The Bribie Island Butterfly House is a volunteer-run outdoor garden at Bongaree where hundreds of live butterflies fly free around you. It opens on Wednesdays and Sundays only, and entry is paid.
It is a small, calm stop for a sunny morning on Bribie, and it pairs easily with the jetty and foreshore at Bongaree.
What you will see inside the butterfly house
The house is a 24 m by 10 m outdoor enclosure, planted so the butterflies feed, rest and fly right past you. You walk through rather than look through glass.
A breeding lab with big glass windows lets you see how the butterflies are raised. Australia’s largest butterfly, the Cairns Birdwing, is one to look for, with its green and yellow males and big dark females.
In the breeding lab you can watch caterpillars, and there is a Stick Insect Island too. A small nursery sells plants that attract butterflies to your own garden. You are given a double-sided butterfly card with the life cycle and a species guide.
A community project run by volunteers
The butterfly house started as a small volunteer-run community project in 2014 at a private property at Banksia Beach. A volunteer group, Bribie Butterfly Volunteers Inc, formed in 2016 to plan the current house, and it opened to the public in 2017.
The house is run entirely by volunteers and built with donated labour, materials and funds from local and regional residents. The official site says 100% of profits go to charity. If you want to help, the official website invites new volunteers.
Opening hours and prices
The butterfly house opens on Wednesdays and Sundays only, including during school holidays. The official website shows different opening times on different pages, so check opening hours on the visitors page or its social media before you drive over.
- Adult: $12
- Concession (students and seniors): $10
- Child (4 to 15): $7
- Family (2 adults and 2 children): $34
Individual visitors do not need to book: you buy tickets at the ticket office (the website also has a Book Now link). Groups and coach tours arrange a time in advance through the website, and discounts apply to groups of 15 or more. The visitors page has the current rules.
Facilities, accessibility and dogs
- Toilets: two toilets and one accessible toilet, plus a baby change table.
- Seating and coffee: an undercover seating area and a gold-coin coffee machine.
- Food: no food is sold, so bring a snack or eat nearby.
- Access: the house is accessible for prams, walkers, mobility scooters and wheelchairs, and Companion Cards are accepted.
- Dogs: only guide, hearing and assistance dogs are allowed, and they must wear a harness or coat that identifies them as working dogs.
Planning your visit
- How long: allow at least an hour.
- Best time: a sunny day, when butterflies are most active; early afternoon is quieter than the morning.
- Cost: paid entry, see above. The house is run by volunteers and surplus funds go to charity.
- What to bring: a hat, sunscreen, water and a camera.
Getting there and parking
The butterfly house is at 206B First Avenue, Bongaree (some listings show 208 First Avenue). It is about 70 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 70 minutes by car, over the Bribie Island Bridge. Follow the signs to Bribie Island.
If you are coming from Caboolture, take the Caboolture exit and follow the signs to the island, then turn right onto Goodwin Drive and continue to First Avenue.
The official pages do not say how many parking spaces there are or whether parking is free, so allow a little extra time on busy days. Plan a public transport trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
Nearby
- Bongaree, Bribie Island – the jetty, beachfront park and foreshore are a short drive away for lunch.
- Bribie Island – the full guide to beaches, walks and parking.
- Red Beach, Bribie Island – a quiet beach for a walk after the butterflies.
- Caboolture Warplane Museum – another stop on the way back to Brisbane.
- Tinchi Tamba Wetlands – a wetland walk and birdwatching stop on the way home.
Browse more wildlife watching and Bribie Island days out.
You might also like
- Daisy Hill Koala Centre (Logan)
- Palace Barracks (Petrie Terrace)
- Iceworld Acacia Ridge (Brisbane)
Quick answers
When is the Bribie Island Butterfly House open?
Wednesdays and Sundays only, including school holidays. Check opening hours on the official visitors page before you go, because the website shows different times in different places.
How much does the Bribie Island Butterfly House cost?
Adults are $12, concessions $10, children aged 4 to 15 $7 and a family pass is $34.
Do you need to book?
No, individuals buy tickets at the ticket office. Groups arrange a time in advance through the website.
Is it wheelchair and pram friendly?
Yes. The house is accessible for prams, walkers, scooters and wheelchairs, with an accessible toilet.
Can I bring my dog?
No, only guide, hearing and assistance dogs are allowed.
Is there food?
No food is sold, only coffee from a gold-coin machine, so bring a snack or eat in Bongaree.
0 Comments