Kiwi Valley Farm
Last Christmas my sister gifted our family a trip to Kiwi Valley Farm. I kept putting off visiting for no good reason, and finally - as we prepare for Christmas again - I decided I shouldn’t procrastinate anymore. The weather was perfect, so I loaded up the kids and made the 40 minute trek west to Henderson for our visit.
There was plenty of parking in a paddock to the right of the entrance driveway despite the place being absolutely packed on a gorgeous Saturday. We made our way in to the reception area to get our tickets (colored stickers that indicated we paid) and small feed buckets for the animals. After a quick primer on what we could feed and what we shouldn’t, we made our way back through to a small area with animals for the kids to pet. They got to choose between guinea pigs, bunnies, and rats. I was fine with the guinea pig and Patches the bunny as they were nice, sweet, calm, fuzzy things, but the rat completely freaked me out. My son thought it was hilarious.
Past the small petting area, we found a playscape for younger kids, a maze for older kids and adults, and a hidden cave full of seen-better-days fairy villages. The playscape wasn’t particularly well shaded, so I’d recommend reapplying sunscreen before letting kids run wild, but it was conveniently located right next to shaded picnic tables and some basic toilet facilities. The maze was made of a fence that started about a foot and a half off the ground and with loosely placed slats. This meant that I could still see the kids as they ran around corners and tried to find their way by ducking under the fence walls. I was glad it wasn’t impervious or very big! My daughter’s favorite part was the hidden cave with it’s little fairy landscapes decorating the inside. I wasn’t particularly impressed, but apparently it is awesome for 4 year olds.
Of course the highlight of the farm is the animals. We saw sheep, goats, llamas, ducks, chickens, peacocks and roosters. There was even one feisty ostrich that chased us as we partook in the (short yet shockingly jarring) tractor ride. Most of the animals were hungry and ready to eat out of the small containers provided at the entrance. There was one aloof llama that couldn’t have cared less, but the exuberance of his neighbour, a goat, made up for it.
Our last stop inside the farm was to try out the pony rides. My daughter got to ride on a small, sparkling white pony while my son got on “a real horse.” They were led around a small enclosure by teenage volunteers. The kids enjoyed the predictably tame and calm rides, and I enjoyed resting in the shaded enclosure next to the paddock. To be fair, the bulk of the activities were shaded or near shade with the exception of the farm loop that was completely exposed to the sun. Even though it wasn’t too hot out, the strong New Zealand sun still felt like it was baking my skin on occasion.
Before heading back to the car, we enjoyed our picnic lunch at one of the many tables scattered about the farm. For dessert, we headed into the café near the entrance. The restaurant had a full menu and a counter full of desserts and snack food. Plus, it had a kids’ corner with couches and toys so kids could entertain themselves for a couple of minutes. This was just one of many signs that Kiwi Valley Farm is meant for kids but keeps parents in mind, too. There were small touches everywhere: the parent’s room by the ticket counter, the low hand washing stations throughout so moms and dads wouldn’t freak out, and the ability to take a breather and enjoy a coffee for a moment.
Kiwi Valley Farm was a fun afternoon just a short drive from Auckland. If you’ve got kids under 8, then put this one on the list.
