Newquay is one of the larger towns on the north Cornwall coast and is only a 50 minute car journey from St Ives. It is probably best known for its sandy beaches, surfing and other watersport activities as well as a lively nightlife.
Newquay has a number of great sandy beaches – the most famous being Fistral Beach – which is very popular with surfers throughout the year. You also have Tolcarne Beach which is a great family-friendly beach, and Crantock Beach, which is ideal for swimming or snorkelling – you may even spot a seal or pod of dolphins.
Newquay has its own zoo that is just a short walk from the town centre. You will find all the family favourites here – including lions, monkeys, lemurs as well as over 1,000 of the world’s rarest and endangered animals.
If sea animals is more of your thing, Blue Reef Aquarium is definitely worth a visit. Kids will love the opportunity to get up close with the fish and other marine animals – there is even a tunnel that you can walk through – giving you a unique view of the shark tank.
Harbour
A day trip to Newquay wouldn’t be complete without a trip down to the harbour. The town used to be called “Towan Blystra” until they installed a new quay – hence the name! The quayside is a great place to stop for an ice-cream or try some traditional fish and chips – just watch out for the sea gulls ;0)
Surfing You can’t come to Newquay without trying out the surf break. If you are new to the sport, there are plenty of surf schools that will take care of your first tentative steps and get you up riding.
