Our Guide To The Best Animal Attractions On The Isle Of Wight
The Isle of Wight is undeniably a brilliant holiday destination for families and there are so many amazing family activities you can do with children of all ages on the Island. Whether you’re wanting to head to the beach and have a go at some water sports or if you’d prefer to stay on dry ground and try tree climbing or go-karting instead, there are so many great ways to fill your days with family activities on the Isle of Wight.
Many people don’t realise, but there are actually a number of incredible animal attractions on the Island too and they are all family-friendly. If you know that your little ones love animals then you really will be spoilt for choice when deciding which places to visit. To help you narrow down your options, below we have put together a list of what we would consider to be some of the very best animal attractions on the Isle of Wight for the whole family to enjoy.
The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
When going on holiday, lots of families will look to see if there is a zoo nearby to where they’re staying and the Island won’t let you down in this regard. You will find the The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (Formally known as the Isle of Wight Zoo) in Sandown and it really is a must-visit. This family attraction is now part of The Wildheart Trust and is committed to providing a life-long, loving home to all animal residents. You can expect to see a variety of stereotypical zoo animals here and they offer lots of animal experiences too.
Amazon World
This unique family activity on the Isle of Wight is one that you won’t find anywhere else and it should definitely be on your ‘to-do’ list. Amazon World is home to some of the world’s most unusual, beautiful and endangered creatures, and this is the only place you’ll be able to see some of them in the whole of Europe. This family-friendly rainforest-inspired zoo has a number of talks and displays for you to get involved in which you can guarantee the kids will love.
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
If you’re wanting to do something slightly different, then you should definitely head to the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary. As the name suggests, this animal attraction is a donkey sanctuary and it provides a home to unwanted donkeys, horses and ponies. This is a brilliant place to visit because it is free to enter, but as a charity run attraction, they do rely on donations and on-site purchases, so bear this in mind, you could even adopt a donkey during your visit if you’d like to.
Monkey Haven
When you usually visit a zoo, if your children spend most of the time watching and laughing at the monkeys then you absolutely have to visit Monkey Haven. You will find this family attraction in the center of the Island, Newport, and it is another rescue centre and sanctuary. As you can probably expect, it is home to a number of different types of monkeys, lemurs and gibbons. If you really want to make your visit one to remember, why not book to be a keeper for the day.
West Wight Alpacas and Llamas
Again, this is something slightly different from your standard zoo, but it is definitely one of the best family activities on the Isle of Wight. West Wight Alpacas and Llamas is home to around 60 alpacas, 13 llamas and many other animals, making it unlike any other animal attraction on the Island. Not only can you wander around this farm meeting all of the animals along your way, but they are known for their walking experience, so this is definitely worth looking into further.
Booking family activities on the Isle Of Wight
No matter what age your children may be or what their interests are, you can almost guarantee that they will love a day out to any one of the different animal attractions mentioned above. The Island really is the perfect place for a memorable family holiday and when you’re planning how you’re going to spend your days here, it is definitely worth looking at some of the other family activities on the Isle Of Wight too.
When you’re organising your family-friendly holiday to the Island, make sure you browse the rest of our website. With our help, you can ensure that you’re not missing out on any of the best family attractions and we would recommend you take a look at our ‘family favourites’ page. We can assure you that both you and your children really will have an amazing time when you visit the Isle of Wight.
