Do I need to book? 

No, Just pay for entry on arrival during our general open hours. Booking is only required for private sunflower field hire on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening. 

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Where do I park?

There are 3 carparks available! The Sunflower fields will be clearly sign posted on the side on the road at 167 Taha Road, Waimauku - drive in, and park in the paddock there. Please drive slowly and be mindful of pedestrians. There is a large overflow parking paddock 50m up the road that will be well sign posted. There is also a carpark opposite the Butterfly House too.

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Do you sell food or drinks?

We do sell cold drinks and ice blocks at both sites, and will have a coffee and food truck available on the weekends, public holidays and during other peak times. Details around this will be updated on our socials regularly. You are welcome to bring your own food in.

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Can I bring a picnic with me?

Yes - Absolutely! You're more than welcome to set up a cosy space with friends or family at the Sunflower Fields or at the Butterfly House. Keep in mind, weekends can get busy and that week day evening sessions can be booked to guarantee a quiet, private space. 

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Do you have toilet facilities? 

Yes, there are portaloos on site at both locations. Please ask a staff member if you need directions.​​

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Can I bring my dog to Franklin Farm? 

Not on General Open Days, but you can bring them to Doggy Fridays to enjoy the flower fields (9am-sunset) Please note, no dogs are allowed into the Farmyard area, or at the Butterfly House. You can bring your dog to your private, weekday evening booked session at the Sunflower Fields. Service dogs are welcome anytime though.

 

Is the farm wheelchair/stroller/walking frame friendly? 

For the most part - yes! Our entire farm is completely flat, and most of the pathways are concrete. There are some grassed areas in the carpark and around the farm, and a small amount of gravel too, but the farm is very accessible. We recommend visitors with limited mobility wait to visit the sunflower fields in early February when our front blocks are in flower. 

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What do I wear?

Whatever you feel comfortable in. We encourage wearing shoes to reduce your chance of standing on a bee. We also recommend you wear a hat and sunscreen, there is limited shade in the fields and at the Butterfly House.

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What do I bring with me?

If you want to pick your own Sunflowers - Secateurs. (REALLY strong scissors). Sunflowers need to be cut with secateurs.  If you don't own any, you can hire a pair from us. Alternatively, you can also buy pre cut flowers.  

You may want to bring something to wrap your sunflowers in (as the stems are quite hairy) - something like a bag, newspaper or a bucket of water to keep them fresh for the ride home. 

If you intend to pick sweetcorn, please bring a bucket of bag. 

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Can I fly a drone over the fields?

For open days, no. For privately booked evening weekday sessions, yes, but please discuss this with Jasmine. 

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How do I book for a midweek, evening private session? 

You can do this through the website.  Please note, booking is only required for these (Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 5pm - 8pm) sessions. We're open all other days and times and no booking is required for this. 

 

I want to propose to my partner in the sunflower fields, can you please help me to pull off a sneaky surprise? 

Of course! We LOVE proposals. If you want to plan any sort of surprise for your partner, let us know! We're more than happy to help you pull off your ideas.

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I'm allergic to bees, can I still visit the sunflower fields?

You certainly can, but you will need to manage this risk accordingly. It is very low risk if you stand on the edges of the fields, vs walking amongst the sunflowers for photos. We love our bees, but if you have severe allergies, you may need to consider your health and safety before visiting our farm. We do not carry epipens.

 

What happens if it is raining at the Sunflower Fields, do I get a refund?

During open hours - no. Please check the weather report and plan your visit accordingly, and do remember your pass is valid for the whole day so you can come back later.

For private booked sessions - We will work with you when the weather is looking questionable, and make the call on our end if the weather isn't looking great by 12pm on the day of your booking. Sessions can be moved to accommodate for bad weather.

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Can I hold a butterfly?

Yes you can! Please do not touch or handle the eggs, caterpillars or chrysalises though. You are welcome to hold a butterfly, but please first ensure your hands are free from sunscreen, perfume, moisturisers, hand sanitisers and food. Please follow instructions inside the butterfly house on how to hold a monarch safely.​​

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Can I buy a swan plant to take home?

Yes you can! We will have a limited number of swan plants for sale, while stock lasts.

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Will you be selling flowering plants I can buy for the butterflies?

Yes, we will have some for sale that we find the butterflies love the most, while stocks last. ​

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Can we feed the animals?

Yes! We’ll have special animal feed available for purchase on site. Please don’t bring your own food, as some foods can make our animals sick.

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Do you take card payments?

Yes we will. We're working with wireless payment terminals in the middle of the farm, so please have cash on hand juuuuuust in case we encounter technical difficulties. ​

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Can I organise a visit with my school/group during school?

Yes! Please contact Jasmine in regards to this. 

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Will the butterfly house open if it's raining?

We will be if it's light rain, the butterflies don't mind that, and are actually easier to hold as they're less active. If the weather is extreme - high winds and rain, we will need to close. Please monitor our socials for updates when the weather is bad. 

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Do you do discounts for group bookings/seniors or carers?

Not at the this stage. We’re still a small, self-funded family business and have invested a lot to bring the Butterfly House and farm to life. While we don’t currently offer discounts, it’s something we may be able to look at in the future as we grow. For now, every ticket purchased directly helps us keep looking after the butterflies, gardens, animals, and experiences for everyone to enjoy, and we’re so grateful for your support.

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Is Franklin Farm open all year round?

No. Our sunflower fields are generally open Boxing Day until mid February, and the Butterfly House is longer. Different experiences are seasonal — sunflowers, sweetcorn, dahlias, the maze and the Butterfly House all have different peak times. We recommend checking our socials or website for up to date details.

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Are the sunflowers/animals/butterflies always guaranteed to be there?

Nature can be unpredictable! Each block of sunflowers bloom for a few weeks at a time, and butterflies are seasonal too. We’ll always update our socials with the latest info so you know what to expect before you visit.

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Will the bouncy castles always be open?

As long as weather conditions are optimum - YES! We will only have to deflate them on high wind or rainy days.

 

 

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Transport and Storage

1. Keep the butterflies cool:

• Store the container in a cool, shaded place away from direct sunlight.

• Ideal temperature: 10–15°C.  A cooler or insulated bag with an ice pack (wrapped in a towel to avoid direct contact) works well for short periods - just make sure it's all breathable. The idea is to keep the butterflies slightly cool and dormant until it is time for them to fly.

2. Avoid extreme heat or cold:

• Do not place the container in a fridge or freezer - this will kill them.

• Avoid leaving it in a car, especially if it’s hot outside.

 

Handle Gently

• Do not open the container until the butterflies are ready to be released.

• Avoid shaking or jostling the container unnecessarily.

 

Before the Release

1. Allow time for the butterflies to wake up:

• Approximately 30–60 minutes before the release, place the container in a warm area (around 20–25°C, to allow the butterflies to become active.

• Ensure they are protected from wind and predators while warming up.

2. Release location:

• Choose a quiet, open area away from high winds, heavy traffic, or dense crowds.
 

Release Process

• Open the container gently to allow the butterflies to emerge on their own.

• Don’t expect the butterflies to come out like fireworks, they will fly and flutter out instinctively, and some may need to be motivated by reaching in and coaxing them out, or by very gently shaking the container. Any lazy butterflies that do not fly right away are perfect for a photo opportunity. It’s okay to gently handle the butterflies - just offer your finger for them to step onto. 

• The butterflies will not fly at night, in the rain, extreme wind or cold temperatures.

 

Guarantee

We guarantee to collect healthy, vibrant, disease free butterflies for your butterfly release, and once handed over to you - are your responsibility. We cannot guarantee a successful release if you release the butterflies in inclement weather, or if you don’t follow the instructions above. We recommend that you do not release them in the rain, and have a backup plan for a release due to bad weather.

 

We provide your butterflies in a breathable, ventilated enclosure, and it’s your decision if you want to move them to a different container before the release. This is at your own risk, and Franklin Farm cannot be held liable to any butterflies that escape during a container transition. We can recommend placing the entire ventilated enclosure into a bigger container if you want to change the aesthetics, and we recommend doing this at the last possible moment before the ceremony. 

 

The butterflies are perfectly fine without food for 24 hours, but in the event of an emergency or delay, please provide them with a sugar-water solution. To feed them, dip a cotton swab in a 10% sugar-water solution and offer it to their proboscis (tongue). 

 

We have also provided you with 5 additional butterflies at no cost, to compensate for a potential casualty or two.

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