Timing – Daily at 2:00pm, check-in required 15 minutes prior. Bookings essential.
Duration – Approximately 20 minutes
Cost – $40 Adults & $20 Children (8+ years), plus the cost of Reserve entry.
Maximum – 4 people
Conditions – Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Closed toe shoes must be worn and all Encounters are subject to weather conditions.
Timing – Daily at 1:30pm, check-in required 15 minutes prior. Bookings essential.
Duration – Approximately 20 minutes
Cost – $40 Adults & $20 Children (8+ years), plus the cost of Reserve entry.
Maximum – 6 people
Conditions – Children 8-9 years must be accompanied by 1 paying adult for every 2 children. Children 10-15 years can have 1 adult accompany every 4 children.
Closed toe shoes must be worn and all Encounters are subject to weather conditions.
An informative guided tour around our native section including the kea, kiwi, kaka, ruru and many more!
Timing – 2:45pm and 3:45pm. Advance bookings essential.
Duration – Approximately 45 minutes
Cost – $15 per adult & $8 per child, plus the cost of Reserve entry.
Minimum – 5 adults. Pre-booking is essential.
Please note that the tour requires a minimum booking of 5 people in order to proceed. If the minimum booking number is not reached, the tour will unfortunately have to be cancelled. We will notify you when you check in on the day.
Timing – 12pm, check-in required 15 minutes prior.
Duration – Approximately 45 – 60 minutes
Cost – $45 Adults & $30 Children (5+ years, over 20 kg), plus the cost of Reserve entry.
Minimum – 2 people
Conditions – Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. 1 paying adult per 2 children.
Gumboots must be worn and the encounter is subject to weather conditions.
Bookings essential – Email: admin@willowbank.co.nz
Q: Can we touch the animals during the encounters?
A: Lemurs are wild and take offence to being touched. They may come onto your shoulder, but that is up to them. Capybaras will enjoy a scratch at the keeper’s discretion.
Q: Can I just do an encounter without visiting the rest of the reserve?
A: Sorry no. The encounters are an ‘add-on’ experience to your reserve ticket.
Q: I’ve booked an encounter, do I still need to check in?
A: Yes. Our front desk will check you in, and go over the health & safety.
Q: Why do we have an age limit on children?
A: Our animals are wild and can therefore be unpredictable. Younger children may run around or be scared which might upset the animals. All participants must have the ability to follow instructions in an emergency.
Q: Why is the age limit higher for Capybara Encounter?
A: Capybaras are larger animals that can weigh more than 50 kg. Younger children are more susceptible to injury due to size.
Q: Why do children have to be supervised by an adult?
A: Our staff are required to have their full attention on the animals at all times during an encounter.
Q: Why do we have to wear closed shoes?
A: This is for your own safety as our animals may bite or stand on your toes causing injury and wound conditions.
Q: Why do cough/cold symptoms matter?
A: Our animals can catch colds and viruses from people, and they are much tougher to treat.
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