Overview
Mobile ticket
The only place to see NZ's Big 5 wildlife (kea, kaka, takahe, tuatara and guaranteed kiwi viewing) all in one location!
Get 'up close and personal' with over 50 different wildlife species!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
What To Expect
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Experience the story of NZ through wildlife. Willowbank is hands-on and interactive with the ability to feed and pat many of the animals. Enjoy introduced animals to NZ such as monkeys, lemurs, capybara, and wallabies. Pat the farm animals, such as sheep, rabbits and alpaca. And discover the unique native species, that make NZ so special. We can guarantee that you will see a kiwi in our kiwi house - the best kiwi viewing in NZ. We have a cafe and retail store, to make you visit complete.
Options
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Day Entry
What‘s Included
Guaranteed Kiwi Viewing
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from attractions
Meeting points
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
60 Hussey Road, Christchurch New Zealand
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
114 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Underrated.
Mark251265,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This sanctuary was wonderful. No negatives. Just delightful.
Great place to visit
Lisa J,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Visited on a long weekend. The carpark was full. Easy parking available on the street. Friendly staff. The park is a great place to visit and enjoy walking in nature. Plenty of animals and birds. The paths and tracks were easy to follow. Options to feed some animals. Playground area and picnic area. The cafe had lots of options and good service.
A Warm Place to Learn NZ Wildlifes
matthewhO7224QI,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was amazing. Everything in the reserve show great care from the manager and staffs to each animal. Good to see that.
Wished we would've skipped
Vacation32839802682,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00I'm surprised by the reviews of this reserve. We had time to spare before flying out of Christchurch and decided to go here based on the reviews. When we got there, we discovered it's a glorified petting zoo. I found it distressing to see animals race, such as eels, otters, and sheep, to get to where the railings were to get food from visitors that they had purchased at the entry. While the animals looked healthy, there was just something about the vibe that my traveling companions and I didn't care for, and we were happy to leave quickly.
Great private tour into the endemic species to learn more about kiwis, keas, tuis and more
pl0ngeur75,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great private tour into the endemic species to learn more about kiwis, keas, tuis and more
Worthwhile and informative
HappyTravellor13,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing experience with easy to walk paths with clear direction to follow. Lots to see and good post boards telling us about the animals and birds.
Left underwhelmed
Sharing-ze-love,Apr 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We’ve visited a few wildlife experiences like this over the past 10 years in Australia, and there were definitely some highlights here. The animal feeding was great, especially the eels, and it was exciting to have the chance to see kiwi. That said, the kiwi experience itself was a bit underwhelming. Although we were told we saw two, it was so difficult to make them out that we honestly weren’t sure if we were looking at a kiwi or something else (at one point we joked it could’ve been a chicken with a straw on its head!). We understand the importance of low lighting for nocturnal animals, but slightly improved visibility would make a big difference to the experience. Overall, it was okay, but in hindsight we probably could have skipped it. Our son is 13 now, so it may just be that we’ve outgrown this type of activity. For the price, it didn’t quite meet expectations.
Very Enjoyable!
TomasoVernon B C ,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very informative guided tour. Loved the grounds and the fact the trails all lead to something interesting! Perfect for all age groups!
A nice little zoo
paulhU5674BE,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A small but very well curated exhibition incorporating features of a zoo and a conservation program. I was particularly excited to have the chance to see a kiwi. But the other exhibits were also good. Very kid friendly — I saw a number of small children that seemed to be having a great time.
Very Nice Wildlife Zoo
danmX5210RS,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice wildlife zoo. I wouldn't call it a reserve - too small and condensed for that. They do, however, do research and rescue work. They have a good variety (especially birds) and the animals seemed very healthy. Great way to see a Kia if you haven't seen one in the wild. At a little over $20 a person it was well worth it. The kids we saw seemed to be having a good time, too.
Related Experiences
Operated by Willowbank Wildlife Reserve