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    Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

    953 Reviews
    #14 of 212 things to do in Christchurch
    Features Animals
    Outdoor Activities, Nature & Parks, Zoos & Aquariums, More
    Closed Now: 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
    60 Hussey Road, Christchurch 8051, New Zealand
    Open today: 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
    Save
    ADMISSION TICKETS (1)
    Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Day Entry
    From $22.67*
    ADMISSION TICKETS (1)
    Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Day Entry
    From $22.67*
    BOOK A TOUR
    See all (11)
    Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Day Entry & Guided Kiwi Tour
    Attraction Tickets
    From $30.34*
    Maori Experience including Hangi Dinner and Guided Kiwi Tour
    Cultural Tours
    From $115.10*
    780
    All photos (780)
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    Certificate of Excellence
    Traveler Overview
    4.5953 reviews
    • Excellent59%
    • Very good33%
    • Average6%
    • Poor1%
    • Terrible1%
    Travelers talk about
    “kiwi house”(63 reviews)
    “feed the animals”(31 reviews)
    “nocturnal house”(24 reviews)
    About
    See Kiwi in a natural environment - there is no glass! Get close to Kea, Tuatara and other native icons. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is also home to introduced and exotic breeds. Make your own way around the park and animals will eat right out of...more
    Closed Now
    Hours Today: 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
    See all hours
    Suggested duration: 1-2 hours
    Contact
    60 Hussey Road, Christchurch 8051, New Zealand
    Website
    +64 3-359 6226
    Call
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    Ways to Experience Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
    Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Day Entry
    2 Reviews
    from $22.67
    More Info
    Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Day Entry...
    from $30.34
    More Info
    Maori Experience including Hangi Dinner and...
    from $115.10
    More Info
    Christchurch Maori Concert and Kiwi Viewing
    11 Reviews
    from $90.69
    More Info
    Reviews (953)
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    Show reviews that mention
    All reviews kiwi house feed the animals nocturnal house animal food donkey rides kiwi tour kiwi bird new zealand willow bank eel feeding kiwi encounter kea enclosure native nz ko tane their natural habitat maori experience picnic area
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    1 - 10 of 879 reviews
    Reviewed yesterday
    Better than expected

    We came here as we were bored in Christchurch and thought it would be some small size petting zoo with a couple of kiwis. It very much wasn't! It just keeps going and there are so many animals and exhibits to see. I was also...More

    Date of experience: February 2019
    Thank ls4aj
    Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile
    Exceeded Expectation - Loved it!

    Hadn’t visited since I was a child. Spent nearly half a day and really enjoyed it. Service buying the tickets was very friendly . We had lunch which was very good with the service excellent again. We liked watching the deer from the window of...More

    Date of experience: February 2019
    Thank Sharpei72
    Reviewed 1 week ago
    Surprisingly Good

    This is an ideal place to take very young children. A well maintained loop that gives you access to a range of birds and farm animals. For the tourist, you also get access to some of the rarer NZ birds.

    Date of experience: February 2019
    Thank michaelaF7144OB
    Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile
    Kiwis!

    While on our way to the airport we decided that we just couldn’t leave beautiful NZ without seeing a kiwi bird. We really only had time to see the kiwi exhibit so made our way to the end of the park just to see the...More

    Date of experience: January 2019
    Thank AWTYblogger
    Reviewed 1 week ago
    Young children love it

    Young children absolutely love this place where they can get up close to a large variety of animals and hand feed the farmyard ones. I visited with my 2 toddlers who were constantly delighted as we enjoyed a relaxing walk around the park. The animals...More

    Date of experience: January 2019
    Thank mitchkirkland
    Reviewed 3 weeks ago
    Great Experience

    Take an enjoyable tour of this private wildlife sanctuary, where you might see Kiwi in a simulation of their natural habitat. Lot's of birds to see and a herd of deer adjacent to the casual restaurant on site.

    Date of experience: January 2019
    Thank Edmundo_de_ABQ
    Reviewed 3 weeks ago via mobile
    AMAZING!

    Amazninf conservation park! With kiwis in their natural habitat and lots of my favourite birds, the Kea ! All well looked after !

    Date of experience: January 2019
    Thank jameskiki117
    Reviewed 3 weeks ago
    A great day out with grandchildren

    An exceptional day out with 2 preschoolers. During holidays free magic show on offer, great little donkey rides and the facilities are in top notch condition. A must see for children

    Date of experience: January 2019
    Thank MACS77B
    Reviewed 3 weeks ago
    Great wildlife park for kids (and adults)

    We visited a friend in Christchurch and she suggested taking our kids here for a visit. It was lovely! It's not quite a zoo - it's more like a park with lots of birds and other animals wandering about. We fed some of the farm...More

    Date of experience: December 2018
    Thank Lisamarie1138
    Reviewed 4 weeks ago via mobile
    Wonderful day out

    Took my youngest son, who loves all animals. He enjoyed feeding the farm animals and reading about all the animals. We brought bird and animal food and took our time with each animal. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Donkey rides for smaller children at extra cost....More

    Date of experience: January 2019
    Thank victoriabO2792YC
    View more reviews
    123456…88
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    Questions & Answers
    Ask a question
    See all 5 questions
    leejeeng
    November 11, 2018|
    AnswerShow all 4 answers
    Response from WilsonFamilyNz | Reviewed this property |
    Usually mid morning
    1
    Vote
    JaydenFaul
    May 16, 2017|
    AnswerShow all 8 answers
    Response from WillowbankWildlife | Property representative |
    Willowbank is a Wildlife Reserve so is outdoors but is relatively sheltered. Kiwi viewing is still guaranteed as the are in a Nocturnal House.
    0
    Votes
    JaydenFaul
    May 16, 2017|
    AnswerShow all 10 answers
    Response from clarke_1985 | Reviewed this property |
    It rained when we were there, supplied with umbrella, saw all the animals and had a great time!
    0
    Votes
    12
    Travel Forum Posts
    ashley315
    Singapore, Singapore
    Itinerary recommendation (14 Replies)
    Hello My husband and I are first-time visitors to NZ and we will be in Nov this year. Here's our initial itinerary, hope you guys can provide some advice. We are not great at driving, hence we are expecting the drives to take slightly longer than usual. We are more than happy to omit some places if everything looks rushed. Day 1: Arrive in Auckland airport, visit Waitomo glow caves after checking in Day 2: Sightseeing in Auckland, depart for evening flight to CHC Day 3: Visit...More
    August 05, 2018|
    Response fromQTN25|
    Don't drive anywhere on day 1, you will be tired and a hazard to yourself and other road users. I'm not sure I'd drive all the way to Dunedin, you have no time to look around, explore the Otago Peninsula etc. I'd be inclined to drop this and use this for a rest day in Auckland. You need to swap days 9&10 around as there's no point in driving from Queenstown to Wanaka and then backtracking to Arrowtown. Where are you staying on day 11? Is F&E free and easy? No Milford Sound? Have you...More
    Brisbane, Queensland
    Return Visit NZ South Island - Need help with itinerary (8 Replies)
    We visited New Zealand south island in November 2007 and had such a wonderful time we have decided to return in October 2008 to see all the beautiful places we missed on our first trip. We holidayed for 10 days and travelled by hire car from Christchurch to Queenstown then onto Te Anau and back to Christchurch. We visited Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, Te Anau Glowworm Caves, TranzAlpine Train (return from Christchurch), Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and the Antarctic Centre, steamboat trip...More
    March 01, 2008|
    Response fromzhuhai2007|
    Common sense will tell you this is unrealistic as you have 12 destinations - mostly quite far apart and only 10 days!! You really need to limit yourselves to half the island - North of Chc or South. What are your interests? Going north you could visit Hanmer Springs; Lewis Pass to Nelson (stay at least 3 nights, with a day trip in Abel Tasman NP); Blenheim (and Picton perhaps); Kaikoura, Chch, Akaroa; back to Chch. Going West/South you could take Arthurs Pass; Franz Josef Glacier (2...More
    Val
    USA
    13 day (crazy?) Itinerary (5 Replies)
    My family and I will be going to New Zealand in December for 13 days. We came up with this itinerary and would like to know if it is will be miserable to do this much in the time that we have (or dont have). I would like to add that the designated driver will not be participating in most of the physically taxing activities. Specifically we are not sure about December 22 and 23rd: We would like to do the Lost World tour that starts at 10:30am so would you suggest gunning it to Waitomo on...More
    September 05, 2012|
    Response fromWLnz|
    Here's the thing - your drive times are in some cases completely impossible. Haast to Wanaka in one hour? Only by helicopter! I know the road well, I don't stop for views and it takes me a full two hours for the drive. Drive Fox to Te Anau in one day? - please don't. Driver fatigue is the main cause of NZ road accidents. We don't have the multi-lane freeways you will be used to driving. Here driving our often narrow, twisty and steep roads is both mentally and physically exhausting. best...More
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