks for the journey home
Frequently Asked Questions
The activity itself runs two to three hours. Add 20 minutes for the briefing and 15-20 minutes at the end. Allow three and a half hours total.
Yes, from ground level. You cannot go on the courses yourself unless you are a participating adult with a harness. Phone cameras work fine for capturing children on platforms and ziplines.
Children can come down between circuits if needed. Staff will help them. At some locations, toilets are a short walk away. At Lough Key, the toilets are about five minutes walk from the visitor centre. Plan for this.
The activity continues. Rain does not stop the courses. Children get wet but usually do not mind. Waterproof jackets help.
They can come down at any point. It is not a failure. It happens occasionally. Other children rarely notice or care.
Check the pricing page for current rates. Costs vary by location and group size.
Book a Birthday Party
ZipIt offers birthday parties at four locations across Ireland. Two to three hours on high ropes and ziplines, all equipment included, staff supervision throughout.
Book online or contact the team to check availability.
