“Ever wondered what it’s like to see the world through a butterfly’s eyes?” That’s just one of the many wonders awaiting you at the Butterfly Museum. This isn’t just a museum. It’s a sanctuary where you can immerse yourself in the enchanting world of butterflies.
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is home to over two thousand butterflies. These butterflies represent various species. The sanctuary breeds all its own butterflies in a specially designated breeding laboratory. You’ll find the Monarch Butterfly here. The Cairns Birdwing and Ulysses are here too.
The Butterfly Museum is the largest butterfly sanctuary south of the equator. It is the main attraction of Kuranda Village. Kuranda Village is surrounded by a World Heritage Rainforest.
One of the interesting displays at the Butterfly Museum is the UV light exhibit. It allows visitors to see through the eyes of a butterfly. These creatures have visual capabilities within the UV band of light. The Butterfly Myths and Legends display recounts Aboriginal folklore. It shares the meaning butterflies are believed to hold in our lives.
At the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary you can also see a silk moth display. The museum showcases over 500 kinds of butterflies. The gift shop sells butterfly-themed merchandise. You can find clothing, jewelry, informative books and posters there. Believe it or not, you can even hold your wedding or corporate event inside the aviary.
Guests are recommended to wear brightly colored apparel. Shades of white and pink are perfect. This encourages butterflies to flutter around them. The sanctuary can also perform a butterfly release service. Butterflies are allowed to escape into the air. They come from specially decorated containers. This makes for a truly magical experience.
Did you know that different butterfly species are attracted to specific plants for breeding? A female butterfly can differentiate between fragrances. This helps her find the right plant. She can locate it from over three kilometers away. When they are caterpillars butterflies are picky eaters. They often limit themselves to a couple of plant varieties.
Once a caterpillar becomes a butterfly it’s less picky. Adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers and fruits. They also eat rotting plant sap.
Consider the Cairns Birdwing butterfly. It is the largest of all Australian butterflies. It is found along northeastern Australia. This butterfly is easily identified due to its vivid coloration. The female’s wingspan can measure 18cm. As soon as adult butterflies hatch they mate quickly. They only live for 4 to 5 weeks. Their favorite habitat is the rainforest.
Then there’s the Ulysses butterfly. It is found in most tropical rainforest areas. These are Northern Queensland, Northern islands of Australia, and Papua New Guinea. It lives below the rainforest canopy. Its common name is Mountain Blue Butterfly. It is a large swallowtail butterfly. The Ulysses wingspan is between 100 and 130 mm.
Or consider the Red Lacewing butterflies. They are found in North Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. They are Australia’s only bright red butterfly. They are one of the few predominantly red butterflies in the world. This butterfly only lives 7 to 10 days.
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary offers an unforgettable experience. It combines beauty, education, and a touch of magic. So come explore. Discover the world on the wings of a butterfly.