From heartwarming stories to unforgettable photos, each submission has reminded us of the joy and wonder Willowbank has brought to so many families over the years. Take a look at all the incredible submissions below!
Our little family loving going there and feed those -Julia Smith
Up close and personal in 2022 saying hello to my son Ashton. Now on our visits he is often up on his brunch snoozing away. -Amie Harbrow
Birds making identification easy! -Danielle Chapman
Ethan loves feeding the deer -Carla Burt
Baby ducklings in spring and giant geese! I’ve never managed to pat a duckling before so this was super special. The geese always give me a laugh! -Erin Mitchell
Our boys love willowbank it\'s their favorite place to go most weekends - Tina Gibson
Taylors first time visiting and was reluctant to hand feed the animals turns out she loved it Soo much! - Kushla Heffernan
A visit to Willowbank to feed the Capybara was a special birthday gift for my animal-loving daughter. - Fiona Lee
Myself, my brother and Dad feeding dear way back in about 1993 then enjoying a donkey ride. Willowbank has always been one of my favorite places. So many good memories. I now enjoy bringing my own young children to experience the same love and joy from your beautiful animals. - Emily Bennet
Our favourite place. our eldest daughter who is now almost 4 years old.
And now with her sister who joined us mid February, she had her first visit when at only two weeks old Favourite place to make family memories - Agnes Entese
Our first visit to Willowbank - it has been such a mainstay in our toddler years! - Ruth Vercoe
This little guy loves feeding what he calls the scruffy geese at Willowbank. One of his all time favourite activities to do all year round. - Zillette Bergmann
This little guy took a liking to us and followed us through the bird enclosure next to the wallabies. He kept landing on me and just wanted to chill so we hung out for about an hour until we left to do the lemur encounter. Great family memory for me - Emma Woods
Forever riding the tractor on every visit to willowbank with a smile - Lucy Thomson
The tractor is an absolute favourite for Molly and Mabel, every time we visit willowbank they spend as much time as they can on it. There is nearly always a queue, clearly a crowd fave :) - Lynley Mulrine
We’ve been coming to Willowbank since our oldest girl was a wee toddler (she’s now 8 years old!) we often get family passes for the year. Our girls have always loved the baby ducklings and all the farm animals at Willowbank, and of course they love to see the kiwi and count how many they can see! - Sara Fairbrother
My son is just so curious about everything that’s going on around him. usually the horse is in his own corner but we captured a day where we got a proper look at the horse - Bridette Spemann
Been a firm fav in our family for years! I have thousands of photos from our many many trips over the years. But this one from 2016 is one of my favs - Pip Rawlinson
Stopped for a wee rest, and a friendly Kea decided to try steal my hair tie! - Sarah Ingram
This was on one of our many visits, my grandchildren love Willowbank and seeing the Kea land on my shoulder, on this occasion the Kea was determined to remove my cap. - Brian Appleton
We\'ve been coming to willowbank ever since I had my boy 6 years ago.
We have so much fun everytime.
This memory of him and Sam will be one to remember for ever. - Megan Staite
Willowbank was our son’s favourite spot for every weekend for a long long time. He loved Buritto the donkey. He was thrilled when the wallaby came to near the fence and he touched the wallaby. Great fun! - Weila Li
This was our daughter Emmy’s first birthday celebration in 2016! She’s had many happy times there since - Annabelle Tyson
Our daughter waving at baby monkeys! - Emily Hesseltine
Got to get up close and personal with a wallaby. Usually they are hiding down the back when we visit but being a quiet day this fella had ventured out & come to say hello. -Winnie Mulder
Bess pinching 12 month old Cairo’s hat, 2010 - Liz Sawers
Jaxon\'s Favourite animal to see are the Kunekune pigs.... to the point he mastered their smile :) - Lisa Hammond
Willowbank is my happy place, it’s the only place I go and feel genuine joy and peace. I often go my myself but sometimes with my family. On this occasion I was lucky enough to have a kea land on me and my dad took a photo. - Lily Barnett
Poppa and milo enjoying watching the otters, A fluffy on the way out just the ticket after frosty walk around - Ali Rhodes
Had an awesome Capybara experience. The babies were super cute and friendly. - Andrew Smit
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