Kuranda Butterfly Farm

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Opened in 1987, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as Australia’s largest butterfly farm. Kuranda is a bustling market town located on the edge of the tablelands in the mountains above Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia.

Conceived, designed and built by Paul and Susan Wright, the sanctuary rears only native butterflies to Australia which are bred on the premises.

The centrepiece of the farm is the huge flight aviary. At any one time, up to 2,500 butterflies live in the aviary. The sanctuary 's many butterflies include the Gentle Giant, the Cairns Birdwing (the largest butterfly in Australia), the Hercules Moth (the largest moth in the World, found only in far North Queensland and New Guinea), and the fluorescent blue Ulysses butterfly. The butterflies are known to land on people wearing red, pink, white and other bright colours.

The guided tours last for 15 minutes and describe the life cycle of the butterfly, among other things. Butterfly eggs are hand collected by staff on the premises. The sanctuary is 7 acres (2.8 hectares), 4 of which are preserved as natural rainforest; the remaining 3 are under cultivation with butterfly food plants. There is also a caterpillarium which features the caterpillars and pupae of the butterfly species featured in the sanctuary before they turn into butterflies and are released into the aviary.

There’s something magical about being surrounded by butterflies – their fragile weightlessness and iridescent colours are mesmerising. – Sheree Scott