Tropicana

Five outdoor pools, two indoor pools and a host of water slides make this Newcastle leisure centre a proper hit with families staying in the area. The wave pool creates enough excitement to keep teenagers engaged, while smaller children gravitate towards the dedicated kids' pool with its gentler water features.

Slides range from the hair-raising to the manageable - expect queues during school holidays but reasonable wait times outside peak periods. The outdoor facilities work best on warmer days, obviously, though the indoor pools keep things ticking over year-round.

Families camping at nearby spots like Windsor Holiday Park or Murlough Cottage Caravan Park will find this a solid rainy-day backup. It's particularly useful for those staying at Camping Tollymore Forest Park - after a day hiking the forest trails, the pools offer a different pace entirely.

Allow at least two hours, though keen swimmers could easily fill an afternoon. The changing facilities are adequate rather than luxurious, but functional enough for a family outing. Kids under ten will get the most from the experience, while adults might find it all a bit chaotic during busy periods.

Best combined with other Newcastle attractions rather than treated as a destination in itself. The Mourne Mountains provide the real drama here - this is simply a useful addition to a camping holiday in the area.