Butterfly Creek

Butterfly Creek was established by our General Manager, John Dowsett, whose vision was to create a unique, high quality, interesting and affordable Auckland attraction. Butterfly Creek was to be based around a selection of tropical exhibits and family-friendly attractions. Construction commenced in 2002 and we have been steadily adding on more attractions ever since. First to open were Buttermilk Farm, the Red Admiral Express Train, the playground and party room as well as the family-friendly Papillon Cafe, the retail shop and function rooms. Stage 1 also included constructing a working wetland over and around which Butterfly Creek is located. The Tropical Butterfly House and Aquaria then opened in 2004. Since 2004 the exhibits and animal collection has grown immensely. In 2008/9 and after three years of hard slog by John permission was finally granted to import crocodilians into New Zealand. We then imported our 5 baby alligators, which was followed in April 2009 by the grand arrival of the country’s only salt water crocodiles – Scar and Goldie – who were flown over from Australia courtesy of the NZ Air Force and their hercules aircraft. In that same time Butterfly Creek established the captive rear and release programme for the giant wetapunga and opened the Bugs About insect exhibit. Other highlights include assisting Franklin Zoo (who unfortunately had to close their doors) by taking on their four cotton top tamarins, and in January 2014 the doors of the mighty Dinosaur Kingdom opened. What will be next?