Willowbank the wildlife park

Willowbank boasts that it is the ‘home of the big 5’. It is indeed - that's the big 5 in New Zealand by the way and I’ll return to them shortly. It is also home to a farmyard full of cute, intriguing and friendly animals. There are donkeys and donkey rides, tame eels to feed, lots of tortoise (so many tortoise), horses, sheep, hungry llamas and pigs - don’t forget the pigs - they seem to be everywhere!

At the monkey enclosure I was treated to the sight of a newborn peeking out from under it’s parents bulk. Just so adorable. There are also ducks, geese, more ducks, more geese, they are everywhere - under you feet, on the water, on the pathway - everywhere.

A track follows a circuit around the park passing by and over a stream which is full of life. I was continuously harassed by hungry bird life the entire way. And don’t get me started on the cheeky Kea, the parrots who don’t seem to have any principals.

The best bit in my opinion was the New Zealand section. The entrance was through a Maori meeting house and village before reaching a nocturnal house for New Zealand’s favourite bird the Kiwi. As my eyes adjusted to the dark haze I spotted two kiwi foraging around in the undergrowth. It was a pleasure just to hang out with them..

My next stop was to say good morning to the Morepork (the New Zealand owl) and then the remainder of the big 5 - Takahe, Kaka and Tuatara. Oh and of course the Kea - as I walked through this enclosure a cheeky and way too intelligent guy decided to perch on my shoulder and attempt to steal my sunglasses. Take on the ‘big 5’ at your peril I say….