Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is the largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia - an all-weather experience in the heart of Kuranda. Home to over 2000 magnificent tropical butterflies, you’ll be enchanted by the aerial dynamics of these elusive wonders of nature as you wander through the aviary’s rainforest gardens. All butterflies are local rainforest species, including the majestic green and yellow Cairns Birdwing butterflies. Our knowledgeable guides will take you through our rainforest aviary, detailing a butterfly’s life cycle and behaviour. Be sure to wear something bright (we recommend red, white or hot pink) and let these beautiful and colourful creatures flutter all over you as you wander through! See colours through the eyes of a butterfly with our UV display. After walking through the aviary, your guide will take you to the breeding laboratory, which houses up to 4,000 caterpillars. This interesting and educational experience provides an opportunity to view firsthand the breeding laboratory through special viewing windows, where you will see the caterpillars in their varying stages of development. All of our 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 Sanctuary. After your tour, see butterflies from around the world in the museum exhibit. View our new Cairns Birdwing emerging video to learn more about a butterfly’s lifecycle. A microscope connected to a computer captures images so you can view the anatomy and wing structure of several butterfly species. Observe the tiny scales that produce the iridescent electric blue of the Ulysses. Admission = $19.50 per adult and $9.75 per child.