The Lakes Rookley
The Lakes Rookley is a self-catering holiday park set in 23 acres of parkland around two lakes in the middle of the Isle of Wight, run by Away Resorts. Families come for the central island position that puts every corner of the island within about 35 minutes, the kayaking and paddleboarding on the lakes and a choice of lakeside cottages and caravans, some with hot tubs, with a lakeside bar and eatery, an indoor pool and a children's playground on site.
On this page
Is it worth it?
Who The Lakes Rookley suits, who would be happier elsewhere and the facts to skim first.
The Lakes Rookley trades two things a lot of Isle of Wight parks lead with, a beach on the doorstep and a broad entertainment programme, for a central parkland setting and two lakes with watersports. It sits roughly in the middle of the island, so no beach, town or attraction is more than about 35 minutes away, which is the argument for basing a family here and exploring the whole island rather than staying put. On the park you get self-catering cottages and caravans, some with hot tubs, an indoor pool open all year, an outdoor pool for the summer, a lakeside bar and eatery, kayaking and paddleboarding on the lakes and a children's playground. The main things to weigh are that there's no beach you can walk to, and that the evening entertainment runs in the summer school holidays only. It's consistently the most affordable of the four Away Resorts parks on the island, and it suits families who want a base to get out and about from more than a self-contained resort to settle into.
Best for
You want a central base to explore the whole island, watersports on the lakes and a choice of hot-tub cottages and caravans, and you're happy self-catering.
Maybe not for
You want to walk straight onto a beach, or you're visiting outside the summer holidays and want a full evening entertainment programme.
Best ages
Any age. The lake watersports suit older children best, and there's a toddler-friendly character show, Bear in the Woods, in the summer holidays.
What stands out
The central island position, the lake setting with its watersports and the low prices for the island.
What to check
Which accommodation grade you're booking, as whether it has a hot tub and whether you get a bath or only a shower both vary by unit.
Where is it?
Rookley, roughly in the middle of the Isle of Wight, about 10 minutes from Newport.
Quick facts for families
What the park is like
Where it sits, how it's laid out, getting around and the dog policy.
The park is in Rookley village, about 5km south of Newport and roughly in the centre of the Isle of Wight. It's set in 23 acres of parkland, and the two lakes are its defining feature, with white fairy lights strung around the water for the evenings and wildlife around the banks. This is an inland park, not a coastal one, so the setting is parkland and lakes rather than sea and sand.
The site is long and thin, built around the lakes. The main amenities, the Lakeside Bar and Eatery, the adventure playground, the Spinnakers lounge and the indoor pool, sit together near the main lake, with the accommodation spread along paths through the rest of the park. It takes a first visit to learn your way around, and the Away Resorts app carries a map to help. There's no camping or touring here, just the cottages and caravans.
The ground is mostly flat parkland with tarmac and hard paths and no significant hills, so a pushchair should manage the park well. There's no internal transport, no golf buggies to shuttle you about, so you walk between your accommodation and the amenities. The Away Resorts app is worth downloading before you travel: it holds the park map, table bookings, activity bookings, the entertainment guide and the Catch 22 food ordering.
Dogs are welcome in dog-friendly accommodation for an extra charge. They aren't allowed in the pools or on the watersports lake, but they are welcome at the Lakeside Bar and Eatery.
Where you'll stay
Every grade, the two tiers, the hot tubs and what's included.
Away Resorts splits its accommodation into two tiers: Exclusive at the premium end and Classic. Everything is self-catering, with a fully equipped kitchen, and gas and electricity are included in the price. The table below lists the grades a family is most likely to book, with the tier, the bedrooms and how many each sleeps.
| Grade | Tier | Bedrooms | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakehouse (unique to this park) | Exclusive | 2 | 4 |
| Island Cottage (unique to this park) | Exclusive | 2 to 3 | 2 to 6 |
| Luxury Caravan | Classic | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 |
| Superior Caravan | Classic | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 |
| Comfort Caravan | Classic | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 |
The Lakehouse is the flagship and is unique to this park. It has two bedrooms and sleeps four, a double and a twin, with a log burner, bi-fold doors opening onto decking that looks over the lake and the best views on the park. The log burner adds warmth but is an open fire to keep in mind with a toddler. Some Lakehouses come with a hot tub.
The Island Cottage is also exclusive to Rookley, a brick-built chalet with open-plan living. It sleeps two to six across two or three bedrooms. The four-berth layout is a double and a twin, and the six-berth adds a second twin, which is the more practical shape for a family with a few children. Some Island Cottages have a private hot tub.
The three caravan grades, Luxury, Superior and Comfort, all sit in the Classic tier and sleep four to six across two or three bedrooms. The Comfort is the entry grade with good-quality furnishings and the Superior a step up in style. The Luxury adds an open-plan kitchen and more living space, and some units look over the surrounding farmland while a few are wider with a balcony. There's an accessible cottage and an accessible caravan too, each with a wet room and ramp access and a cooker and sink at a lowered height.
Hot tubs run across a number of the cottages and some caravans, and they're a feature reviewers single out as a draw. Where a unit has one, note that it may sit beside the accommodation rather than on the decking. The hot tubs are a feature of certain units rather than a shared facility on the park.
Reviews are mixed on the state of the accommodation, and it varies by unit. Most families describe their cottage or caravan as clean and comfortable, while a minority report dust, tired fittings or a maintenance issue. Reviews from before the park's 2022 change of operator tend to be the harsher ones, so the more recent ones are the better guide. Some cottages have a shower rather than a bath, so if bathing a baby matters, check what your specific unit has when you book.
Food and drink
The lakeside venue, the fish and chips and the meal deals.
The Lakeside Bar and Eatery is the main place to eat and drink, open all year and overlooking the main lake, with an outdoor veranda for warm weather and a dog-friendly welcome. The menu runs from light bites and salads through to evening meals across the age groups, and it's worth booking a table through reception or the website at busy times. Reviews of the food are generally positive, and the lake view is part of the appeal.
There are several family meal deals through the venue: a set-price meal deal for the table, and children eating for very little when an adult orders a main. There's a kids' meal deal too, a main with a side, a drink and a dessert. There's also a happy hour with buy-one-get-one-free or half-price drinks in the afternoon and again from mid-evening, and a coffee-and-cake deal pairing a hot drink with a slice. Away Resorts changes the offers and any prices from time to time, so treat the current list on the app or at reception as the one to check.
Alongside the Lakeside there's Catch 22, the resort's fish and chips, ordered through the Away Resorts app. Those are the two places to eat on the park. There's no grocery shop on site, but the Southern Co-op on Main Road in Rookley village is a short walk away for everyday basics.
One indoor, one outdoorThe pools
There are two heated pools, both small and both plain rectangular pools with no slides. The indoor pool is open all year, apart from a few days of maintenance in late February and Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It takes only a small number of families per session, roughly three at a time, so sessions have to be pre-booked through the app or website. The outdoor pool opens from the May half term to the end of the summer holidays, weather permitting, and it's first come, first served with no booking. There's no splash pad, paddling pool or separate toddler water feature, just the two main pools. There's no spa, sauna or other shared wellness facility on the park either. Where a hot tub is part of the deal, it belongs to that particular cottage or caravan (see Where you'll stay) rather than to a wellness area you could visit separately.
Both pools work to Away Resorts' supervision ratios. A child aged 0 to 3 needs one adult in the water with them, and one adult can supervise up to two children aged 4 to 7. Children aged 8 and over who are competent swimmers can be in the pool without one-to-one supervision, provided a lifeguard is on duty. It's worth checking with Guest Services whether this pool is lifeguarded before you count on an older child swimming unsupervised.
Babies and toddlers
The baby kit, what runs for the youngest children and what fills a day on the park.
Travel cots, highchairs and bed guards can be added to your booking in advance through the Away Resorts website. The cot is a frame only though, with no mattress and no bedding, so you bring your own. That's a meaningful bit of packing if you're coming over on the car-ferry, where boot space is limited.
There's no crèche and no babysitting service on the park, so the children are with you through the day. For the youngest children, the standout is Bear in the Woods, a character entertainment programme for ages 1 to 6 and up, with toddler-sized stories, songs, dances, puppets and stage shows. It runs only in the summer school holidays, when the Spinnakers lounge is open, so it isn't something to count on at a half term or off-season. Away Resorts also says its entertainment teams are trained by SEN specialists to support neurodivergent children, though as with the wider programme that mostly applies in the summer.
There are several paid, seasonal craft sessions that suit little ones, run in the activity centre and booked in advance. Messy Play is the best fit for babies and toddlers, with pottery painting and glitter globes also open to young children. They're covered with the rest of the activities below.
The adventure playground is open all year and sits by the main restaurant and entertainment area, handy for keeping an eye on the children while you wait for food. It reads as better suited to children old enough to climb and slide than to babies and toddlers. For weaning and baby supplies there's no shop on the park, but the Southern Co-op in Rookley village is a short walk away and stocks everyday baby and toddler items.
On the parkThings to do
The park has an Activity Centre and Urban Sports Arena, a large covered building for what Away Resorts calls urban sports. Most of the organised activities are seasonal and paid, run from around the Easter half term through the summer and booked ahead. The table below is the set aimed at families with young children and up.
| Activity | Ages | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Messy Play | 0 to 5 | Bubble-wrap stomping and hand, foot and textured paint play. The best fit for the youngest children. |
| Pottery Painting | 1 and up | Paint a ceramic to take home. |
| Glitter Globes | 3 and up | Under-5s are welcome with an adult, though it can be fiddly for very little hands. |
| Tie-Dye | All ages | Tie-dye a t-shirt to keep. |
| Slime Workshop | 5 and up | Making your own slime. |
| Family Archery | 6 and up | Closed-toe shoes and tied-back hair are needed. Children aged 8 to 12 can shoot while an adult watches, and younger ones need an adult alongside. |
Activities are booked up to 21 days ahead through the website or app, and at least 30 minutes before the session. Under-13s need an adult with them, and under-5s need one-to-one supervision. Charges apply on most activities, watersports included.
The watersports on the lakes are the on-park highlight for older children: kayaking, solo or in a two-person kayak, and paddleboarding, with the board, paddle, safety gear and wetsuits all provided. They run from the Easter half term to the end of the summer holidays, are weather dependent and cost extra, and the staff running them are consistently praised in reviews. You might see older listings under the park's former name, Rookley Country Park, mention fishing on the lakes; the current activities centre on watersports, so ask the park if fishing is what you're after.
Evening entertainment lives in the Spinnakers Entertainment Lounge, which opens only in the school summer holidays, from mid-July to the end of August. When it's running, the programme rotates through family games, linked bingo across all the Away Resorts parks with a shared cash pot, a glow party, karaoke, kids' parties, quizzes, party dances, a late DJ and visiting acts, all listed on the app. Outside the summer holidays there's no evening entertainment venue open, though the paid daytime activities still run from around Easter and the watersports through to the end of August. That seasonal window is the thing to weigh if you're booking for a term-time or half-term break.
Getting to a beach
There's no beach on the park, so here's how to reach the sea.
The Lakes Rookley has no beach of its own. It's an inland park, and there's no easy walking or cycling route to the sea from Rookley village, so a beach day means a short drive. That inland position has an upside though. From the middle of the island no beach is far in any direction, and several of the best family beaches are a short drive.
Shanklin is a Blue Flag beach with sand, a sheltered bay, a pier and arcades, about 15 minutes away. Sandown, a wide sandy beach with a funfair, is a similar drive, as is Ventnor, a smaller, quieter pebble-and-sand beach. Compton Bay, good for rock-pooling, is about 20 minutes, and Alum Bay by the Needles, with a cable car down to the coloured sands, is the longest run at about 35 minutes.
The area and days out
The central position is what makes the park a base rather than a destination in itself, and there's plenty within a short drive. The nearest village is Godshill, about a mile away, and Newport, the island's main town, is about 10 minutes for supermarkets, the biggest choice of shops and high-street chains such as McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut. Rookley village itself is small and quiet, with the Southern Co-op for essentials and the Chequers Inn, a pub with a children's playground, a short walk away. Cowes, the island's sailing town on the north coast, is about 20 minutes if you fancy a harbourside wander.
| Place | What it is | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Godshill | A popular village of cream teas and gift shops, with two pubs, the Griffin (playground and maze) and the Taverners, plus the Godshill Model Village | About 5 min |
| Carisbrooke Castle | An English Heritage medieval castle with working donkeys, a good half-day out | About 10 min |
| Blackgang Chine | The UK's oldest amusement park, open since 1843, popular with young families, with themed lands, rides, play areas and tickets that are valid across more than one day | 10 to 15 min |
| Amazon World Zoo | The island's largest zoo, popular with all ages | 10 to 15 min |
| Monkey Haven | A gold-award primate rescue centre with more than 19 species | 10 to 15 min |
| Robin Hill Adventure Park | A family theme park near Newport | About 15 min |
| Shanklin Old Village and Chine | Thatched cottages and tea rooms, with a wooded chine walk down to the beach | About 15 min |
| Tapnell Farm Park | Soft play for ages 1 to 7, trampolines, zip wires, a petting zoo and wallabies | 15 to 20 min |
Loves and gripes
What families rate and what they flag, how it compares, the journey in, the practicalities and the weather.
What families love
- The central island location, the most consistently praised thing, putting every part of the island within about 35 minutes.
- The friendly, helpful staff, the watersports and bar teams in particular.
- The value for the money.
- The lake setting and the evening atmosphere with the lights around the water.
- The watersports, enjoyed most by older children.
Common gripes
- Cleanliness and upkeep that vary by unit, with a minority reporting dust or maintenance issues.
- Small pools, and the indoor pool needing to be pre-booked because of its size.
- No beach on the park.
- Evening entertainment limited to the summer holidays, so the park can feel quiet off-peak.
- Weak wifi, the lowest-scored thing across the review sites.
Across the review sites the picture is a solid one, with the island location the standout and wifi the weak point. It's well reviewed rather than top of its class: within the four Away Resorts island parks it's the cheapest but also the lowest-scored, partly because its ratings still carry a tail of reviews from before the 2022 change of operator.
Against the other island parksHow it compares
The Lakes Rookley is the cheapest of the four Away Resorts parks on the Isle of Wight, for both basic and hot-tub accommodation, though prices change by date and demand and there's no fixed starting figure to quote. The trade-off is that what you save you spend in facilities and beach access, which the other parks lead with.
Away Resorts' Whitecliff Bay at Bembridge has a private beach, though down a steep descent, a waterslide in the indoor pool, an outdoor cinema and a bigger entertainment programme from May, at a higher price. The Bay Colwell at Totland has a soft-play centre and is a five-minute walk from Colwell Bay beach in the quieter west of the island, again pricier. Two Parkdean parks are the other comparison: Nodes Point at St Helens has direct beach access, an indoor waterslide and paddling area and PAW Patrol activities, and Lower Hyde at Shanklin is a five-minute drive from the beach with an outdoor pool and waterslide. Both tend to score higher.
Getting thereGetting there, and when to go
Rookley is roughly central on the island, about 5km south of Newport, so wherever you land you have a short drive to the park. Getting to the island means a ferry. Wightlink runs Portsmouth to Fishbourne, a 45-minute crossing then about a 20-minute drive, with up to 27 sailings a day and arrival at the port 30 minutes before departure, and it's the handiest route from London and the South East. Wightlink also runs Lymington to Yarmouth, a 40-minute crossing then about 25 minutes by road, which suits the South West. Red Funnel runs Southampton to East Cowes, around 65 minutes then a 25-minute drive. Away Resorts has a discount partnership with both operators, with the details in your booking confirmation.
You can book any check-in and check-out day rather than only a Friday or Saturday. For when to go, May and June are warm, sunny and quiet with the watersports open. July and August bring the full programme and the outdoor pool, and September is still pleasant though the watersports and evening entertainment have closed. The weather section below has the month-by-month detail.
Accessibility, laundry and wifiPracticalities
For accessibility there's one accessible caravan and one accessible cottage, each with a wet room and ramp access and a cooker and sink at a lowered height, and the entertainment teams are trained by SEN specialists to support neurodivergent children. There's a launderette on the park, open all year, with charges. The wifi reaches the central amenities but is rated poor, the weakest thing across the review sites, so don't rely on it for anything important. Guest Services runs Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm, on 01983 300810, with a separate line for group bookings on 0330 053 7000.
The island's only full A&E is at St Mary's Hospital in Newport (PO30 5TG), open around the clock with paediatric services, about a 10-minute drive from the park, with NHS 111 for non-emergency advice. The nearest pharmacy is in Newport too, about 10 minutes away, as Rookley village has only the Co-op and a pub. The full address for a satnav is The Lakes Rookley, Main Road, Rookley, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 3LU.
Month by monthWeather
The Isle of Wight is one of the sunniest parts of the UK, and the figures below are typical monthly averages. The park is open all year, but watersports, the outdoor pool and the evening entertainment all run only from spring to the end of the summer holidays, so the shoulder months are a quieter, facilities-light stay. The sea around the island reaches about 18 to 19°C in July and August, swimmable but cool, so young children may want a wetsuit at the beach; the wetsuits provided with the lake watersports aren't for beach use, so pack your own for the sea.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Rain | Wet days | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.5° | 4° | 105 mm | 13 | 9° |
| February | 8.5° | 3.5° | 74 mm | 11 | 8° |
| March | 10.5° | 4.5° | 60 mm | 10 | 8° |
| April | 13° | 6° | 54 mm | 9 | 10° |
| May | 16° | 9° | 52 mm | 8 | 13° |
| June | 18.5° | 11.5° | 54 mm | 8 | 16° |
| July | 20.5° | 13.5° | 52 mm | 8 | 18° |
| August | 20.5° | 14° | 67 mm | 8 | 19° |
| September | 18.5° | 12° | 72 mm | 9 | 18° |
| October | 15° | 9.5° | 113 mm | 13 | 16° |
| November | 11.5° | 6.5° | 118 mm | 14 | 13° |
| December | 9.5° | 4.5° | 119 mm | 14 | 10° |
Typical monthly averages from weather-station records. Sea temperature is the open-water figure, so a sheltered bay can feel a degree or two warmer.
Questions
The things families ask most, the official page worth a bookmark and when this guide was last refreshed.
Is there a beach at the park?
No, it's an inland park in the middle of the island, so the nearest sandy beaches are about a 15-minute drive and you'll need a car to reach them. If walking straight onto a beach matters to you, one of the coastal island parks such as Nodes Point or Lower Hyde suits that better.
Can we hire a cot and a highchair?
Yes. Add the cot, highchair and bed guards to your booking ahead of time rather than asking on arrival. The cot comes as a frame with no mattress or bedding though, so pack a travel-cot mattress and your own sheets to go with it.
Is there evening entertainment all year?
No, only in the school summer holidays, mid-July to the end of August, when the Spinnakers lounge and the Bear in the Woods shows run. The paid daytime crafts and the watersports start earlier, from around Easter, so if you want evenings out but can only travel in term time or a non-summer half term, this probably isn't the park for it.
Do the cottages have a bath?
It varies, and some have a shower only. If you bath a baby, ask the park whether your specific cottage or caravan has a bath before you book.
Do we have to book the pool?
The indoor pool holds only about three families at a time, so you can't just turn up; book your session on the app or website, and book early in the day. The outdoor summer pool is the opposite, first come and first served with no booking at all.
Is there watersports for young children?
Kayaking and paddleboarding run on the lakes from the Easter half term to the end of August, weather permitting, with the board, paddle, safety gear and wetsuits all included for an extra charge. Under-5s need one adult with them, so it tends to suit older children best.
How do we get to the island?
By ferry with Wightlink or Red Funnel, then a short drive to Rookley. Portsmouth to Fishbourne is the handiest crossing if you're coming from London or the South East. Away Resorts has a discount partnership with both ferry operators, with the details in your booking confirmation.
Is there a fish and chip shop on site?
Yes, Catch 22 serves fish and chips at the resort, ordered through the Away Resorts app. The Lakeside Bar and Eatery by the main lake is the other place to eat, open all year for light bites through to evening meals.
See more of The Lakes Rookley
Open the Lakes Rookley photo gallery →Useful links
- The Lakes Rookley: the operator's own site for accommodation, facilities and booking.
- Isle of Wight with little ones: our guide to the wider island, its beaches and when to go.
Last updated 17 July 2026.
