Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is Australia's largest butterfly flight aviary and insectarium, located in Kuranda village in the Mareeba Shire, Queensland. Situated in the rainforest hinterland northwest of Cairns, it houses over 1,500 tropical butterflies including the prominent Cairns Birdwing. Established in 1987, it combines a walk-through aviary, breeding laboratory and museum for education and conservation.

Visitors enter a large landscaped flight aviary with tropical plants, waterfalls and free-flying butterflies. Guided tours explain the butterfly life cycle and breeding process, with access to the laboratory where pupae and caterpillars can be viewed and a museum displaying butterfly specimens. Paths are sheltered and suitable for walking at a leisurely pace, with opportunities for close-up photography and observation of feeding and flight behaviour.