The six-week summer holidays have arrived, and it’s time to keep the kids entertained. One of our favourite activities is creating a ‘summer bucket list’ of all the places we’d like to visit.

Finding locations that cater to everyone can be challenging, especially with a five-year age gap between my two children. However, one destination that consistently makes the list is the zoo – who can resist a day out with animals?

While considering usual spots like Chester Zoo, Blackpool Zoo, and Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I stumbled upon Ponderosa Zoo. Surprisingly, this zoo is right here in Kirklees, and I had never heard of it before!

Originally a therapy centre, Ponderosa Zoo now houses over 100 animals, ranging from lemurs to reindeer. It also serves as a therapy centre for individuals with learning disabilities. Intrigued by this discovery, we decided to bypass the larger zoos and give it a try, reports Yorkshire Live.

Located in Heckmondwike, Ponderosa is just a half-hour drive from Huddersfield, which was a welcome change. Usually, zoo trips involve long journeys filled with squabbles and bathroom breaks, so the shorter, stress-free travel was appreciated.

Upon arrival, we parked in the free car park. Despite not booking online beforehand – a potentially risky move during the summer holidays – we had no trouble gaining entry.

The tickets were priced at £8.95 per adult and £7.95 per child, totalling to £24.85 for myself and my two children, which I found to be quite reasonable compared to some of the larger zoos.

The boys were brimming with excitement and couldn’t wait to get in and see what animals we could spot. We first encountered the meerkats, who were absolutely adorable, before we strolled down past the squirrel monkeys – the boys were thrilled watching them jump around their spacious enclosure.

We then reached the otters, who were basking in the sunshine and enjoying their water slide. Next, we stumbled upon a reindeer, which fascinated my youngest, although he was puzzled as to why it was in Huddersfield and not the North Pole.

It wasn’t long before the boys spotted the giant outdoor play area and so we decided to take a break. The boys enjoyed the climbing frame, slides and zipline while I ordered some food and drinks.

I picked up a pizza for the boys from the pizza shack and got myself a pasta pot from the cafe along with three flavoured waters, it totalled just under £20. We sat on one of the many available benches to enjoy our lunch in the sun.

While we were dining, a magician came round to announce that a magic show was starting in the restaurant at 1pm so after we’d finished we decided to check it out. The show was fantastic and seemed to draw the whole zoo in to watch.

My youngest was thoroughly entertained and laughed throughout the entire experience. My eldest, however, was less enthusiastic but he participated for his brother’s sake.

Unexpectedly, we encountered a serval during a talk and witnessed the large wild cat being fed a white rabbit for its meal. The sight was somewhat gruesome, which naturally, the boys found absolutely thrilling.

On our return journey up the hill, we discovered another smaller park before heading to the nocturnal house. Initially, my youngest was slightly hesitant about entering the pitch-black environment, but they both ended up enjoying observing all the reptiles and insects – I wasn’t as keen!

Following this, we saw racoon dogs, coatis and common marmosets en route to the lemur walkthrough. We were fortunate that most of the animals made an appearance, possibly due to the sunny weather.

The animals appeared well looked after and the zoo was clean throughout.

The lemur walkthrough was fantastic. We entered the cage as instructed, then a staff member opened the large metal door to let us in, ensuring none of the animals could escape.

The boys relished the opportunity to see the lemurs up close without any barriers. A staff member did caution us that if a lemur jumps on you, remain still and they would remove them, so I was slightly more wary than the boys.

We then ventured to the colossal boat and sandpit, where my little one spent a delightful hour digging. We subsequently moved on to the enormous jumping pillows, which were an absolute riot – I even succumbed to a bounce myself.

The atmosphere was vibrant with music filling the air and families lounging around, enjoying refreshments from the kiosk while their children jumped to their heart’s content. I eventually managed to coax them away from the jumping pillow with the lure of an ice-cream treat on our exit.

On our return to the car, we were fortunate enough to spot a few of the animals that had been elusive earlier, including the tortoises and the dwarf caiman.

In summary, it was a truly splendid day out. Granted, it’s not the largest zoo – lacking elephants, giraffes and other larger species found in some zoos – but there is undoubtedly ample entertainment to keep the children occupied for the day.

The staff were exceptionally friendly and accommodating, offering a diverse range of animals, gardens and play areas for breaks from the enclosures. The lemur walk was particularly memorable.

The cafes and food kiosks were well-stocked and reasonably priced, with numerous picnic benches scattered around for those who prefer to bring their own food. There’s also a fantastic gift shop at the exit, catering to all budgets.

Ponderosa is a fantastic, budget-friendly option compared to larger zoos, without skimping on the fun. It’s astonishing that such a hidden treasure is right under our noses and many of us are unaware.