Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is turning 50, and we’re celebrating with you.
Share a memory and be in to win one of 50 family passes. Also, every entry wins a spot prize. Click below to share your memory:
We love pretending to be locked up, after we have seen our favorite animals of course! -Alina Weily
He had his sunglasses on his head and two cheeky keas wanted them and luckily he just took them off as they jumped on his shoulders the kids were surprised they jumped on there dad. -Ashleigh Tuionetoa
Willowbank is my sons fav place to visit! We go most weekends & all the staff know his name & let him scoop his own bird food! He loves to give his own wee tours & knows a lot of the animals names. Love our visits to willowbank! -Averil Inder
Our boys met at willowbank and became best friends! A year later and they still come to willowbank together once a week and whats more is us mummies are best friends now too! We love willowbank! -Becs Lewis
The cheekiest donkey! Always asking for snacks even though he knows we aren’t allowed to feed him! -Beka Robb
We used to come to willow bank every weekend when we lived in the area. Skye is now 18!!! we looked forward to coming every time. side Note, i used to work at willow bank walking the donkey when i was 13.. I'm now 40. hahah. so cool that Willowbank is going strong -ben van bussel
Our son Archie, on feeding duty! - Cameron King
Our first ever annual pass to Willowbank with our 1st born and it’s been our tradition every year with baby number 2 now joining us. We’ve just had their 5th and 2nd birthday celebrations there over the last 4 weeks and plan the same next year, the year after that….and so on 🥰 - Danielle Hayes
Alpaca and good friends Tao! - Jun Hashimoto
We have the plus one pass and love exploring Willowbank as much as possible :) the wee one never gets sick of it - Kali Abbott
Willowbank is a birthday tradition for my daughter, Aaliyah. She just turned 13 this year and still insisted we go to Willowbank. We have so many memories and whether it's rain, hail, or shine, on her birthday each year, we will be visiting Willowbank!
Here's a photo of her "bestie" the goat from several years ago. She always has to have a photo with the goat lol. - Kendall Macphail
This wonderful interaction with "the polite duck" made my son's week. The little duck quietly approached us and stood patiently in front of us, as if asking politely for feed. The fact it gently allowed my son to hand feed it was just so special. - Kerry Gibbs
My kids have enjoyed wollowbank since they were toddlers & now teens. Many happy memories of feeding the deer, the checky kids (goats), feeding & hugging lambs, the baby ostriche (i think), eels or Keas & màny more animals. They loved when we met friends, their cousins or just by themselves. Such a wonderful place to grow up & be part of. Hands on so was great - Odette Horton
Garfield the chicken would follow us around until he got his cuddles. My kids still try to find him years later. - Shane Turner
We’ve been visiting willowbank for about 10yrs now, since my eldest was a toddler. Every visit we have to stop at the tractor and have a photo so we have quite a few now of the kids at all different ages - Tara Mccallum
New Zealand’s most comprehensive NZ themed wildlife park, the Willowbank experience tells the story of our country’s natural heritage. Using pioneering and innovative display techniques, with an emphasis on creating a natural environment and an up-close and personal interactive experience, Willowbank showcases one of New Zealand’s best displays of native species. Willowbank was the first to open a glass-free nocturnal house for kiwi in a natural environment, guaranteeing viewings every time.
Willowbank is a New Zealand leader in conservation, with success in many national, Australasian and in-house breeding programmes focusing on New Zealand native and endangered species, as well as many rare and heritage breeds of farm stock.
Scientific research projects, and local partners including the Department of Conservation, the Styx River Living Laboratory, the Rare Breeds Society, the NZ Conservation Trust and the South Island Wildlife Hospital, are supported by and work alongside Willowbank.
*We'd like to thank Bentley Coachlines for supplying transport to our winning school classes. Transport dates subject to availability.
*Ts&Cs Apply
