Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is a New Zealand wildlife reserve in Christchurch — about ten minutes' drive from the airport and twenty from the city centre. Built around the idea of people and wildlife connecting, it brings together native species (including kiwi in a purpose-built nocturnal house), exotic animals from around the world, and a farmyard where visitors can hand-feed gentle animals. The reserve is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm, rain or shine, closing only on Christmas Day.
A visit is loosely structured around the daily feeding times — otters at 10:45am, eels at 11:50am, siamang gibbons at 12:45pm and kea at 1:00pm — plus bookable behind-the-scenes encounters with lemurs, capybara and (seasonally) bees, and Native Guided Tours led by the people who care for these taonga every day. Boardwalks and paths make the reserve easy for everyone to get around, and reviewers regularly note how well cared-for the animals look and how much children love the place.
On site you'll find a café serving hot and cold food and drinks daily, picnic areas, a gift shop stocked with NZ souvenirs and jade, and free off-street parking. Willowbank is wheelchair and mobility-scooter accessible, ZAA accredited, Qualmark Gold certified, and recognised at the New Zealand Tourism Awards. Conservation sits at the heart of what it does, supported by the Willowbank Foundation, volunteering and education programmes.
Ten minutes from Christchurch Airport and twenty from the city centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve does one thing exceptionally well: bringing people and wildlife together. It is open every day of the year except Christmas Day, from 9:30am to 5pm, rain or shine, and visitors consistently describe it as a beautifully designed reserve — spacious enclosures, boardwalks and paths everyone can use, and helpful signage outside every animal home.
It's the kind of place where a two-year-old can hand-feed farm animals in the morning and the whole family can watch kiwi in the afternoon. Reviews mention the excitement of children being palpable, and more than one guest calls it a must-do in Christchurch.
Willowbank's animal whānau spans three worlds. The native collection is the heart of the place: kiwi, with a purpose-built nocturnal house that opens at 10:30am each day, plus takahē, kea and other taonga, many of them part of serious conservation work. The exotic side brings species from further afield — playful otters, siamang gibbons, lemurs and capybara. And the farmyard is where the youngest visitors get hands-on, feeding gentle animals and stepping inside walk-through aviaries alongside friendly birds. Enclosures are designed to feel like the wild, and guests regularly report spotting several kiwi and other endangered natives in a single visit.
Plan your day around the daily feeding sessions — this is when the reserve really comes to life. Otters eat at 10:45am, the eels at 11:50am, siamang gibbons at 12:45pm and the kea at 1:00pm. Keepers are on hand with fun facts, and it's the best window into each animal's personality.
Want to go deeper? Guided animal encounters take small groups behind the scenes — the lemur experience is a guest favourite, with capybara and seasonal bee encounters also on the calendar. Native Guided Tours connect you with New Zealand's wildlife and the people caring for it daily. One reviewer booked a tour specifically to see kiwi and came away impressed by the keepers' knowledge and the reserve's top-notch conservation programme.
Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring; allow longer if you want to catch feedings or add an encounter or tour. The café is open daily with hot and cold food and drinks (highchairs available), or bring a picnic for the reserve's picnic areas. The gift shop stocks New Zealand souvenirs, including a wide range of jade, along with giftware for all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting here is easy: there's free off-street parking with around 100-110 parks, including accessible parks near the main building, the number 107 bus stops right outside, and there's a bike stand at the entrance. The reserve is wheelchair and mobility-scooter friendly, with scooter hire and a complimentary loan wheelchair (subject to availability), plus accessible toilets in the main building and farm area. Umbrellas can be borrowed free from the main desk on wet days, and bag storage is available in the main building.
Willowbank isn't just a day out — conservation runs through everything it does, from its native species work to volunteering opportunities, the Willowbank Foundation and its sustainability focus. The reserve is ZAA accredited, holds Qualmark Gold certification and has been recognised at the New Zealand Tourism Awards. It also doubles as an events venue, hosting functions, Christmas events and kids' birthday parties, and runs education programmes and school holiday programmes for the next generation of conservationists.
Whether you're feeding farm animals with a toddler, watching kea at feeding time, or meeting a lemur face to face, Willowbank delivers close-up moments that stick with you. Visitors call it an amazing gem — and most simply call it a lovely way to spend several hours.