Not just for kids! It annoys me when people write Willowbank off as less than it is and refuse to go thinking it's just a petting zoo. Yes, it's fantastic for kids but there's so much more! I've been taking my niece for years and we love to feed the birds. My partner loves to feed the farm animals, especially Sirius the stinky Billy goat. Earlier this year i injured my arm and was unable to work and going to willowbank regularly helped keep me sane! (very lucky is within walking distance of my house!) Willowbank is the best place to see nz wildlife in Christchurch, and comparable to excellent places like Auckland Zoo. Always a highlight for this bird nerd when the takahē is out and about (make sure you go quietly). Best kiwi enclosure I've seen anywhere because there's no glass between you and them and if you are lucky you can be centimetres away. Amazing. We've also done the lemur encounter which is pretty special. The cafe is pretty great with reasonable prices, lovely staff and yummy food. Pro tip - the best seats are down by the window near the outside door to watch what the weka are up to! You can also take your own food and have a picnic in the barnyard. Highly recommend the annual pass as you only need 2 visits to make it worthwhile and it's a year from the day you buy, not a calendar year. But the best bit is when it runs out they don't nag you, you just renew again from whenever you next visit is (they don't backdate it to whenever it ran out)!

Highly recommended for anyone visiting Christchurch with or without kids to go and sample some of our native wildlife and for locals as well to have fun in our own backyard. If you are lucky you might get "attacked" by a kea (see photo)!