Kuranda‘s Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is located right next to the Original Markets. Terry and I decided to go inside for a look. Unfortunately a whole school bus of local school children arrived shortly after us. All the school kids had on blue uniforms. The kids were actually pretty well behaved and it was nice to see the level of excitement and wonder on their faces.
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary is
home to over 1500 magnificent tropical butterflies that are hand reared on the premises.
All are local rain forest species, including an iconic Kuranda butterfly, the electric blue Ulysses Butterfly, and the majestic fluoro green and yellow Cairns Birdwing.
The aviary, set in the midst of Kuranda rain forest, was opened in 1987 and has been visited by over a
million people since. Guided tours through the aviary and laboratory are conducted throughout the day, detailing a butterfly’s life cycle and behavior.
The place is thick with colorful species and they will land on you. Several landed on my sketch, perhaps thinking that the bright watercolor washes might be a delicious nectar. Terry and I ate lunch in town. She wanted to get meat pies anywhere we went. I ordered one as well, but I couldn’t stop thinking of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. That thought might have affected my taste buds.