Christchurch, South Island

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Heritage New Zealand’ provides an opportunity to see up close, feed and even touch a range of delightful animals.

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Heritage New Zealand at Willowbank provides an opportunity to see up close, feed and even touch a range of delightful animals.

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Willowbank: enjoy the animals of ‘Wild New Zealand’ which include wallabies, gibbons, monkeys, otters and the ring tailed lemurs.

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Willowbank: enjoy the animals of ‘Wild New Zealand’ which include wallabies, gibbons, monkeys, otters and the ring tailed lemurs.

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Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

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Willowbank: Heritage New Zealand’ provides an opportunity to see up close, feed and even touch a range of delightful animals

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Willowbank: enjoy the animals of ‘Wild New Zealand’ which include wallabies, gibbons, monkeys, otters and the ring tailed lemurs.

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A rare kea (NZ alpine parrot) at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

This is your guaranteed opportunity to see a real kiwi! This is a fantastic place for all the family as the range of experiences ensures there is something for everyone. For the littlies, ‘Heritage New Zealand’ provides an opportunity to see up close, feed and even touch a range of delightful animals including Kune Kune (pigs), rare breeds of sheep and cattle, Clydesdales, miniature horses, goats, sheep and much more. They will also enjoy the animals of ‘Wild New Zealand’ which include wallabies, gibbons, monkeys, otters and the ring tailed lemurs. The older children will enjoy the wonder of spotting Kiwi in an open and natural environment and learn about introduced pests, New Zealand’s natural history and will (we promise!) be captivated by the huge range of fascinating wildlife. Interested in hosting a birthday party?  There are lots of fun options (cost includes entry, party packs, animal food and farm option).  When you are all worn out, pop into the Café and refresh yourselves!

Price
Adult $34.50, Child (5-15 years) $13, under 5s free, Family $85 (2 adults and 2 children.  Additional children $6.50 each).
For additional price information please click here.

Annual Passes
(Club Willowbank) Adult $82, Child $28, Family $185 (2 adults plus up to 3 children).
Valid for one year of unlimited entry. (conditions apply)

(Plus One) Child aged 5-15 years $118. For one named child with ANY one accompanying adult.

Hours
9.30am to 6pm (October to April)
9.30am to 5pm (May to September)

Children's Programmes

Our team at Willowbank love providing entertainment for your whole family, which makes us a great place to start when you are looking for Christchurch things to do in the holidays, or year round. Our great value Family Day Pass means that 2 adults and up to three children can spend a full day in the Reserve or an Annual Pass gives unlimited entry for a full year for 2 adults and up to three children. 

Junior Keeper Programme
For children aged 10-14 years who love animals!   School holidays between 10.30am—2.30pm
A behind the scenes experience into life as a Keeper. Work alongside one of our keepers to help with the feeding, watering of our animals and birds and cleaning their enclosures. Be ready to have heaps of fun in a very hands-on way.
Click here for more information on being a Junior Keeper for the day!
 

Birthday Parties

Enjoy a day out at Willowbank.  Available to be booked daily at 11am or 2pm.

Cost includes party food, animal food, reserve entry for the children and two adults.

For more information on Willowbank Birthday Parties, click here.

Extra Stuff

Most school holidays a Junior Keeper for the Day is held where children between 10 and 14 years join up with a keeper to learn, feed & care for the wildlife.
Toilets and wheelchair toilets available.

Cafe available for hot and cold drinks, snacks and lunches. ​

North Island

South Island

Map of New Zealand
  • Central Otago
  • Auckland
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Coromandel
  • Gisborne
  • Fiordland
  • Hawkes Bay
  • Marlborough Sounds
  • Manawatu
  • Nelson & Golden Bay
  • Northland
  • North Canterbury
  • Queenstown
  • Rotorua
  • South Canterbury
  • Taranaki
  • Southland
  • Taupo
  • Wanaka
  • Waikato
  • Wellington
  • West Coast
  • Whangarei
  • Bay of Islands
  • Tauranga
  • Gisborne
  • Hamilton
  • Napier
  • Kapiti
  • Palmerston North
  • Whanganui
  • New Plymouth
  • Arrowtown
  • Te Anau
  • Akaroa
  • Ashburton
  • Hanmer
  • Kaikoura
  • Methven
  • Mt Cook
  • Oamaru
  • Tekapo
  • Timaru
  • Abel Tasman
  • Motueka
  • Nelson Lakes
  • Blenheim
  • Picton
  • Catlins
  • Gore
  • Stewart Island
  • Central Plateau
  • Invercargill
  • Cromwell
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Westport
  • Glenorchy

Our favourite destinations…

Auckland

New Zealand’s economic heart and biggest city is also an exciting family visitor destination, situated on a sunny harbour with city beaches just minutes away from the CBD. Orientate yourself by heading down to Viaduct Harbour, wandering the waterfront, checking out the super yachts or enjoying the waterfront restaurants. Nearby is the must-visit Sky Tower along with excellent and kid-friendly museums and tons of exciting activities!

Wellington

Wellington is New Zealand’s capital. Here you will find New Zealand's parliament buildings, including the 'Executive Wing', more well-known as 'The Beehive' due to its distinctive shape. Another icon to look out for is the Wellington Tram, which was the main means of public transport between 1878 and 1964.

Christchurch

With a population of around 400,000 Christchurch, in Canterbury, is the South Island ’s largest city, yet much of it has the feel of a small town. Perhaps that’s why it’s known as the Garden City but with the expansive Hagley Park, Botanic Gardens, Port Hills, River Avon and numerous beaches the city certainly has an open, relaxed feel that’s hard to beat.

Queenstown

With its well-deserved reputation as New Zealand’s activity adventure capital you’ll never run out of activities and things to do in Queenstown, but you may run out of time! With breathtaking scenery, activities and festivals, cafes and restaurants, skiing and snowboarding, shopping and wineries, this lakeside alpine resort rates as one of the world’s top vacation destinations for all ages and seasons.

Rotorua

Rotorua sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua, one of sixteen lakes in the area formed by hundreds of thousands of years of eruptions from the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area is renowned for its geothermal activity and top of any activity list is to see the bubbling mud pools that are around the region for yourself. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley offers a first hand insight into the devastation caused by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera and is a great place to discover steaming volcanic craters and bubbling, spitting  pools of mud!

Nelson and Golden Bay

The Nelson and Golden Bay regions, at the top of the South Island, boast enviable sunshine hours, glorious sandy beaches, safe swimming spots, lots of wildlife to look out for, and Abel Tasman National Park - an absolute must to explore, on foot, by kayak, your own craft or watertaxi.  Nelson is home to a vibrant arts and crafts community with a fabulous Saturday market, and is close to award-winning wineries and family-friendly bike tracks to take you around the coast.

Hawkes Bay

Napier was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake and is now known as NZ's Art Deco City.  The Art Deco influence has created a unique city – nowhere else can you see such a varied concentration of art deco style. With over 2,200 sunshine hours a year, Napier is a year-round holiday destination with countless activities to entertain the kids – there's days of entertainment on Marine Parade alone, plus numerous other family-friendly trips and activities.  Add to that the beaches, walks and flat cycle paths, outdoor cafes and entertainment, and you have a perfect holiday destination!

Northland

Beautiful, unspoiled beaches, fishing, historic gum fields, kauri forests – the Far North has it all. With subtropical temperatures, it's often known as ‘the Winterless north', with warm, humid summers and mild winters.
Gateway to the Bay of Islands, Paihia is a pretty, lively beachside town and a perfect base for your family holiday. It’s your start point for Bay of Island adventures including day cruises, sailing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and reef or wreck diving.