Immerse yourself in a world of vibrant colour, tranquility, and wonder as you step into our beautiful butterfly sanctuary. The Butterfly House at Franklin Farm was created to support the endangered monarch butterfly species and provide a unique, educational experience for all ages. By visiting, you’re not only enjoying a magical space but also supporting vital conservation efforts that help preserve these iconic pollinators.

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Opening Hours​

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Our General Opening Hours are as follows, and no booking is required -

Monday - 9.00am - 4.30pm (last entrance 4.00pm)

Tuesday - CLOSED 

Wednesday -  9.00am - 4.30pm (last entrance 4.00pm)

Thursday - 9.00am - 4.30pm (last entrance 4.00pm)

Friday - 9.00am - 8.00pm

Saturday - 9.00am - 8.00pm 

Sunday - 9.00am - 8.00pm 

 

Our Vision

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Our vision for The Butterfly House is to create a captivating sanctuary that embodies both education and conservation. Our mission is to create an environment where visitors of all ages can connect with the beauty, diversity, and importance of these delicate creatures - guided by the principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality and care).

 

Drawing on the concept of ako, (sharing of knowledge) The Butterfly House will provide a nurturing environment where individuals can learn about life cycles, behaviour and the importance of monarch butterflies in a hands on and immersive environment. We aspire to teach our community about the critical role these butterflies play in pollination and our ecosystem, while empowering our visitors to take action in protecting and sustaining these remarkable creatures for generations to come.

What to Expect:

Our Butterfly House is designed to let you experience the delicate beauty of monarch butterflies up close as they flutter through our environment. Alongside monarchs, you’ll find informational displays to learn more about their life cycle, the environmental challenges they face, and the regenerative practices we use here at Franklin Farm to support their habitat. You'll find the red admiral also - our native butterfly that was exinct in the Auckland area up until 2024. You'll also find a field of wildflowers, a maize maze and a grassy picnic area. 

General Rules and Etiquette:

To protect our butterflies and ensure everyone enjoys their visit, please observe these simple rules:
 

• Please do not touch or handle the eggs, caterpillars or chrysalises.

• You are welcome to hold a butterfly, but first please ensure your hands are free from sunscreen, perfume, moisturisers, hand sanitisers and food.

• Please follow instructions inside the butterfly house on holding a monarch safely.

• Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. There is stinging nettle in the butterfly house, do not touch this under any circumstance (it will seriously hurt) - it is food for our red admiral caterpillar - butterfly.

• Children aged under 5 should observe butterflies rather than try hold one. The butterflies have 'tickly' feet that can startle or upset young children, as well as risk the healthy and safety of our butterflies.  

• Do not bring any food, drink (other than water) inside the butterfly house. You are welcome to enjoy a picnic on our lawn afterwards. No dogs are allowed, other than guide dogs. 

• Please respect the butterflies food source, and do not pick the flowers.

• Be mindful of the butterflies and other visitors, please maintain a quiet, calm environment. Move slowly and calmly to not startle the butterflies.  

• Please stick to the pathways, and do not walk in the garden. Follow any additional instructions provided by staff or signage.

• Exit through designated areas only and close doors behind you. This prevents butterflies escaping and prevents wasps coming in to kill all our caterpillars and butterflies.

• Take lots of photos and videos, and please remember to tag us too!

Background

The Butterfly House is a new initiative at Franklin Farm, born from our passion for sustainability and dedication to protecting local biodiversity. We've noticed the decline of Monarchs in our sunflower fields, and decided to do something about it, and thus the Butterfly House project was born!

We’re more than just The Butterfly House; we’re part of an educational movement that teaches the next generation about regenerative practices, the importance of pollinators, and sustainable practices that benefit the environment. As you explore, you’re part of this story too!

Thank you for visiting and helping us in our mission to support the monarch butterfly. We hope your time here is both inspiring and memorable.