Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is the largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia. Home to over 1,200 magnificent tropical butterflies, the sanctuary is an all-weather experience in the heart of Kuranda.

You’ll be enchanted by these elusive wonders of nature as you wander through the aviary’s boardwalks and gardens. Be sure to wear something bright and let these beautiful creatures flutter all over you!

You can also join a tour behind the scenes in the breeding laboratory, housing up to 4,000 caterpillars, or download a free audio tour. Learn more about these magical creatures with educational exhibits. Observe a butterfly wing through a microscope, Silk Moth caterpillars, the massive Hercules Moth, and the insects in the Mini Beasts display. See through the eyes of a butterfly in the UV Room and be amazed at butterflies from all over the globe in our museum displays.

Learn about caterpillar food host plants and how they are used in the laboratory on their new food plant walk. The butterflies are reared on the premises. The laboratory staff collect eggs daily and ‘hand-raise’ the caterpillars right through to the chrysalis stage, until they are released as butterflies into the aviary daily.