“I took my kids to Yorkshire Zoo which is a must visit for all families”

The six week holidays are here which means a whole summer of fun for the little ones. One thing we like to do is make a list of all the places we’d like to try and go, a “summer bucket list” if you will.

It can be difficult to find places that tick the boxes for everyone with a five-year age difference between the two, but one place that comes up year after year is the zoo – who doesn’t love a day trip with animals?

We were weighing up our options on the usual places like Chester Zoo, Blackpool Zoo, Yorkshire Wildlife Park when we came across Ponderosa Zoo. Wait a minute… a zoo right here in Kirklees? How have I never heard of this?

READ MORE: The ultimate list of days out in Yorkshire to enjoy but not break the bank

The zoo, which began life as a therapy center, has more than 100 animals, from lemurs to reindeer. It is also used as a therapy center for people with learning disabilities. Once in, we decided to kill the bigger zoos and check it out.

Ponderosa is based in Heckmondwike so the half hour drive from Huddersfield was a welcome relief. Often a trip to the zoo is a fair ride, with lots of bickering and toilet breaks along the way, so I was glad the trip was somewhat stress-free.

I arrived and parked in the free car park. We didn’t book online, which could have been risky during summer vacation, but we had no problem getting in.

Tickets were £8.95 per adult and £7.95 per child so in total it cost me £24.85 for me and my two children which I thought was really reasonable compared to some of the bigger zoos.

The boys were so excited and couldn’t wait to get in and see what animals we could spot. We first came upon the meerkats, who were adorable, before making our way down past the squirrel monkeys – the boys loved watching them jump around their spacious enclosure.

We then came to the otters, who were basking in the sun and enjoying their water slide. Then I came across a reindeer which the little one was fascinated by, although I couldn’t quite understand why it was in Huddersfield and not the North Pole.

It didn’t take long for the boys to spot the huge outdoor play area and so we decided to take the opportunity to make a pit stop. The boys enjoyed climbing, slides and ziplining while I ordered some food and drinks.

I had a boys pizza from the pizzeria and a pot of pasta from the cafe along with three flavored waters, it came to just under £20. We sat down on one of the many benches available to enjoy our lunch in the sun.

While we were eating, a magician came to announce that there was a magic show starting at 1pm in the restaurant, so after we finished we decided to check it out. The show was great and seemed to attract the whole zoo to watch.

The little one really liked it and laughed all the way through. My oldest wasn’t as impressed (it’s way too cool now), but he got one for the team for his brother.

After that, I ran into a servant. Coincidentally, a discussion was going on and I saw that the huge wild cat was being fed a fluffy white rabbit for dinner. It was a bit gross, so of course the boys absolutely loved it.

We came across another slightly smaller park on the way back up the hill before heading to the night house. The little one was a little apprehensive about going in at first as it is completely pitch black, but once inside they both loved checking out all the reptiles and creepy crawlies – me not so much!

After this we saw the usual raccoon dogs, coatis and marmosets on our way to the lemurs. We were very lucky that most of the animals made an appearance, I think the sun helped. All the animals looked very well cared for and the zoo was clean throughout.

The lemur walk was great, we entered the cage as instructed before a staff member opened the large metal door and let us in. It was done very professionally to ensure that none of the animals escaped.

The boys loved being able to get up close to the lemurs and see them without a cage or glass screen. A staff member had warned us beforehand that if a lemur jumps on you, stand still and they will shoo them away, so I was a bit more cautious than the boys.

After this we headed to the giant boat and sandpit where we spent a good hour, my little one loved digging in the sand. From here we moved on to the giant bouncy cushions which were so much fun – even I couldn’t resist a jump.

There was also a great atmosphere with music and families sat down to enjoy refreshments from the kiosk while the children jumped to their heart’s content. I finally managed to lure them away from the bouncy pillow with the promise of an ice cream on the way out.

We were lucky enough to see some of the animals that had been hiding earlier on our way back to the car, including the turtles and pygmy caiman.

All in all I had a really lovely day. Sure, it’s not the biggest zoo out there – there aren’t elephants, giraffes and larger animals like some of the others – but it’s certainly more than enough to keep the kids entertained for a day.

The staff were very friendly and welcoming, there is a wide variety of animals and the gardens and play areas to allow a break from the enclosures. And the lemur walk was great and felt like a really memorable experience.

The cafes and food stalls were well stocked and reasonably priced and there are also plenty of picnic benches around if you prefer to take your own. And there is a great gift shop on the way out with something for everyone budget.

The Ponderosa is a great and affordable alternative to larger zoos without compromising on entertainment. I just couldn’t believe that this little known gem was right on our doorstep and I didn’t even realize it. Learn more or book your Ponderosa Zoo tickets here.

You can find the latest news about events in and around Yorkshire by visiting our What’s On home page. There you can also find guides to things to do in the region.

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