When you think of theme parks in Korea, the first names that come to mind would be Lotte World or Everland. But a unique theme park in Gyeonggi-do provides an equally fun and memorable experience: Nolja Forest (놀자숲)!
What Is Nolja Forest
This nature theme park is in Dongducheon, about 1.5 hours from Seoul. As the name suggests, everything from the location to the activities at Nolja Forest is centred around the humble forest.
It is at the base of Wangbangsan mountain and boasts an impressive display of indoor and outdoor elements cleverly integrated into nature.
The Nolja Forest ticket prices vary by season and time of day. You can check their official website for more details. It’s fully in Korean but you can use Papago! The base entry fee is 10,000 won.
For spring, summer and autumn, tickets begin from 16,000 won. You can opt for indoor only, outdoor only, all-day or afternoon only slots!
In winter, they host a fun Snowtown section that has its own fare (15,000 won) or as part of the visit (from 20,000 won).
Indoor High Elements
The indoor section features high-element courses, including a rope walk and different rock climbing walls!
These are not super high but are tall enough to strike fear or excitement.
I couldn’t get past the halfway mark for one of the rock climbing walls, but I saw children half my age speed climbing to the top. The power of youth, I guess.
One exciting one is this podium jump, where you can fearlessly leap off a ledge to grab onto a dangling grip. K-Pop boyband ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) also paid a visit!
Despite the heights, these are safe for children and adults. There are dedicated staff on site and safety features in place for kids.
There are also smaller slides and kiddie playgrounds available for younger children.
Outdoor Forest Activities
The exciting part was their outdoor section! Spanning across the expanse of the mountain park are three activities: Extreme Slide, Forest Adventure and Sky Net Adventure.
The mildest was the Extreme Slide, a 115-metre metal tube down the side of a hill. It went fast but it was exciting!
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I didn’t get to try the Forest Adventure, an upgraded version of the indoor high elements.
Tight ropes and boardwalks bring you between the large trees and branches – it almost feels like an adventure park.
My personal favourite was the Sky Net Adventure! This was basically a trampoline on steroids.
It’s suspended a few meters above ground and cascades down the side of the mountain, so there are different ‘levels’ to explore.
The nets and poles are extra sturdy and can hold the weight of multiple adults so safety is not a concern. Between bouncing across the nets and seeing the flowing river beneath my feet, I had an amazing time.
This park was super fun, even as an adult! It was impressive how they integrated their activities harmoniously with the landscape, creating a unique and healing experience.
Kid-Friendly Theme Parks In Korea
Nolja Forest brings a refreshing twist on the usual theme park experience. I think this is a fun day trip out of Seoul and perfect for families. The sight of trees, running water and crisp, fresh air is bound to do some good!
Check out more to do in Gyeonggi-do:
- I Tried Glamping In Gyeonggi-do, Korea & Loved It: In Hue Glamping
- 10 Family-Friendly Activities In Gyeonggi-do, Korea: Strawberry Picking, Outdoor Parks & More
- Suwon Day Trip Itinerary: What To Do in Suwon, Popular Cafes & More
Nolja Forest (놀자숲)
경기 동두천시 탑동가산로 1 동두천 놀자숲
1 Dongducheon Play Forest, Topdong Gasan-ro, Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Open daily. 10am – 6pm
Naver Maps | Kakao Maps
*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Korea Tourism Organization (Singapore).
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