In the air, on the water or even underground – it doesn’t matter where you want to get your thrills because North Wales has them all. One of the most popular ways to get your adrenaline up is to get behind the wheel – and obviously we don’t mean on the A55…

If you’re looking for a four-wheeled family adventure and exhilarating fun then look no further than Dragon Raiders Activity Park. Located just outside Criccieth on the Llŷn Peninsula, Dragon Raiders Activity Park was set up 15 years ago by owner Paul Good who is passionate about the outdoors and getting children and families outside to have fun whatever the weather.

The park offers Segway rally treks, paintball games and a shooting gallery. It is also an approved ‘Bear Grylls Survival Academy’ site offering a range of courses for those that want to learn about essential survival skills in the wild. However, 2019 sees the launch of another adrenaline fuelled activity, Yamaha quad bike treks which are suitable for participants of aged six and upwards, making them perfect for all the family to try.

Also offering some petrol-fuelled fun on the Llŷn Peninsula is Glasfryn Parc Activity Centre. Situated close to Pwllheli and Abersoch, Glasfryn Parc has over 12 different activities to choose from, both indoor and outdoor, so it can certainly keep you entertained – whatever the weather!

Adrenaline seekers out there will be particularly interested in Cable Wakeboarding at the Wakepark, which caters for both beginners and advanced riders alike, and the go karting offers great fun for all ages! Glasfryn Parc Activity Centre offers junior and senior karting tracks, as well as double karts accommodating children as young as three.

To really get the adrenaline pumping then why not race against your friends or family with over ten senior karts that can drive on the track at the same time?!

And if you want to take karting to a whole new level, then why not try Zip World’s all new Quarry Karts experience – the UK’s only mountain kart adventure. Twist and turn your way along the 3km slate track in the gravity-fuelled three-wheelers as you take on chicanes, tunnels and raised banks. This is the ultimate white-knuckled test of reflexes and driving skill – descend the mountain twice, testing the waters on your first run, and putting the skills you’ve learnt into practice on your second. Sharing a site with Velocity 2, the world’s fastest zip line, the Quarry Karts allow you to take on the track while watching the zippers fly ahead – making for a totally unique experience.

Another location where you can zip your way to another adventure is Adventure Parc Snowdonia in the Conwy Valley. Adventure Parc’s brand new zip line is the only one on earth where you can race surfers and waves as you fly over a beautiful inland lagoon. But its new activities don’t stop there!

Adventure Parc Snowdonia has just launched a spectacular new weather-proof adventure facility – which is aptly named Adrenaline Indoors. This giant of adventure features one of Europe’s longest artificial caving systems, indoor and outdoor climbing and racer walls, leaps of faith, stunt jumps, possibly the most extreme slides you will ever encounter, and the UK’s only kicker flight slide. There are also ‘freefall’ jumps for the fearless, a netted aerial assault course and a ninja floor trail.

Adrenaline Indoors is an ideal destination for thrill seekers of all ages, with the climbing routes and racer walls suitable for children aged just five and up, the ‘freefall’ jumps suitable for seven-year-olds and the aerial assault courses for those aged nine and over. But that doesn’t mean that the youngest of adventurers have to miss out – Adventure Parc Snowdonia also has an onsite soft play centre that will keep the little ones happy while you relax with a cuppa.

Back on the coast, and another place where you can get your adrenaline rush indoors is at Ninja TAG Rhyl. This fantastic indoor multi-level play area is a cross between Total Wipeout and Ninja Warrior, all in one exciting experience. With over 80 targets across four levels, this timed activity zones test your skill, your fitness – and your bravery. The aim of Ninja TAG is to find the computer-controlled tags and collect the points on your wristband sensor within the 20-minute time slots. This challenge requires both mental and physical ability, skill and strategy… The question is, who will you challenge?!

Of course, staying away from the elements doesn’t mean that you have to shy away from nature. Go Below Underground Adventures is a family-owned business offering authentic underground adventures in the heart of Snowdonia – literally!

The Go Below Challenge trip (suitable for adventurers aged ten plus) is an engaging mine exploration which includes abseiling, traversing, ziplining, boating across a lake, climbing a waterfall and scaling an airshaft. Meanwhile, the Hero Xtreme trip (14+) explores the world’s largest and deepest slate mine via exhilarating traverses, climbs, abseils, ziplines and includes eating lunch on the Xtreme picnic bench which hangs off a sheer cliff face! Go Below’s Ultimate Xtreme trip (18+) has an array of unique ‘bucket-list’ features such as challenging climbs, the world’s only underground Freefall jump and multiple zip lines – including the world’s longest and deepest underground zip ride: ‘Goliath’.

And, for a real test of endurance and stamina, the Mine to Mountain trip delves underground to the deepest accessible point in the UK to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales, all in one epic day!

However, if you’re looking for an exciting, adrenaline packed adventure above ground then the Canyon Xtreme trip by Snowdonia Adventure Activities is for you. One of the most popular adventures, and one of the best activities in Snowdonia, Canyon Xtreme enables you to swim, slide, jump and scramble down the cascading mountain river. Push yourself to the limit and enjoy a fun and safe day out. Other thrilling activities available via Snowdonia Adventure Activities include canoeing, kayaking, abseiling, gorge scrambling and SUPing.

Meanwhile Canyon Wales, based in Snowdonia, has become Wales’ first affiliated Centre to the UK Canyon Guide Association. With a rapid increase in interest in the sport, UKCG was formed to provide a resource for canyoners all over the UK, and to provide training and information in the current best practices to recreational canyoners and professional guides alike.

Canyon Wales is the first affiliated centre in Wales to be able to deliver this training by senior instructor, Richard Carpenter. Canyoning is a relatively new sport in the UK but is growing rapidly. There are many beautiful canyons to explore in North Wales, making your way along the course of a river tackling obstacles and challenges along the way. These can include swimming, scrambling, abseiling, cliff jumping and for our more technical canyons, abseiling or zip lining into deep rock pools.

Canyon Wales offers canyoning and gorge walking for all levels from family friendly to extreme, and its training courses commence this month to prepare instructors and guides for the year ahead, with Level 1 Guide Training, Gorge & Ghyll Leader Assessment and a Technical Canyon Guide Course available.

Finally, for the adventurer who is looking for a super-fast experience, RibRide in Anglesey is operating a new class of RIB, VELOCITY. Ride VELOCITY, a 11.5m long and 900hp Yamaha speed boat which skims the waves giving you a rush of reaching velocity! VELOCITY trips take place from Menai Bridge and last 30 minutes on the water.

So, whatever way you want to get your thrills, then you can be sure that North Wales has the adrenaline box ticked! The question is, how many have you done?