Nestled within the bustling industrial area close to Auckland Airport is a wonderful gem of a small Zoo known as Butterfly Creek.
If you are spending time in the area, perhaps you have arrived the day before flying out of the Airport or just an Auckland local, I highly recommend a visit, even more so if you have young children as there is plenty to keep them entertained too.
In the immediate vicinity there is also a large mini golf course and an outdoor art gallery with a nice walk around a lake. The new Manawa Bay outlet shopping centre is at the end of the road as well, so plenty to keep you busy for a day trip if coming from afar.
I'm a huge fan of Butterfly Creek and have visited many times over the years. It has a really interesting mix of animals and activities in a very interesting layout that gives it the feeling it is far larger than it actually is.
Butterfly House
Butterfly Creek is probably best know for the butterfly house that gives it it's name, and naturally it is the flagship attraction. With the short life span of Butterflies, new ones are regularly imported and hatched, so you may get treated to new species on repeat visits!
It's a large sized butterfly house and very very hot. 28 degrees Celsius with ridiculous humidity, so be prepared to lose layers quickly if you want to hang out and enjoy the butterflies for any period of time.
There are butterflies everywhere and if you are patient and still enough you may be fortunate enough for some to come and land on you! The daily event of releasing new hatchlings happens at 10am.
Fish and Reptiles
My first ever visit was over 10 years ago, and I was drawn by the Reptiles having recently become a Reptile keeper myself. I'd also been an Aquarium hobbyist for many years.
The main Aquarium is impressive indeed, and my favourite probably just about anywhere in terms of livestock and decor, with it's central American riverbed biotope theme. It houses species from Central and South America. A must see for any tropical fish enthusiast. There is a nice reef tank also, but it's size makes it less impressive than the freshwater tank.
There are a number of Reptiles at Butterfly Creek, dotted around in a few locations. Before you enter the Butterfly house you'll find an Iguana, probably lazing on a log, and later on you'll find a large enclosure housing Salt Water Crocodiles. Be there at 1pm for the Daily Encounter!
Near the Crocodiles there are closures housing small reptiles including Bearded Dragons and outside is a large enclosure with some Lace Monitors. Very cool!
Kiwi
I've been to a number of Kiwi exhibits around NZ and I think the one here might just be the best. You enter into a dark hallway along a large dark fronted enclosure. And I mean dark. Dark enough so that when your eyes adjust and you are quiet and patient, you actually have a chance to see a Kiwi bounding around in it's habitat. So take your time here as it might be one of the best chances you get to see an elusive Kiwi.
Buttermilk Farm
The farm is one of my favourites, and a favourite amongst Children. It is centered around a large pen with goats that climb and clamber around what only can be described as a goat playground. When they aren't doing that they are most likely aggressively attempting to see if you have anything edible whilst tolerating you giving them pats. Inside the barn are small animals such as Rabbits and guinea pigs that you can touch too.
As you follow the path around, there are pens housing Alpacas and Sheep, and lastly a large cage housing emperor Tamarins next to an Aviary full of birds.
Walking around
Despite everything being in relative close proximity, there are pathways around that make for a nice walk. Once you finish moving through the main attractions, you'll find yourself outside in an area that splits into two parts around a lake housing a 'Kraken'. Follow either of these paths to find yet more attractions.
Outdoors you will find the Lace Monitors, Otters and Meerkats. Further afield there is the Dinosaur Kingdom, an area full of large Dinosaur models, and the Mythic creatures exhibit, an indoor display of models of various mythical creatures. This and the Dinosaurs I don't find too interesting, more actual animals would be nice, but perhaps they are a big hit with Children?
Other attractions
But wait, there's more! Right around the back of the Zoo is an adventure playground with all sorts of tricky obstacles, great for those slightly bigger kids and their endless amounts of energy.
By this point you must have noticed the little blue train doing laps around the place. It's an adorable little train with open air carriages. You do need to pay extra for this though, and the station is outside the Cafe.
Cafe and Shop
Upon entering you pay for your tickets and receive your wrist bands from the counter at the gift shop. Ticket prices at the time of writing are listed below. It is pretty pricey at $85 for a family of 2 adults 2 children, however the annual pass options are good value, $265 for a family, and with a family pass you always make an effort to visit more. We have an annual pass for Auckland Zoo, and we go all the time even if its for a 30 minute walk around!
The gift shop is large and a bit of a sensory overload with just how much different stuff there is. Strangely it's at the entrance, and you first have to run this gauntlet with your children to enter the attractions.
And lastly, there is the Cafe. It's clean and tidy. They have typical cafe type food in the glass cabinets, sandwiches and cakes etc. You can order hot food too, but this is more limited to things like chips and hot dogs.
The Cafe has seating inside as well as outside. A playground is next to the outside seating area in case the kids still have more steam to let off!
In closing
Thanks for reading about Butterfly Creek, one of our favourite places to visit in Auckland, due to it's variety of interesting attractions and activities. Make sure you pay a visit!
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