Australian Butterfly Sanctuary — Attraction in Kuranda

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary in Kuranda, Queensland, is a pretty good attraction for butterfly enthusiasts and families. The main aviary is a highlight, housing what seemed like a couple hundred butterflies fluttering around in a vibrant, tropical environment. The variety of species was impressive, and there’s no denying that butterflies are absolutely stunning creatures—this place does a great job of showcasing their beauty.

The sanctuary also features a caterpillar house, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the butterfly breeding process.

This area includes informative displays and a small exhibit that added an educational layer to the visit. My kids particularly enjoyed the fairy garden, a dedicated space with smaller butterfly breeds that felt tailored to younger visitors. It was a charming touch that kept them engaged.

However, I have some reservations about the value for money. For my family of three kids and a grandparent, the entry fee was $80. While the sanctuary is well-maintained, the experience is entirely self-guided, relying on walk-through paths and reading informational signs.

There’s no guided tour or real interactive component to deepen the experience, which left me feeling that $80 was a bit steep for what we got. Your family might find it worthwhile, especially if you’re passionate about butterflies, but it’s worth keeping the cost and self-guided nature in mind.

Overall, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is a lovely spot to appreciate these incredible creatures, but the price tag may not match the experience...

As a massive butterfly fan, we spent a solid two hours here and loved it. We visited over the Easter weekend, so it was definitely a bit chaotic with the holiday crowds, but overall the experience was still really peaceful and magical. There were heaps of butterflies everywhere — I had three land on me (thigh, back, and even right on top of my head). They give you a map and little landing pad paper at the start and it actually works — so don’t just fold it up and shove it in your pocket like I almost did!

The reception staff were funny and friendly, and we scored a locals discount, which was a nice surprise. Inside the sanctuary, we didn’t really see many staff, but everything felt clean, easy to get around, and well looked after. There were fun little butterfly trivia signs and feeding stations which made wandering around even better.

Some of the butterflies had damaged wings and we saw a few dead on the ground (but that’s probably from people touching/grabbing them which is no fault of the sanctuary🦋), obviously a little sad, but the sanctuary overall really does seem to care for them well.

It’s definitely worth visiting — whether you’re a couple, a family, a solo adventurer, or just someone who loves pretty things fluttering around. 100%...

Me & my son had visited The Butterfly Sanctuary on the 28/09/24. We enjoyed visiting this place for the first time, was a pleasant experience once you get to see the butterflies. However, I did get ripped off for the entry fee. I was met with two staff members, first was greeted by a young male (polite & friendly) told me about the local 20% discount, was thankful for the information because I wasn't aware. I presented my driver's licence, I told him that my son is fourteen but he didn't have his student I.D. to prove because I didn't think he would need it (unfortunately my son looks older than his age because he's almost 6ft tall) anyways the male proceeded on with our payments but then was stopped by an older female staff member (for I don't know what reason) and she took over. She asked us again how old is my son, I told her fourteen. Nope, my child still got charged as an adult. Didn't realised I got ripped off until we got home, I'm disappointed the lady didn't believe us even though I told them twice about his age. Anyways, my point is... If you're local, bring your highschool kids student I.D's just in case or book online beforehand, because they don't seem to believe word of mouth.

Next time I might tell my son...