Garden of the Groves, or Ardastra? Which is better?

[kfinfam]

I dont think I can talk my family into doing BOTH, and since they're the same price, I'm wondering which is better/more worth the money/time?

 

My husband and I would be fine with either I'm sure, but we have 2 teenage daughters going with us, and an 11 month old baby boy:) So we're looking to please all if we can!

[Lard Greystoke]

I've only been to Ardastra. It's a small, clean facility with mostly smaller animals: birds, reptiles, mammals up to jaguar. About 30 exhibits. The 2 attractions are the "marching flamingos" and the lory feeding area. They have a small gift shop with some nice shirts and souvenirs. Including the 2 attractions you could spend 2-3 hours there.

[anamanxs]

Garen of the Groves was also very clean and we expored it on our own. It was has lots of plants and small water falls, bridges and bird. I have not been to Ardastra so I can't compare the two. We did not see a show of any kind in the Garden of the Groves. It sounds like Ardastra has more animals and Garen more plants.

[kfinfam]

Thank you for the info! I guess my only other question would be did you both think it was worth the $15?? We have 4 tickets to buy, plus transportation....

[bguppies]

If your girls would enjoy standing inside a large cage and hand feeding fruit to small parrots that will actually land on them and eat from their hands or being able to walk up and pet a flamingo, as they walk freely inside the park, between their marching shows, then yes, the $15 is well worth it. (I had a blast feeding the parrots for 20 minutes or so.)

 

My Wife enjoyed seeing a few Meerkats inside a pen with just a little fence around it, from a few feet away, instead from a distance or behind glass, like an American zoo.

 

Bill

[Lard Greystoke]

Thank you for the info! I guess my only other question would be did you both think it was worth the $15?? We have 4 tickets to buy, plus transportation....

 

If your girls would enjoy standing inside a large cage and hand feeding fruit to small parrots that will actually land on them and eat from their hands or being able to walk up and pet a flamingo, as they walk freely inside the park, between their marching shows, then yes, the $15 is well worth it. (I had a blast feeding the parrots for 20 minutes or so.)

 

My Wife enjoyed seeing a few Meerkats inside a pen with just a little fence around it, from a few feet away, instead from a distance or behind glass, like an American zoo.

 

Bill

 

This is also my opinion. If people like animals, and don't need big things like elephants, this is a very intimate way to spend time with them. I liked it. (If you've ever talked to a keeper at an American zoo you'll know why they have to be careful - too many people/kids who are just murderous).

 

Regarding transportation, it's not too far from the pier - I walked, 20-30 min but it is hot. I believe there's a jitney (#10?) which is cheap and stops at the intersection (Chippingham) a short uphill walk to Ardastra, on the right side.