Butterfly Creek is a New Zealand owned business and is managed by two of those owners ? the married team of John Dowsett and Fiona Turner (who says husband and wife can?t work successfully together!) The first stage of Butterfly Creek opened in late 2003 and development has continued at a great pace since then.

VISION

To create a profitable, world class, family friendly attraction with great appeal to a wide range of visitors. Incorporating a range of innovative, colourful and challenging attractions and exhibits and be recognized as New Zealand?s premier tropical Species/Crocodilian centre.

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide a fun, educational and highly memorable day out for our visitors.

OUR STORY

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?

DID SOMEONE SAY BEEHIVE?

Butterfly Creek has a strong link to New Zealand?s most well-known building ? the Beehive in Wellington. Following a major overhaul of the Beehive in the early 2000?s a large array of rare native timbers and other building materials were recycled and shipped to Butterfly Creek where they have been used extensively throughout the complex. John Dowsett says it was all about lucky timing. ?The Beehive was having some refurbishment done when we began designing Butterfly Creek and the architect we were working with, Gerald Melling, put us on to some materials being removed as part of the Beehive refurbishment. The transport to Auckland and labour intensive nature of the work involved added a fair bit to the cost. But the historic significance and the quality of the materials really made it worthwhile getting them. The results are fantastic.? John says.

Large double-glazed glass panels have been used in the cafe and function area. Visitors gazing out over Butterfly Creek will no doubt be looking through the very same glass that has graced the offices of some of the country?s top politicians. Many of the materials came from the ninth floor of the Beehive, which is home to the Prime Minister?s office as well as the meeting chambers. Among the most treasured items was a supply of Mangeao, a very rare New Zealand native which had been used as a feature panelling on the ninth floor and which has been used extensively as finishing timber at Butterfly Creek. ?We are delighted to be able to make use of the materials and really think it adds something a bit special to our new venue,? John says.

SISTER COMPANIES

In 2012 we opened ROCKET ROPES, our fantastic aerial adventure park and high ropes challenge courses and in 2013 we opened the best paintball facility in Australasia ? LOCK N LOAD PAINTBALL. Rocket Ropes is located right next to Butterfly Creek whilst Lock N Load Paintball is just a short walk away on Nixon Rd.