Learn more insights from Wanderboat AI.
The butterfly house:
I absolutely loved the butterfly house. I'm obsessed with butterflies and this just made my heart smile! It must have been the most butterflies I've ever seen in one place.
The garden and flowers were beautifully curated to feed the butterflies and was esthetically pleasing for the visitors as well.
The fairy garden was such a nice little surprise.
The loop track through the two different sections is perfect to see everything!
I appreciate that their focus is preservation and conservation and after raising the butterflies, they are released into the wild.
There is a good convenient carpark across the road, with good signage.
The young lady at the check in table was delightful. The perfect face for the values the company wants to convey.
Do you offer an unlimited pass? I have an unlimited pass for the West Lynn gardens and butterfly house. I would come at least once a week.
It would be nice to have a bench or two inside the butterflies where you can just sit and be surrounded by the beauty for a while. Although I do understand it might be an obstacle with all the foot traffic. There are some lovely seating between the house and corn maize and off to the side are some lovely picnic spaces and props for photos.
The sunflower fields:
This is about 350m up the road from the butterfly house. I drove, because I have mobility issues and can't walk that far.
Unfortunately this gets worse. It's very close from the carpark to the check in desk.
The people there were very friendly and while I sat eating my ice cream in the lovely shaded picnic area, I heard them patiently explain the process and cost, separately or combined with the butterfly field probably 50 times with an unwavering smile. Well done!
Unfortunately the walk to the sunflower field is very very far. I wanted to give up halfway, but since I paid I huffed and puffed to the field. I am older and bigger, so yes, it is so much harder for me than "normal" people. It would be so so helpful if there was a buggy taking people with mobility problems between attractions and closer to the field.
Once I got the field I was just blown away by how gorgeous it is. The space between the aisles are beautiful and grasses, which makes it easy and nice to walk. Some of the other sunflower fields I've been to are narrow and muddy, so this was great.
Inside where some props, which made foe great photo opportunities.
There are two viewing platforms, which is a bit problematic. As soon as people step onto it, they become paparazzi and models. Some take 20 - 30 minutes taking more photos than I took for my entire wedding and honeymoon combined! Standing and waiting in the sun is excruciating. There should definitely be a time limit, or maybe a parasol for cover/shade. Of course it will be difficult to patrol a time limit, but just erecting a sign might instil some moral obligation toward consideration for others.
The sunflowers itself were amazing! With just a few issues that made it difficult for me, or people like me.
Thank you for a lovely day out. It takes incredible commitment and hard work to present something like this, that bring so much joy...
Read more
Franklin Sunflower Farm is a lovely spot to visit. The farm is tidy, well-organised, and filled with clear information to help visitors make the most of their time. The atmosphere is lively and cheerful, but not overwhelming, and there’s plenty of parking, which is always a plus.
The entry fee is $25 per person (or $50 for two) if you’d like to explore both the Sunflower Farm and the Butterfly House. While the Sunflower Farm is beautiful and enjoyable, I found the Butterfly House less interesting overall. Still, it’s a decent package for what you get.
One highlight is that you can buy fresh-cut sunflowers or bring your own scissors or knife to cut them yourself. The first four flowers are $10, which is quite reasonable. The farm also has food and ice cream available, making it a well-rounded experience.
Their “Doggy Fridays,” where you can bring your dog along from 5 p.m. to sunset, seem like a lot of fun. However, Fridays are workdays for many, and with the long drive from Auckland, it’s tough to make it in time. It would be fantastic if dogs were allowed on weekends too, making it easier for dog lovers to visit. When I visited on a Sunday, dogs weren’t allowed in the field, but the staff kindly offered to look after my dog in the reception area to keep him safe from the heat. That thoughtful gesture was greatly appreciated.
Overall, the Sunflower Farm is a great experience with friendly and helpful staff who go the extra mile to ensure visitors have a good time. While the Butterfly House didn’t impress me much, the farm itself is well...
Read more
We had such a lovely day at the sunflower field and the butterfly house. My little boy is obsessed with insects, so the butterfly house was definitely the highlight for him!
That said there was one big downside to the visit. the staff. I witnessed some behavior in the butterfly house that left a really bad impression. At the counter, I saw an Indian family being treated very differently compared to a European family, and honestly, it was just disappointing to see. While I wasn’t personally on the receiving end of any racism, seeing it happen right in front of me was upsetting.
On top of that, it felt like the rules were applied inconsistently depending on who they were dealing with. E.g, I noticed some families were given lollipops, while others were told to wait until activities were over. It’s like they didn’t realise people were paying attention…we see it.
The vibe in the butterfly house itself didn’t help either. The staff were constantly telling everyone things like, “Don’t touch that!” or “Leave it alone!” It got to the point where I joked to myself that they’d soon tell us to stop breathing near the butterflies!
We absolutely loved the place, but the attitude from the staff? Not so much. It really took away from what could’ve been a...
Read more
